Marcellus Drilling News

Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

OH’s Utica Shale Drillers Go South
September 4, 2013September 4, 2013

Ace reporter Bob Downing from the Akron Beacon Journal does a great job in an article published yesterday with reviewing the most recent permit (and drilling) trends in Ohio. What did he find? Most drillers are moving their permits and their drilling rigs to the southern part of the state. Carroll County remains the current champ for Utica Shale drilling with 319 wells permitted (38% of all Utica Shale wells in Ohio). However, at some point in the not-too-distant-future that will change…
Read More “OH’s Utica Shale Drillers Go South”
Energy Services | Heckmann | Industrywide Issues | Litigation

Nuverra Environmental Sued Over Stock Price Tumble
September 4, 2013September 4, 2013

At the end of July, MDN told you (sort of tongue-in-cheek) that Nuverra Environmental Solutions (formerly Heckmann), a company that recycles and otherwise disposes of shale drilling wastewater and leftover rock and dirt from drilling, was blaming “too much success” in the Marcellus/Utica for their poor quarterly earnings report (see Wastewater Company Nuverra: Too Much Success in Marcellus/Utica). Nuverra’s rapidly expanding Marcellus operation led to more outsourcing and less profitability, it seems. It also seems Nuverra now has a much bigger problem than a bustling Marcellus–they’re being sued in a class action by investors.

The class action, filed by very active law firm Robbins Geller, alleges that Nuverra previously “issued materially false and misleading statements regarding the Company’s financial performance and future prospects.” Because of the alleged false statements, Nuverra’s stock traded at artificially inflated prices. What went up (the stock price) has now come down (see the chart below), and investors (or at least the lawyers) are not pleased…
Read More “Nuverra Environmental Sued Over Stock Price Tumble”
Alternative Energy | Industrywide Issues | Mahoning County | Ohio

Poor Biofuels are Feeling Picked-on…Boo Hoo
September 4, 2013September 4, 2013

The biofuel industry is in a pout. So-called biofuels have long been known to be way more expensive than other forms of energy, like fossil fuels. Biofuels also drive up the price of food staples like corn, creating shortages in poor countries like Mexico. Feeling picked-on by others who point out such inconvenient truths, the biofuel industry has just launched a propaganda advertising campaign called “You’re no Dummy” in Youngstown, OH and in other markets across the U.S. It’s an attempt to smear the oil and gas industry which has taken off like a rocket over the past few years because of shale drilling.

The new ad campaign from “advocacy group” Growth Energy is truly rich…
Read More “Poor Biofuels are Feeling Picked-on…Boo Hoo”
About MDN | Calendar

Calendar of Events for Sep 2-15, 2013 [Free]
September 4, 2013September 4, 2013

Below are upcoming events for this week and next.
Read More “Calendar of Events for Sep 2-15, 2013 [Free]”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Wed, Sep 4, 2013
September 4, 2013September 4, 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, Sep 4, 2013”
Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Lease & Royalty Payments | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Chesapeake Settles PA Royalty Lawsuit for Pittance: $7.5M
September 3, 2013September 3, 2013

In July, MDN told you about a class action lawsuit by some Pennsylvania landowners against Chesapeake Energy over the issue of deducting certain costs from post-production when calculating royalties–costs that the landowners say are not listed in the original lease and for which Chessy does not have the right to deduct (see Some PA Landowners Mull Decision to Sue Chesapeake over Royalties). A number of landowners joined the class action lawsuit. The lawyers worked feverishly and both sides have now settled.

Chesapeake will pay $7.5 million to settle the lawsuit, to be share with the lawyers (of course) and then amongst the landowners. Apparently the settlement will benefit “several thousand leaseholders” who have the option to either accept the settlement or continue on their own by filing their own lawsuit…
Read More “Chesapeake Settles PA Royalty Lawsuit for Pittance: $7.5M”
Industrywide Issues | Jobs | New York | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Statewide NY | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Marcellus/Utica Industry Looking to Hire More Locals
September 3, 2013September 3, 2013

Do you live in Pennsylvania, Ohio or West Virginia (or perhaps the Southern Tier of sad New York) and want a job working for the growing shale drilling industry? According to The Motley Fool, your chances of landing a job in the Marcellus/Utica industry have never been better. The Fool even has a few suggestions of companies looking to hire…
Read More “Marcellus/Utica Industry Looking to Hire More Locals”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | UGI Energy Services | Wyoming County (PA)

UGI Victory: Judge Rules in Favor Marcellus Gate Station in NE PA
September 3, 2013September 3, 2013

MDN told you back in April about UGI’s (a Scranton-area public utility) plan to build a new pipeline connector–called a gate station–so they could tap into abundant, cheap and locally produced Marcellus Shale gas to sell to its customers. UGI’s plan will lower the gas bill for thousands of its customers and use local Marcellus gas instead of gas piped in from the Gulf Coast. Fantastically, some hardened anti-drillers opposed the new gate station with claims of air pollution, dire consequences, blah blah–the usual banal excuses–even though there has been another gate station operating in the area for more than 50 years (see Anti-Drillers Try to Stop Pipeline Connector in NE PA).

Anti-drillers tried to stop the UGI gate station by invoking local zoning ordinances at the town level. Fortunately, a level-headed administrative law judge has put a stop to those efforts and has ruled that UGI may go ahead and build the new Marcellus gas gate station…
Read More “UGI Victory: Judge Rules in Favor Marcellus Gate Station in NE PA”
American Energy Partners | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Ohio | Statewide OH

McClendon Gets Sued in OH Over New Company’s Name
September 3, 2013September 3, 2013

It’s no secret that coal has taken a beating from abundant, cheap shale gas. Natural gas burns cleaner than coal–there’s just no disputing that fact. And because of it, natural gas has displaced coal at a number of electrical generating plants around the country. However, coal remains a very important fossil fuel that powers much (in fact most) of American electricity. So it’s no surprise that the owner of a number of Ohio coal mines is a bit miffed with Aubrey McClendon.

Robert Murray operates a coal mine near Beallsville (Monroe County), OH under the name American Energy Corp. Aubrey McClendon named his new shale oil & gas company American Energy Partners. Murray is miffed enough with McClendon to sue him for misappropriation of the name American Energy. He believes McClendon has intentionally tried to confuse the marketplace…
Read More “McClendon Gets Sued in OH Over New Company’s Name”
Belmont County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Harrison County | Hess | Industrywide Issues | Jefferson County (OH) | Ohio | Pipelines | PVR Midstream | PVR Partners | Utica Shale

PVR Partners to Build $150M Utica Shale Pipeline System for Hess
September 3, 2013September 3, 2013

Midstream company PVR Partners has been selected by Hess to construct 45 miles of gathering pipelines in eastern Ohio’s Utica Shale region. In an announcement issued today, PVR said the new pipelines will be built to cover Belmont, Jefferson and Harrison Counties where Hess holds a substantial acreage position. The new pipeline project will end up costing somewhere in the neighborhood of $125-$150 million and will be completed in 2015.

The PVR announcement:
Read More “PVR Partners to Build $150M Utica Shale Pipeline System for Hess”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

ASTM Intl Announces Proposed Standard for Shale Oil/Gas Fracking
September 3, 2013September 3, 2013

There’s no end of governmental, quasi-governmental and private organizations that want to impose some sort of regulation on fracking. From the federal EPA on down, they all want to get their licks in. Regulation (at the state level) is of course absolutely necessary. Strong regulations to protect citizens and the environment is a must–and the responsibility for doing it lies solely with the states as a matter of Constitutional law. As for the plethora of other would-be regulators? Not needed. But that doesn’t stop them from trying anyway.

The latest organization to toss their hat in the fracking regulation ring is ASTM International–formerly known as the American Society for Testing and Materials. A very fine organization with superb standards used by many industries. However, they’re now working on a proposed standard and “best practices” for shale oil and gas drilling and fracking. We have to ask: Is it really needed?
Read More “ASTM Intl Announces Proposed Standard for Shale Oil/Gas Fracking”
Antero Resources | Energy Companies

Antero Resources Gets Extra $250 Million Credit Line
September 3, 2013September 3, 2013

Antero Resources was recently crowned as the driller with the most productive Utica Shale well in Ohio, a single well that will provide the company with an enormous amount of revenue (see WVU Prof Says Antero Well will Generate $300K Revenue…Per Day!). Apparently the publicity has been good for Antero, who announced today they’ve upped their line of credit at the bank–from $1.75 billion to a whopping $2 billion. So far Antero has used about $1 billion from their line of credit to finance drilling operations in the Utica and Marcellus Shale.

Must be the bankers at JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo were impressed with the performance of Antero’s latest wells–$250 million impressed…
Read More “Antero Resources Gets Extra $250 Million Credit Line”
American Energy Partners | Energy Companies | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

More Evidence that Aubrey McClendon Loves OH’s Utica Shale
September 3, 2013September 3, 2013

Aubrey McClendon is former CEO of Chesapeake Energy and now CEO of an upstart competitor he started named American Energy Partners (see AEP’s just launched website here). Aubrey is high on the Ohio Utica Shale. He’s rumored to be close to signing a deal with Shell for 50,000 OH Utica Shale acres, and is also rumored to be the unnamed buyer for EnerVest’s 22,535 OH Utica Shale acres sold just a few weeks ago (see He’s Baaaack! Aubrey McClendon is Back in OH Shale Country).

More evidence that Aubrey is focusing on Ohio: A bunch of advertisements AEP is running in OH media seeking to sign leases in the following counties…
Read More “More Evidence that Aubrey McClendon Loves OH’s Utica Shale”
Belmont County | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Seismic Testing | Utica Shale

Belmont County, OH Seismic Charges: Trespass or Honest Mistake?
September 3, 2013September 3, 2013

Sandy Putorek, who lives in Pittsburgh but owns a 30-acre farm in Lansing (Belmont County), OH, is anti-drilling. It is her American right to refuse what she claims are many offers to lease her property for Utica Shale drilling. It is also her right (so long as she owns the mineral rights) to refuse seismic testing on her property. However, while recently visiting her land she noticed tracks across her property. When she followed them, she had a surprise: someone had installed small explosive charges used for seismic testing–without her permission. Now Sandy is (understandably) fighting mad.

The company that installed the charges is removing them, claiming bad maps from the county led to the charges being mistakenly placed on Sandy’s land…
Read More “Belmont County, OH Seismic Charges: Trespass or Honest Mistake?”
Industrywide Issues | Lycoming County | Pennsylvania | Supply Chain

Supply Chain Success: From Roller Coasters to Marcellus Well Pads
September 3, 2013September 3, 2013

What do roller coasters and Marcellus drilling sites have in common? It seems they have more in common than you might imagine.

MDN never ceases to be amazed at the ingenuity of America’s small businesses. The latest small business to amaze us is a custom plastics manufacturer in Montoursville, PA–Ralph S. Alberts Co–known for making plastic replacement parts for amusement park rides. Lately, the company has retooled the same plastic products used for amusement parks to be used as impregnable barriers at well pad sites. How cool (and innovative) is that?…
Read More “Supply Chain Success: From Roller Coasters to Marcellus Well Pads”
Alternative Energy | Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues

How Fairhaven, MA Residents Got Fleeced by Wind Power
September 3, 2013September 3, 2013

A Fairhaven, MA resident writes that Marcellus and Utica Shale have made natural gas so cheap that a wind energy project funded by Fairhaven town taxpayers has not, nor ever will, produce revenue anywhere near what was promised by the project’s developers–developers, we might add, that continue to get a guaranteed 2.3% increase in revenue each year even though the town is not getting the minimum profits they were told they would get.

Now the residents of Fairhaven are left holding the bag of diminishing revenue and escalating costs–and the Fairhaven residents who are unfortunate enough to live near the project have to endure the never-ending wumpf, wumpf, wumpf noise that comes from the turbines…
Read More “How Fairhaven, MA Residents Got Fleeced by Wind Power”