Marcellus Drilling News

Education | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County

Lackawanna College Converts Branch Campus to Natural Gas Program
March 13, 2013March 13, 2013

On Tuesday Lackawanna College announced the establishment of a School of Petroleum Natural Gas at its New Milford (Susquehanna County), PA location. The program will offer two associates degrees. The branch college campus at New Milford is being transformed and dedicated to the new program. Lackawanna notes a number of major oil and gas companies have a local presence, providing a ready job market for graduates.

The Lackawanna announcement from Tuesday:

Read More “Lackawanna College Converts Branch Campus to Natural Gas Program”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Wed, Mar 13, 2013
March 13, 2013March 13, 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, Mar 13, 2013”
Health Impacts | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY Health Com. Nirav Shah Says Fracking Health Review Almost Done
March 12, 2013March 11, 2013

An interesting development in the “As Cuomo Dithers” fracking soap opera. Freshly back from a road trip to confer with researchers studying the health effects of fracking, New York State Commissioner of Health Nirav Shah appeared at a press conference yesterday with Gov. Cuomo. In a surprise announcement, Shah said he will render his judgment on the question of frack/no frack “in weeks.” Cuomo himself made some encouraging remarks at the presser too, including his belief that the two-year moratorium bill passed by the NY Assembly last Wednesday is going nowhere fast.

You may recall we are currently waiting for Shah’s review and official opinion on whether or not fracking as done under the rules proposed by the Dept. of Environmental Conservation would negatively impact “public health.” Shah and his assistants went on a road trip to find out what they could from fracking health studies now under way (see Deadline for NY Fracking Regs Slips Again…Or Does It?). One of those studies, being performed by Geisinger Health Systems, has only just received $1 million in funding and preliminary results won’t be available for at least a year. Anti-drillers celebrated and took that to mean fracking in New York will be on hold for several more years. Shah and Cuomo’s comments from yesterday may have burst their bubble…

Read More “NY Health Com. Nirav Shah Says Fracking Health Review Almost Done”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

The Gall: Cuomo Lectures Landowners on How to Play Politics
March 12, 2013March 11, 2013

It appears the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York, the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York, the New York Petroleum Council and other pro-fracking groups have caught the attention—and irritation—of Gov. Ditherer Cuomo.

After a cabinet meeting yesterday, Cuomo was questioned about fracking and the looooooooong time it’s taking him to make up his mind. How did he respond? By verbally slapping around New York’s landowners that have waited nearly five years for drilling to begin:

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Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide PA

New Study: PA Marcellus Shale Drilling Doesn’t Pollute Waterways
March 12, 2013March 11, 2013

A new research study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences shows that Marcellus Shale drilling in Pennsylvania does not pollute the state’s waterways—at least not appreciably. The paper is titled “Shale gas development impacts on surface water quality in Pennsylvania” (full copy embedded below) and looks only at surface water—not underground aquifers. The study is significant because it looks at nearly 5,000 shale drilling sites in the state, and according to the lead author, they “didn’t find evidence in waterways of significant chemical spills from drill sites.”

Read More “New Study: PA Marcellus Shale Drilling Doesn’t Pollute Waterways”
Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Marcellus Shale will Hit 10 Bcf/d in Production in 2013
March 12, 2013March 11, 2013

Another stellar article on the Seeking Alpha website by energy analyst Richard Zeits. This one takes a look at the Marcellus Shale and notes that something “inconceivable” even a few years ago will become true this year: The Mighty Marcellus Shale will hit 10 billion cubic feet of natural gas production per day. Wow!

Here’s how the article starts:

Read More “Marcellus Shale will Hit 10 Bcf/d in Production in 2013”
Butler County | Crime | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Violence

Drive-by Shooting at Marcellus Well in NW PA
March 12, 2013March 11, 2013

Two shots were fired in a drive-by shooting at a Marcellus Shale well in Mercer Township (Butler County), PA last Saturday afternoon at 5:45 pm. Witnesses report a suspect in a white Ford Ranger pickup truck did the shooting…

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Crime | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Lycoming County | Pennsylvania

GPX Pleads Guilty in Using Illegal Aliens for PA Marcellus Work
March 12, 2013January 5, 2014

The final chapter is now written. MDN previously told you about GPX/GPX USA, a Texas-based seismic surveying company doing work in Pennsylvania for the oil and gas industry that was caught using illegal aliens to work on their surveying crews. It appeared they would only be fined $25,000 for the violation (see GPX Gets Off Easy After Using Illegal Aliens for PA Survey Crew). However, in addition to the $25K fine, they also have to forfeit a $250,000 cash bond. Ouch. That’s more like it.

In addition, the operations manager in charge of the illicit arrangement faces six months in jail and a $5,000 fine:

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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Trucking | Washington County (OH) | Wastewater

OH Group “Demands” Coast Guard Do Assessment of Brine Facility
March 12, 2013March 11, 2013

Anti-drilling group Meigs Citizens Action Now (Meigs CAN) is “demanding” an answer from the U.S. Coast Guard about whether or not they will require an environmental impact study for a proposed brine wastewater transfer facility that will store and send brine on barges down the Ohio River. The brine wastewater transfer station is located in New Matamoras (Washington County), OH and is already operational (run by GreenHunter) using trucks. GreenHunter proposes to reduce the number of trucks in and out of the facility by using barges to move the brine. This is the same facility that was vandalized a few weeks ago by protesters who shut down the facility for part of a day (see Protesters Get Violent, Shut Down OH Frack Water Plant).

Meigs CAN, via a press release (see below), erroneously claims the facility handles fracking wastewater containing diesel fuel and chemicals classified as hazardous waste. In fact the facility does not handle fracking wastewater—it only handles water that comes of of the hole weeks and months after fracking is done—after the water containing chemicals is already removed. Brine is naturally occurring water from the depths full of minerals and yes, perhaps even a touch of radium (well below radiation safety limits).

Read More “OH Group “Demands” Coast Guard Do Assessment of Brine Facility”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Tue, Mar 12, 2013
March 12, 2013March 11, 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: Tue, Mar 12, 2013”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

ODNR Issues New OH Utica Maps, Including “Best Places to Drill”
March 11, 2013March 11, 2013

Last week the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources (ODNR) released a number of new maps. Two of them, in particular, will be of interest to MDN readers: A map which displays the location of wells permitted and/or drilled, and a map showing Total Organic Carbon (TOC)—an indicator of the “best places to drill.” Both maps are embedded below.

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Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Broome County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation

NY Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo: Fracking Friend or Foe?
March 11, 2013March 11, 2013

Last Wednesday when the New York State Assembly voted to extend a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing another two years, after having had a moratorium for near five years already, many landowners in Broome County were surprised and disappointed to see a seeming change in position for an influential member of the NY State Assembly. Donna Lupardo, Assemblywoman for the City of Binghamton, Village of Endicott and the western Broome County towns of Vestal and Union, voted in favor of the two-year ban on fracking. Such a ban, if passed, would effectively kill drilling in New York—likely permanently. Two years ago she voted against a similar piece of legislation. Why the change?

MDN contacted Ms. Lupardo to ask that very question. She sent this response via email:

Read More “NY Assemblywoman Donna Lupardo: Fracking Friend or Foe?”
Devon Energy | Energy Companies | Ohio | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

First Driller to Abandon the Utica Shale & Other Tidbits
March 11, 2013March 11, 2013

Intrepid Utica Shale reporter Bob Downing from the Akron Beacon Journal attended the Ohio Oil and Gas Association (OOGA) annual winter meeting in Columbus last week. Bob filed the following list of “leftover items”—interesting tidbits—from that meeting, including the identity of the first company that will abandon the Utica:

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Beck Energy | Belmont County | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Lease & Royalty Payments | Litigation | Monroe County | Ohio | XTO

OH Lawsuit Victory: 600-700 Landowners Can Terminate Beck, XTO Leases
March 11, 2013March 11, 2013

A court case recently-decided could have big implications for landowners in Ohio. The case means that some 600-700 landowners with signed leases with Beck Energy Corp. and XTO Energy in Monroe and Belmont counties may be able to join a class action to have their leases terminated, allowing them to re-sign with a different company.

The details, as provided by law firm Jackson Kelly:

Read More “OH Lawsuit Victory: 600-700 Landowners Can Terminate Beck, XTO Leases”
Athens County | Ohio | Utica Shale

Athens County, OH Upgraded to “Good” on ODNR Utica Map
March 11, 2013March 11, 2013

Although the Tennessee Gas Pipeline and the Tetco pipeline (both major natural gas pipelines) run through Athens County, OH, and although there are several compressor plants in the county, so far there’s been very little shale drilling in the county, and none that specifically targets the Utica Shale. However, with a change in the “potentially good places to drill” map published by the Ohio Geological Survey (see today’s related story), that may change…

Read More “Athens County, OH Upgraded to “Good” on ODNR Utica Map”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Statewide OH | Taxation

Industry to OH: Raise Severance Tax, Forget About New Refineries
March 11, 2013March 11, 2013

An article in the Cleveland Plain Dealer provides an update on what’s happening “behind the scenes” when it comes to Ohio’s proposed budget. In particular, it provides a glimpse of something you don’t often hear about: “blunt” conversations that happen in the hallways of the State Capitol.

The article tells about conversations state representative Mike Foley, a Cleveland Democrat, has had with some oil & gas industry people about his support for Gov. John Kasich’s proposed severance tax increase:

Read More “Industry to OH: Raise Severance Tax, Forget About New Refineries”