Marcellus Drilling News

Aqua America | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Penn Virginia Corporation | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

PVR Water Services – Now Pumping 3M Gal of Water/Day for Drilling
February 26, 2013February 26, 2013

Aqua America is one of the largest U.S.-based, publicly-traded water utilities with almost 3 million residents in Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, Florida and Georgia. They also have a joint venture with Penn Virginia Resource Partners called PVR Water Services which provides water to Marcellus drillers in Pennsylvania. So far business is good.

A short section of Aqua America’s annual financial and operations report updates us on PVR Water Services:

Read More “PVR Water Services – Now Pumping 3M Gal of Water/Day for Drilling”
Energy Companies | Statewide WV | Stone Energy | West Virginia

Stone Energy 2012: Profits Down but Revenue & Production Up
February 26, 2013February 26, 2013

Stone Energy released fourth quarter and full year 2012 financials and an operations update yesterday. The company reported net income for 2012 totaled $149.4 million, or $3.03 per share, on revenue of $951.5 million compared with 2011 net income of $194.3 million, or $3.97 per share, on revenue of $869.9 million. CEO David Welch noted the company increased production and reserves for the third consecutive year. Welch said production and reserves are up mostly because of the Marcellus Shale.

Select portions of the Stone press release/update dealing with the Marcellus:

Read More “Stone Energy 2012: Profits Down but Revenue & Production Up”
Eclipse Resources | Energy Companies

Eclipses Resources Lands Important New Team Member
February 26, 2013February 26, 2013

MDN does not usually report on people moves (perhaps we should do it more often). However, we thought this one was noteworthy, so we’re bringing it to you. Oleg Tolmachev has just become Vice President of Drilling and Completions for Eclipse Resources. Eclipse is a driller in the Marcellus and Utica Shale. What makes this announcement noteworthy is that previously Mr. Tolmachev held a senior position with Chesapeake Energy in the Utica Shale, and before that with EnCana in the Barnett and Haynesville Shales. Eclipse has landed an important new team member as they continue to expand in the Marcellus and Utica.

Here’s the announcement from Eclipse:

Read More “Eclipses Resources Lands Important New Team Member”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Tue, Feb 26, 2013
February 26, 2013February 26, 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, Feb 26, 2013”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Regulation | Statewide OH | Taxation | Utica Shale

OH Budget Bill Hits Utica Drilling with $25K/Well Impact Fee
February 25, 2013February 25, 2013

If you ever (logically) thought a piece of legislation that’s meant to be a budget would only deal with money issues, you would be wrong. Budget laws for decades have been used to slip in all sorts of non-money-related measures. This year’s Ohio budget is no different. Tucked away in the proposed budget law from Gov. John Kasich are a number of non-budget items that directly affect Utica Shale drilling in Ohio. The measures include a ban on using brine as a de-icer on public roads, moving from yearly to quarterly production reports, lease transfer 30-day notifications, a $25,000 impact fee on each well drilled (surprise!), and testing of shale cuttings for radioactivity. And you thought budgets were just boring numbers.

Here’s the low-down on the non-budget items in the budget bill that will impact Utica drilling in a big way:

Read More “OH Budget Bill Hits Utica Drilling with $25K/Well Impact Fee”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pike County | Pipelines | Tennessee Gas Pipeline

Praying for Dead Trees – The Nutty Gas Protesters of Pike County
February 25, 2013February 25, 2013

Columnist Beth Brelje has penned a must-read editorial on the nutters in Pike County, PA protesting construction of the Tennessee Gas Pipeline’s 323 Line. Brelje says the protesters have scheduled a—get this—prayer vigil, to pray for the “fallen trees.” Yeah, Twilight Zone stuff.

Instead of praying over dead wood, Brelje says protesters might actually want to do something constructive with their time, like:

Read More “Praying for Dead Trees – The Nutty Gas Protesters of Pike County”
Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Research | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Law Firm Publishes Handy Utica Highlights Report for 4Q12
February 25, 2013February 25, 2013

Law firm Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP (offices in Columbus and Cleveland) has just published a quarterly summary close-up on the Ohio Utica Shale for fourth quarter 2012. It’s full of interesting highlights and bits and bobs you’ve already read on MDN. However, the report pulls a lot of overview material together in an easy to scan format—and it’s just 12 pages (full report embedded below).

The report opens with what it considers the top issues and useful information. It then highlights some of the major industry moves, looks at the midstream and infrastructure projects, government regulation, and closes with training programs available to help those who want jobs in the gas and oil fields. A nice report—worth your time to review it.

Read More “Law Firm Publishes Handy Utica Highlights Report for 4Q12”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Statewide WV | Taxation | West Virginia

Closer Look at Shale Bills Before WV Legislature
February 25, 2013February 25, 2013

The West Virginia legislature only meets for 60 calendar days each year, so when they convene, a flurry of new bills are introduced. MDN recently told you this year legislators have already introduced some 60 bills dealing with energy issues in the state—22 of those bills were introduced by Delegate Mike Manypenny, D-Taylor (see New Rules/Laws for Shale Drilling Will Come to WV in 2013).

Not all of the bills will become law, but some will. Here’s a look at a few of the more serious contenders that stand a chance of getting enacted, and one (forced pooling) that hasn’t even been introduced—yet:

Read More “Closer Look at Shale Bills Before WV Legislature”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Mahoning County | Ohio | Regulation | Utica Shale

Youngstown, OH to Commit Utica Suicide with Vote to Ban Drilling
February 25, 2013February 25, 2013

Is it right for a simple majority to strip away the hard-earned property of their neighbors with an up or down vote? The Founding Fathers called it mob rule, which is why the United States was founded as a democratic republic—not a straight democracy. They recognized that up or down votes that allow citizens to take away property (money, use of land, possessions) from fellow citizens is abhorrent and immoral, which is why they cooked up the ingenious document called the Constitution—full of checks and balances to prevent it from happening.

But alas, the Constitution has become nothing more than toilet paper in some places, like Youngstown, Ohio…

Read More “Youngstown, OH to Commit Utica Suicide with Vote to Ban Drilling”
Atlas Energy | Energy Companies

Atlas Resource Partners to Focus on Utica, Marcellus in 2013
February 25, 2013February 25, 2013

Atlas Resource Partners plans to focus on just four shale plays in 2013. Two of them are the Utica and Marcellus.

Matthew Jones, COO of parent company Atlas Energy LP, said the following about the Utica and Marcellus during the company’s 4Q conference call on Feb. 22:

Read More “Atlas Resource Partners to Focus on Utica, Marcellus in 2013”
Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County

Cabot O&G Operational Update for Marcellus Shale
February 25, 2013February 25, 2013

Last week MDN told you about Cabot’s distinction in belonging to two different “1 billion” clubs (see Cabot O&G in 2012: Membership in 2 Different “1 Billion” Clubs). About the same time Cabot released their financial results, they also released an operational update which we neglected to report.

Below is the portion of that report for Cabot’s Marcellus Shale operations:

Read More “Cabot O&G Operational Update for Marcellus Shale”
Economic Impact | Housing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Washington County (OH)

Marietta, OH Feels the Economic Effects of Utica Drilling
February 25, 2013February 25, 2013

Marietta (Washington County), Ohio is starting to feel the impact from Utica and Marcellus Shale drilling. It’s showing up in a dramatic increase in tax revenue from hotels and motels. It’s also showing up in the local real estate market that’s turned from being a buyers market into a seller’s market:

Read More “Marietta, OH Feels the Economic Effects of Utica Drilling”
Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Ohio | Portage County | Utica Shale

New Utica Pipe/Equipment Plant Setting up in Portage County, OH
February 25, 2013February 25, 2013

A welding and fabrication company—Six C Fabrication—has just purchased a former plastics plant in Rootstown (Portage County), Ohio where it will establish a manufacturing plant for piping and structural steel equipment for the Utica Shale drilling industry.

Six C hails from Louisiana. They believe the Utica offers a great opportunity to expand their business. Another 100 new jobs are on the way (this year) in the Utica…

Read More “New Utica Pipe/Equipment Plant Setting up in Portage County, OH”
About MDN | Calendar

Calendar of Events for Feb 25 – Mar 10, 2013 [Free]
February 25, 2013February 25, 2013

Below are upcoming events for this week and next.

Read More “Calendar of Events for Feb 25 – Mar 10, 2013 [Free]”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, Feb 25, 2013
February 25, 2013February 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, Feb 25, 2013”
Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | Pennsylvania | Susquehanna County

Cabot O&G in 2012: Membership in 2 Different “1 Billion” Clubs
February 22, 2013February 22, 2013

The 2012 reports continue to roll in. Cabot Oil & Gas has just reported its 2012 report and the results are extraordinary. Cabot joined two different “1 billion” clubs in 2012. First, they surpassed $1 billion in revenues for 2012, earning $1.2 billion. Second, they became the first (and so far only) company to achieve 1 billion cubic feet of natural gas production per day in the Marcellus Shale (see Who’s a Member of the Marcellus “1 Bcf/d” Club?).

Companywide, Cabot’s natural gas production was up an astonishing 43% over 2011, much of that from their drilling in Susquehanna County, PA. Cabot is a great company run by great people, and they have a lot to be proud of when it comes to their performance last year. Here’s the numbers and the rundown for Cabot in 2012:

Read More “Cabot O&G in 2012: Membership in 2 Different “1 Billion” Clubs”