Marcellus Drilling News

Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | Supply Chain | West Virginia

MSC Releases Annual Marcellus Job/Workforce Survey
August 22, 2013August 22, 2013

What types of companies in the Marcellus/Utica Shale region are hiring? What types of jobs are they hiring for? And where are they hiring? Those are just some of the answers you’ll find in the latest annual membership survey from the Marcellus Shale Coalition (copy of survey results embedded below). In addition to those questions, the survey also addresses which functions and services drillers outsourced (pay attention supply chain companies!), and which positions were hardest to fill (pay attention job seekers!).

The press release announcing and summarizing the survey results:
Read More “MSC Releases Annual Marcellus Job/Workforce Survey”
Industrywide Issues | Landfills | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Revisiting the Radioactive Shale Cutting Issue in PA
August 22, 2013August 22, 2013

Because of ongoing concerns about the radioactivity of leftover rock and dirt (“shale cuttings”) being dumped at PA landfills, the state Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) began a 12-14 month study of the issue this past January (see PA DEP Announces New Study of Radiation in Shale Drilling). A new update on their efforts and on the radioactive waste issue appears in today’s Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The article points out the dramatic increase in radioactive alarms going off at landfills over Marcellus waste shipments (happened nearly 1,000 times last year). However, the article also provides much-needed context and points out the radiation detected is minuscule because the detectors are so finely tuned to detect medical waste, and that in reality most of the time there is no issue or cause for concern.

The article begins this way:
Read More “Revisiting the Radioactive Shale Cutting Issue in PA”
Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

2nd High-Level Defection from PA DEP: Kevin Sunday Joins PR Firm
August 22, 2013August 22, 2013

A second high-level defection from the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP). In March, then-Sec. of the DEP Michael Krancer announced he would leave the DEP and return to private law practice (see Developing… PA DEP Sec. Krancer Resigns). Krancer has been gone since April 15th. Now, a second prominent DEP official–deputy press secretary Kevin Sunday–has left too.

Harrisburg PR firm Quantum Communications announced yesterday that Sunday has joined their company and will “help lead” the “growing energy practice” at Quantum…
Read More “2nd High-Level Defection from PA DEP: Kevin Sunday Joins PR Firm”
Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

OH Utica Shale – More Jobs to Come, Sale Tax Revenue Soars
August 22, 2013August 22, 2013

Although the “received wisdom” is that the Utica Shale has not, so far, created a bonanza of jobs for in-state residents, it’s early days yet and most energy industry analysts and watchers predict jobs for Ohioans in much greater numbers are on the way. In the meantime, the Utica’s positive impact on local economies is not in dispute. The latest evidence: the 15 counties in eastern OH with the best Utica Shale deposits (and the most drilling) have seen their sale tax revenues soar by an average 20% in 2012 vs 2011. That is a huge number and indicates a lot of money from drilling stays in OH and ripples throughout local economies…
Read More “OH Utica Shale – More Jobs to Come, Sale Tax Revenue Soars”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Thu, Aug 22, 2013
August 22, 2013August 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: Thu, Aug 22, 2013”
Broome County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation

JLCNY Picnic Celebration for Obama’s Visit to Binghamton
August 21, 2013August 20, 2013

What a difference between planned rallies from the anti- and pro-drilling camps that will assemble this Friday, August 23, when President Obama visits Binghamton. Yesterday MDN told you about plans for the nutter squad (see NY Anti-Drillers Plan “Red Letter Day” for Obama Binghamton Visit). Compare that announcement, which is almost painful to read so laced with negativity and vitriol, with the announcement below from the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY), which is respectful, hopeful and positive.

The JLCNY will not protest and picket Obama when he visits Binghamton. Instead, they’re heading to a local park for a day-long picnic. Of course bring your big signs so Obama sees it when he passes by–but the JLCNY event is about celebration, even though this group of people has far more to be negative and angry about. The two announcements illustrate the stark contrast between the kinds of people that make up each group. It’s like night and day…
Read More “JLCNY Picnic Celebration for Obama’s Visit to Binghamton”
Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies

Corporate Raider Carl Ichan Ups Stake in Chesapeake – Again
August 21, 2013August 20, 2013

Corporate raider Carl Icahn–a man who buys up stock in companies so he can lay people off and resell his stock at a profit–has increased his stake in Chesapeake Energy by a full percentage point–to 9.98%. Man we’d hate to have him lurking on our board. It’s likely no coincidence that Chesapeake has just laid off a number of its public relations staff in Ohio and Pennsylvania. Thanks Carl!…
Read More “Corporate Raider Carl Ichan Ups Stake in Chesapeake – Again”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Otsego County

Anti-Drillers Want NY Hospital to Burn Oil to Avoid More Fracking
August 21, 2013August 20, 2013

Natural gas burns cleaner than either coal or oil–this is an inarguable fact. Natural gas is also, thanks to shale fracking, now cheaper than either oil and in most cases coal. And yet, anti-fracking activists don’t want a hospital in Oneonta, NY to convert to using natural gas (cleaner, cheaper) because…it may one day lead to more fracking. Huh? Don’t convert, even though it’s better for the air and even though it will cost less than burning oil (as they do now). Yep. That’s the twisted philosophy rampant among New York anti-drillers. It makes no sense, so don’t try and figure it out or you may go crazy too…
Read More “Anti-Drillers Want NY Hospital to Burn Oil to Avoid More Fracking”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Mahoning County | Ohio | Regulation

Anti-Drillers to Throw a Big Party this Weekend in Youngstown, OH
August 21, 2013August 20, 2013

Calling all fossil-fuel haters–get your “frack” on–it’s time to paaarrrrrttttaaay! Anti-frackers will assemble in Youngstown, OH this weekend for a party in support of a truly stupid ballot measure that will be voted on (for a second time) this November. If passed, the new law would not only ban fracking in Youngstown–but also ban businesses involved with the shale oil and gas industry from operating in Youngstown. Such a measure would be a catastrophe for the economy of the just-starting-to-recover Youngstown, but this bunch will be so high they won’t notice…
Read More “Anti-Drillers to Throw a Big Party this Weekend in Youngstown, OH”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Wed, Aug 21, 2013
August 21, 2013August 20, 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: Wed, Aug 21, 2013”
Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Pro-Drilling PA Gov. Tom Corbett Applauded by National GOP
August 20, 2013August 20, 2013

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, strongly pro-drilling, was the star of the show at the Republican National Committee meeting in Boston last Thursday where he gave a speech at a gathering that included so-called Republicans like NJ Gov. Chris Christie and MA Senator Scott Brown–RINOs with much more national name recognition. Corbett got repeated applause for reducing the bloated size of government in PA (cleaning up the mess left by Ed Rendell) and for ramping up Marcellus Shale drilling.

Pennsylvania GOP Chairman Rob Gleason said New York wants Corbett to come make a speech in the Empire State to show the apparently clueless (our words) Cuomo how to get it done when it comes to drilling. Here’s what Gleason said about Corbett’s Boston speech, about his conversation with the head of the GOP in NY, and about the controversy that has erupted over the PA Democrats’ idiotic vote to “temporarily” ban drilling statewide:
Read More “Pro-Drilling PA Gov. Tom Corbett Applauded by National GOP”
Accidents | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | NGLs | Pipelines | West Virginia | Wetzel County

Landslide Causes MarkWest NGL Pipeline in WV to Rupture/Spill
August 20, 2013August 20, 2013

A landslide last week damaged a MarkWest Energy wet gas pipeline in Wetzel County, WV. The pipeline ruptured and spilled gas liquids onto the ground and into a nearby stream causing a fish kill. The pipeline connects MarkWest’s Mobley and Majorsville facilities. It was immediately shut down and will remain so for the foreseeable future until repairs are done.

The known details of the spill:
Read More “Landslide Causes MarkWest NGL Pipeline in WV to Rupture/Spill”
Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

PA NatGas Production up 58.5% to 1.42 Tcf (!)
August 20, 2013August 20, 2013

The top-notch editors at NGI’s Shale Daily have put together a must-see report on Marcellus Shale production in PA. Natural gas production in PA was up an astonishing 58.5% in the first six months of this year–to a new high of 1.42 trillion cubic feet. The report identifies the state’s top-producing well (in Bradford County, find out which driller and how much gas it produced in the report), and includes a handy chart showing production by county, breaking out methane, condensate and oil production.

The article/report begins this way:
Read More “PA NatGas Production up 58.5% to 1.42 Tcf (!)”
Antero Resources | Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

Prometheus to Supply Antero Resources with LNG for Drilling Rigs
August 20, 2013August 20, 2013

In April MDN told you that Antero Resources was the second Marcellus/Utica Shale driller that would convert its drilling rigs to run on 100% liquefied natural gas, or LNG (see Antero Res 2nd Marcellus Driller to Use 100% NatGas Rig Engines). Seems Antero now has a supplier that will deliver the LNG and the necessary equipment to Antero’s drill sites to power those rigs. That supplier is Prometheus Energy Group…
Read More “Prometheus to Supply Antero Resources with LNG for Drilling Rigs”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Broome County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York

NY Anti-Drillers Plan “Red Letter Day” for Obama Binghamton Visit
August 20, 2013August 20, 2013

Walter Hang, proprietor of a company called Toxics Targeting, and the loony brigade from New York Residents Against Drilling (NYRAD) will be out in force at President Obama’s appearance this Friday at Binghamton University. MDN has attended various anti-drilling meetings in the past (as a reporter, not a supporter) and has ended up on email lists including Mr. Hang’s.

Hang sent the following email alert to all the faithful encouraging them to turn out on Friday, with the subject line “URGENT ALERT! URGENT ALERT! OBAMA AT BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY FRIDAY – AUGUST 23rd”:
Read More “NY Anti-Drillers Plan “Red Letter Day” for Obama Binghamton Visit”
Energy Services | GreenHunter Resources

GreenHunter Water 2Q13: Revenue Way Up, Losses Way Up Too
August 20, 2013August 20, 2013

GreenHunter Resources and its subsidiary GreenHunter Water is a fracking wastewater recycler/disposal company focused on the Marcellus and Utica Shale region. GreenHunter released their second quarter financials and operational update yesterday. Wastewater is good for GreenHunter: revenue for the first six months of this year vs. last year is up a very big 172%, albeit it’s only $17.5 million in revenue. GreenHunter recently had good news with the approval of a new recycling/barge facility in Wheeling, WV (see Wheeling, WV Approves GreenHunter Frack Wastewater Facility).

However, all is not coming up roses for GreenHunter. The company is bleeding money with an operating loss of $2.1 million as of June 30th. They’ve just hired a new senior vice president/chief financial officer to help stem the bleeding…
Read More “GreenHunter Water 2Q13: Revenue Way Up, Losses Way Up Too”