Marcellus Drilling News

Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Norse Energy | Regulation | Statewide NY

Norse Energy Suing NY Gov Cuomo to Force Release of SGEIS
November 25, 2013November 25, 2013

This is BIG news: It seems we haven’t heard the last from Norse Energy–the Norwegian-based driller that just over a month ago converted from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, or “keep the creditors at bay while we reorganize,” to Chapter 7, or “sell off the furniture and turn off the lights” (see Lights Turned Off, Door Closed – Good Night, Norse Energy). There’s still a bit of fight left in Norse–or fight left in its creditors anyway. Late last week MDN received a tip from friend and intrepid blogger Andy Leahy, writer of the excellent NY Shale Gas Now! blog, about some of the biggest New York news we’ve heard in some time: Norse Energy, or what’s left of it, has decided to file a lawsuit against New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens, and State Health Commissioner Nirav Shah–a lawsuit that will force the release of draft drilling regulations called the SGEIS (Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement).

The official lawsuit has not yet been filed but according to MDN’s sources, it will be filed in early December. This story is a bit complicated, so we’ll break it down for you and show you the evidence we have that a lawsuit against the Cuomo/Martens/Shah cabal is indeed on the way–very soon…
Read More “Norse Energy Suing NY Gov Cuomo to Force Release of SGEIS”
Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County

Cabot Buys Second Dimock, PA Property on Carter Road
November 25, 2013November 25, 2013

Contrary to the desires of Josh Fox and other anti-drillers, the “Dimock” story continues to fade away into obscure history. A month ago MDN told you about the former house of some of the loudest Cabot critics who used to live in Dimock, PA–the Sautners. Craig and Julie Sautner sold their house and 3.6 acres to Cabot last year and snuk out of town with $167,500 (see Fracking Opponents Craig & Julie Sautner Sell, Leave Dimock). Last month, the old Sautner house was leveled and the property was sold to the neighbor for a measly $4,000 (see End of an Era? Sautner’s Dimock Home Leveled, Property Sold).

Another Dimock property has just been sold to Cabot, albeit for not quite as much. Mike Ely sold his 12-acre property on Carter Road (including double-wide trailer) to Cabot for $140,000…
Read More “Cabot Buys Second Dimock, PA Property on Carter Road”
Commodity Price | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County

Cabot O&G: Marcellus Cost Structure Goes Through the…Floor!
November 25, 2013November 25, 2013

Cabot Oil & Gas continues to impress and astonish the drilling industry. MDN has written many times before about Cabot’s ability to spin “gold” (profits) from “hay” (low cost price environment). Cabot recently presented at a pair of “global energy conferences” arranged by investment firms Jeffries & Co. and Bank of America Merrill Lynch. We have the slide deck from each (which is pretty much identical) and we’ve embedded it below. You’ll want to review it if you have an interest in the Marcellus Shale.

One of the startling pieces of information we glean from it: Starting in 2009 Cabot’s cost to drill and produce gas was $2.47 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf). By 2013, that number had dropped to an average $1.37/Mcf. Next year, in 2014, Cabot says their Marcellus per unit cash cost, the cost of drilling and producing, will be around…
Read More “Cabot O&G: Marcellus Cost Structure Goes Through the…Floor!”
Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Lycoming County | Pennsylvania

Is the Marcellus Already Going Bust in Lycoming County, PA?
November 25, 2013November 25, 2013

Has the Marcellus Shale drilling industry already going bust? If you read the headlines of say, oh, the Philadelphia Inquirer, that may be the conclusion you reach. But if you read beyond the headlines you’ll find a different story.

The number of drilling rigs in the Marcellus is down a bit from what it was a year or two ago, that’s for sure. With less drilling comes less of a lot of other things needed for drilling (hotel visits, construction, security, catering, etc.). However, it may be more accurate to view the Marcellus drilling industry as more like taking a breather. Regrouping. Assessing. One thing is for sure, although some parts of the Marcellus drilling industry may have dipped (not gone bust, but slowed a bit), other parts of it are just picking up steam. A better metaphor is “ebb and flow”…
Read More “Is the Marcellus Already Going Bust in Lycoming County, PA?”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

CO2 Instead of Water for Fracking – Seriously?!
November 25, 2013November 25, 2013

From time to time MDN likes to highlight new technologies used in shale drilling. We’ve talked about the recent trend in drillers switching from using diesel to run drilling rigs to using natural gas. A number of Marcellus drillers now use pure natgas or dual fuel drilling rigs, drillers including Cabot, Seneca, Antero, CONSOL, EQT (see this MDN search for a list of those stories). We’ve also talked about companies who have developed alternatives to water as a fracking fluid–most recently eCORP Stimulation Technologies’ liquefied petroleum gas (LPG or propane) fracking (see ecorpStim Tries to Interest France in Waterless Fracking Tech).

MDN always hastens to add, there’s nothing inherently wrong with using water as a fracking fluid. It’s cheap, it’s plentiful and the amount used is so tiny in comparison to other uses, it’s not an environmental problem–at least not in the northeastern U.S. However, there are places were water is not abundant, so enterprising companies are still trying to create innovative solutions. Some of those enterprising companies are now looking at that evil, nasty compound that is the cause of so much angst for global warmers: carbon dioxide (goes by the gang name CO2). CO2 is plentiful–it’s the stuff you breathe out with every breath and the stuff plants and trees need to breath in so they can produce oxygen. But we digress. Engineers are looking at CO2 as a possible solution to replace water fracking. If they can figure it out, we say, grrrreat!…
Read More “CO2 Instead of Water for Fracking – Seriously?!”
Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Research | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Deloitte & EIA: 90,000 Marcellus Wells Drilled in Next 20 Years
November 25, 2013November 25, 2013

A new report published by consulting powerhouse Deloitte references (and affirms) U.S. Energy Information Administration’s predictions that it will take at least $5 trillion of investment in the oil and gas sector between now and 2035 to main current levels of oil and natural gas production and meet future demand as it rises. The report is titled “The challenge of renaissance: Managing an unprecedented wave of oil and gas investment.” Unfortunately we couldn’t locate a copy–but reportedly it’s full of interesting facts–like the $5 trillion number.

Another eye-popping number from the report: Current estimates are that 90,000 Marcellus Shale wells will be drilled over the next 20 years. That kind of activity will spur an unfathomable economic revival in the northeast like we haven’t seen in since, well, forever! The study says while “trillions” will be spent on upstream (drilling), “hundreds of billions” will need to be spent on midstream (pipelines & processing plants) in order to keep up with the production. More from the Deloitte study…
Read More “Deloitte & EIA: 90,000 Marcellus Wells Drilled in Next 20 Years”
About MDN | Allegheny County | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | MDN Resources | Pennsylvania | Supply Chain | Washington County

Want to Plug in to the Marcellus Industry? These Groups Can Help
November 25, 2013November 25, 2013

For individuals living in Greater Pittsburgh looking for a job in the drilling industry, or companies looking to break into the Marcellus Shale supply chain, the Pittsburgh Business Times published a helpful list of organizations (and their websites) that may be able to give you an assist with your pursuit…
Read More “Want to Plug in to the Marcellus Industry? These Groups Can Help”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, Nov 25, 2013
November 25, 2013November 25, 2013

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:
Read More “Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, Nov 25, 2013”
Air Quality | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County

The One Issue on Which Anti- and Pro-Drillers Agree
November 22, 2013November 22, 2013

Is there an issue on which both anti- and pro-drillers can agree? Is there ever a time both sides can sit at the same table and discuss a potential problem, and do so without hyperbole and snarky comments? Is there an issue over which both sides can talk and not have it end in shouting? Indeed there is–and it is the issue of air pollution. MDN realizes we’re on shaky ground with our industry friends by writing this, but on several occasions we’ve pointed out there is a growing body of evidence that shows a marked increase in air pollution in heavily drilled areas–mostly from compressor plants, but also from drilling rigs, truck traffic, etc. (see PA DEP Report: Counties with Fracking Have More Air Pollution). The issue of air pollution is enough to unite two neighbors from Dimock, PA who were formerly on opposite sides of the drilling debate.

One of those neighbors starred in Josh Fox’s Gasland II fiction–Victoria Switzer (see More on “Pro-Drilling” Conversion of Gasland II Star from Dimock). We wouldn’t say Vickie is exactly pro-drilling these days, but she’s decided to be realistic and constructive, instead of obstructive, and that’s a positive change. She’s once again on speaking terms with her Dimock neighbor Ron Teel, a pro-drilling landowner. Ron and Vickie both belong to the local advocacy group Breathe Easy Susquehanna County…
Read More “The One Issue on Which Anti- and Pro-Drillers Agree”
Beaver County | Energy Companies | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Shell

Cracker Talk: Shell Rumored to be Buying Up Land Near Site
November 22, 2013November 22, 2013

Yes, more “cracker talk,” but we’re hopelessly addicted to cracker talk. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that Shell is buying up more land around a proposed ethane cracker site in Beaver County, PA. If Shell has decided to not build the cracker, it certainly doesn’t make sense for them to spend money on purchasing land. So, maybe this is a good sign that Shell is moving forward with their cracker?

The race is now on to see who will build the first ethane cracker in the northeast: PA or WV. Is the talk about Shell buying land just more hype by the Pittsburgh media? Or is there something “there” with this story? The latest scuttlebutt about the Shell cracker…
Read More “Cracker Talk: Shell Rumored to be Buying Up Land Near Site”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | NGLs | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide PA | Sunoco Logistics

Sunoco Logistics Planning Second Mariner East Pipeline for NGLs
November 22, 2013November 22, 2013

More than a year ago MDN brought you the news that Sunoco Logistics’ Mariner East pipeline–an existing pipeline being upgraded to convey propane and ethane from western Pennsylvania all the way to the Marcus Hook refinery near Philadelphia–was completely spoken for (see Mariner East Pipeline to Philly Refinery 100% Committed). Range Resources announced at the time that they would be the main user of the pipeline (see Range Announces They’re Main Shipper for Mariner East Pipeline). Upgrades to the Mariner East are under way now and will be online beginning in 2014.

In re-reading those stories from last year, we should have noticed something we did not. Sunoco said they were considering a second “open season” for Mariner East. If the pipeline is already 100% committed, how can they take on even more customers? Answer: Build a second Mariner East pipeline. Thanks to an excellent bit of reporting in the Harrisburg Patriot-News, we now understand what that statement meant last year. In a story published yesterday, the Patriot-News says Sunoco is working on a plan to build a second Mariner East pipeline across PA. Although there are currently few details, the outlines of where the pipeline may go are taking shape thanks to notifications received by PA landowners in the Susquehanna Valley area…

Read More “Sunoco Logistics Planning Second Mariner East Pipeline for NGLs”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Research

Anti-Drilling Cabal Issues Biased Report on Marcellus/Utica Jobs
November 22, 2013November 22, 2013

A collection of highly partisan anti-drillers (people who abjectly hate fossil fuels) get together and issue a “report” that claims to be backed by “research” (a few interviews with a few people in a few counties), and it’s instantly news. The officious sounding and never before heard from Multi-State Shale Research Collaborative has just issued a report saying, “Nah, the Marcellus and Utica Shale industry doesn’t create all that many jobs after all.” Er, right. Who is the Multi-State Shale Research Collaborative? A group of five anti-drilling groups who use the word “nonpartisan” so many times if we had a nickle for every time it appears on their websites…you get the idea. This new league of anti-drillers (“cabal” about pegs it) attempts to appear nonpartisan and above it all. They are not. They are completely partisan on the issue of drilling. How do we know? Look at who funds them and their so-called research on employment: The Heinz Endowments, Hillsdale Fund, Park Foundation, and Stoneman Family Foundation. Need we say more?

Below are the press release and the full report issued by the cabal. It’s not really worth anyone’s time to read it–we present it to you so you are informed of the latest coordinated and scripted attack against shale drilling–so when you see Reuters/Bloomberg/AP/Gannett et all pick it up and breathlessly report it as real news, you’ll know what you’re looking at. Just more propaganda from the usual suspects…
Read More “Anti-Drilling Cabal Issues Biased Report on Marcellus/Utica Jobs”
Industrywide Issues | Lackawanna County | Pennsylvania | Taxation

Marcellus Drilling Helps Fix Biggest Polluter of Chesapeake Bay
November 22, 2013November 22, 2013

Natural gas will help clean up the single largest source of pollution to the Chesapeake Bay. What is that source? Acid mine drainage that pours out of a single hole called the Old Forge borehole drilled by the federal government (Army Corps of Engineers) in 1962. Some 60-100 million gallons of acid mine water pour out of that hole every day–into the Lackawanna River which dumps into the Susquehanna River which empties into the Chesapeake Bay.

Where does all that water come from (what causes it), and what does natural gas have to do with fixing the problem? Read on…
Read More “Marcellus Drilling Helps Fix Biggest Polluter of Chesapeake Bay”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Research

New Report Goes Back to Basics: What is Fracking & Is It Safe?
November 22, 2013November 22, 2013

Every now and again it helps to take a step back and review the fundamentals–the basics. A wide swath of the American public still doesn’t understand what fracking is, and only reads the occasional headline that seems to paint the picture that shale drilling is negative or dangerous for the environment. Wouldn’t it be great to have a “this is basics of shale drilling and fracking” kind of document? A primer of sorts, that strips out the wild allegations and concentrates on the facts–including facts about the negatives of shale drilling?

We now have such a document. Earlier this week, the nonpartisan Heartland Institute issued a 36-page primer/research paper titled, “Hydraulic Fracturing: A Game-Changer for U.S. Energy and Economies” (full copy embedded below). This excellent paper answers the “What is it and how does it work?” questions along with environmental safety questions. The paper is written in understandable language and is extensively footnoted (i.e. they offer proof for their statements). Here’s the announcement about this important new resource:
Read More “New Report Goes Back to Basics: What is Fracking & Is It Safe?”
Lease & Royalty Payments

AAPL Seeks to Set the Record Straight on Role of Landmen
November 22, 2013January 16, 2014

Landmen, rightly or wrongly, sometimes have a bad reputation. Landmen fulfill an important role in signing landowners to leases to allow shale drilling on or under their property. The common perception (misperception) is that a landman swoops in to town and using equal parts carrot and stick, entices/cajoles/pressures dimwitted country bumpkin landowners into signing a lease they might not have otherwise signed (see MDN Goes to the ‘Promised Land’). Are there some bad landman apples in the barrel? Like any profession, the answer is yes (see When Landmen Go Bad: Butler, PA Landman Arrested for Fraud). However, the vast majority are honest, upstanding and dedicated professionals–and they do a job vital to the drilling process.

The American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL) has 18,000 members. They recently launched a public relations campaign called “Meet Us” in which they use short videos to convey the truth about who landmen are, what they do, and how they do it…
Read More “AAPL Seeks to Set the Record Straight on Role of Landmen”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Fri, Nov 22, 2013
November 22, 2013November 22, 2013

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:
Read More “Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Fri, Nov 22, 2013”