Marcellus Drilling News

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Rockingham County | Virginia

Bergton, VA to Carrizo: We Still Don’t Want You Drilling Here
November 21, 2012November 21, 2012

Anti-drillers in Bergton, Virginia are like the anti-drillers everywhere else. Every now and again they need to shout out “the sky is falling!” like Chicken Little. Such was the case last night in Bergton (Rockingham County), where anti-drillers gathered to scare the local folks about “big, bad drilling” that “may come” someday to their area.

Carrizo Oil & Gas had wanted to drill in Bergton but was told to take a hike (see this MDN story). Last night, about 25 anti-drillers gathered at the Bergton Community Center to hear the results of a water testing program meant to provide baseline data “just in case” the evil, nasty drillers eventually do come calling. The testing program is being run by two local college professors and four of their students. Also on the evening’s program was plenty of misinformation about fracking.

Read More “Bergton, VA to Carrizo: We Still Don’t Want You Drilling Here”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Wed, Nov 21, 2012
November 21, 2012November 21, 2012

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, Nov 21, 2012”
Education | Erie County (NY) | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Research

Univ at Buffalo President Shuts Down (Censors) Shale Institute
November 20, 2012November 20, 2012

The ignorant mob have won. A group of 83 anti-drilling, enviro-left faculty and staff at the University at Buffalo (UB), with the help of left-leaning mainstream media, have brought enough pressure to bear that UB’s president announced yesterday he is immediately shutting down the seven-month old UB Shale Resources and Society Institute. It’s a sad day for academic freedom and free speech. The inmates now run the asylum at UB.

UB President Satish Tripathi has proven that after a year and a half at the helm, he is not equal to the task of running a large university. Here is his “I’ve caved” announcement from yesterday, sprinkled with MDN’s snarky comments and observations:

Read More “Univ at Buffalo President Shuts Down (Censors) Shale Institute”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

IOGA of NY to Gov. Cuomo: Enough is Enough
November 20, 2012November 20, 2012

Brad Gill, Executive Director of the Independent Oil & Gas Association of New York (IOGA of NY) sent a scalding letter yesterday to NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo (see a full copy below) expressing deep disappointment that it now appears new drilling rules will not be released by Nov. 29. He points out, as of yesterday, it’s been 4 years, 3 months and 27 days since the moratorium went into effect. In essence, “Enough is enough.” He told Andy, “our trust in our state government [is] now exhausted.” Gill concludes by urging the governor to release the new rules—now—so the industry can attempt to recover from the staggering losses already endured because of the moratorium.

MDN’s view: Don’t count on it Brad—Andy is just another garden-variety, prevaricating politician who is decision-challenged. If the new rules are not released by Nov. 29, the rulemaking process begins all over again and more public hearings (i.e., freak shows) will need to be held—delaying the new rules by months, perhaps years. Which of course has been the game plan by DEC Commissioner Joe Martens all along.

Read More “IOGA of NY to Gov. Cuomo: Enough is Enough”
Broome County | Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Inflection Energy | Litigation | New York | Statewide NY | Tioga County (NY)

More on the NY Force Majeure Ruling Against Chesapeake
November 20, 2012November 20, 2012

MDN headlined a story yesterday about last week’s decision by a federal judge that went in favor of landowners and against Chesapeake Energy and Inflection Energy. The case found that Chesapeake and Inflection could not use the legal clause in their signed leases called “force majeure” to extend previously signed leases beyond the original 10-year term (see this MDN story for background).

One of the lead attorneys who brought the case on behalf of New York landowners is Scott Kurkoski, from the Vestal, NY law firm Levene, Gouldin & Thompson, LLP. Scott sent along a statement (below) along with a copy of the judge’s decision (also below).

Read More “More on the NY Force Majeure Ruling Against Chesapeake”
Industrywide Issues | Statewide WV | Taxation | West Virginia

WV Considers ‘Future Fund’ to Stash Away Oil & Gas Revenue
November 20, 2012November 20, 2012

A USA Today article from yesterday takes a new swipe at the theme “Alaska and other states tax oil and gas and create a rainy day fund, so West Virginia, Pennsylvania and other states should do it too.” Should they? Pro-drillers will have differing opinions. What is interesting to MDN about the story, aside from the list of states that currently tax oil and gas (and what they do with it), is what West Virginia is considering, and the “let’s face reality, fracking is here to stay” comments attributed to a liberal group in the state.

The bits from the article relevant to the Marcellus and Utica Shale:

Read More “WV Considers ‘Future Fund’ to Stash Away Oil & Gas Revenue”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Athens County | Industrywide Issues | Ohio

Anti-Drillers in Ohio Learn to Break the Law at Special Camp
November 20, 2012November 20, 2012

Some 40 anti-fracking “activists” learned how to break the law at a recent “action camp” held in Athens County, Ohio. In addition to sessions on how to spin a good tale for the media, attendees learned about “civil disobedience” and “direct action, blockading injection wells” and the like. That is, they learned how to illegally shut down legitimate, legal business activity.

And attendees didn’t waste any time either. Less than 24 hours later they protested at a nearby injection well. According to their own leaders, protesting injection wells is just the beginning. Their real aim? To illegally shut down fracking.

Read More “Anti-Drillers in Ohio Learn to Break the Law at Special Camp”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Maryland Wants Pollution Insurance – Even with No Drilling
November 20, 2012November 20, 2012

Even though the State of Maryland does not have enough money—and no prospects of finding it—to fund a $2 million mandated study of hydraulic fracturing (see this MDN story), and even though fracking won’t be allowed in Maryland until 2014 at the earliest, it doesn’t stop Maryland lawmakers from proposing onerous laws on the drilling industry “just in case” one day there is fracking in the state.

The latest shining example of how Maryland is the single most dysfunctional state when it comes to shale gas drilling: A proposed new law would take effect July 1, 2013 (even though fracking won’t be allowed until 2014) that will slap a requirement on drillers to have $5 million of “pollution insurance” per loss. The proposed law also requires drillers to post a $50,000 bond for each well they drill:

Read More “Maryland Wants Pollution Insurance – Even with No Drilling”
Energy Services | GreenHunter Resources

GreenHunter Energy 3Q12: Wastewater Volume Way Up, Revenue Up
November 20, 2012November 20, 2012

GreenHunter Energy, a company specializing in the treatment of drilling wastewater, released their third quarter update yesterday. They report revenues were up ($4.9 million in 3Q12 compared to $230,000 for 3Q11), although net loss for stockholders was also up ($15.2 million in 3Q12 vs. $1 million in 3Q11). GreenHunter’s wastewater treatment volume is up 129% over the previous quarter—a lot of that coming from the Marcellus and Utica Shale region.

GreenHunter’s 3Q12 financial and operational update:

Read More “GreenHunter Energy 3Q12: Wastewater Volume Way Up, Revenue Up”
Allegheny County | Beaver County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Public Opinion | Washington County

Pittsburgh Residents Support Marcellus Drilling Nearly 2-to-1
November 20, 2012November 20, 2012

The Pittsburgh University Center for Social and Urban Research along with PittsburghTODAY recently conducted a wide-ranging survey of Pittsburgh (and its suburbs) residents. Among the questions asked was a series of questions about the environment, including Marcellus Shale drilling. Overall, 45% of area residents support Marcellus drilling while 25% oppose it.

The details…

Read More “Pittsburgh Residents Support Marcellus Drilling Nearly 2-to-1”
Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Tue, Nov 20, 2012
November 20, 2012November 20, 2012

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, Nov 20, 2012”
Broome County | Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Inflection Energy | Lease & Royalty Payments | Litigation | New York | Statewide NY | Tioga County (NY)

Judge Rules Against Chesapeake, Inflection in NY Lease Case
November 19, 2012November 19, 2012

An important court case has ruled in favor of landowners against energy companies in New York State. Last Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge David Hurd ruled against Chesapeake Energy and Inflection Energy (and in favor of landowners) in a case where the companies had tried to extend leases beyond the original term by invoking “force majeure,” a legal phrase that means the terms of the lease could not be carried out due to extenuating circumstances.

Chesapeake and Inflection had argued that New York State’s moratorium on hydraulic fracturing of shale meant they could not drill on New York land for which they hold leases. But as with many things legal, the story is not so simple…

Read More “Judge Rules Against Chesapeake, Inflection in NY Lease Case”
Energy Companies | Norse Energy

Norse Energy Will Run Out of Money in December
November 19, 2012November 19, 2012

Norse Energy issued a press release last week to update stockholders and investors on where the company stands with its finances. Bottom line? Unless something changes, the company will run out of money in December. They have $1.5 million in the bank and that will get them through to December. If the people who have loaned them money (floated them bonds) don’t rework the financing, or if Norse can’t come up with more money from somewhere—like now—let’s just say it’s not good news.

Norse is still holding out hope that New York, where they have some 130,000 acres under lease, will finally allow fracking to commence. That gamble (so far) has not paid off. Here’s the Norse statement issued yesterday:

Read More “Norse Energy Will Run Out of Money in December”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Orange County | Statewide NY | Sullivan County | Ulster County

Mid-Hudson Valley NY Towns For and Against Drilling
November 19, 2012November 19, 2012

Where do Orange, Ulster and Sullivan county towns (in New York State) stand on the issue of fracking and gas drilling? All three of them could conceivably see drilling of some kind should it be allowed, although only Sullivan is squarely in both the Marcellus and Utica Shale boundary (Orange has just a small slice within the boundary, and perhaps half of Ulster, see the Marcellus and Utica Shale Databook Volume 2 for a map showing the boundaries). However, anti-drilling sentiments run deep the closer you get to the orbit of New York City, and all three counties are in that orbit.

The Middletown Times Herald-Record takes a look at the latest towns for and against fracking in Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties:

Read More “Mid-Hudson Valley NY Towns For and Against Drilling”
Antero Resources | Energy Companies | Guernsey County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Noble County | Ohio

OH Muskingum Watershed District Seeks Lease with Antero
November 19, 2012November 19, 2012

In what is sure to tick off anti-drillers, the Ohio-based Muskingum Watershed Conservancy District (MWCD) announced Friday it will seek a lease with Antero Resources to allow shale gas drilling under 7,600 acres of district-owned land at Seneca Lake. The Muskingum River Watershed covers more than 8,000 square miles and drains into the Muskingum River. It is the largest wholly contained watershed in the state of Ohio covering about 20 percent of the state. More recently, the MWCD has been in hot water with anti-drillers over selling what amounts to a thimble-full of their vast water supplies to drillers in Ohio that use it for fracking Utica Shale wells (see this MDN story).

So, just how much will the MWCD get for leasing the Seneca Lake land?

Read More “OH Muskingum Watershed District Seeks Lease with Antero”
Aither Chemicals | Energy Services | Ethane | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Aither Chemicals Still Wants to Build a Cracker Plant in WV
November 19, 2012November 19, 2012

Still more talk about an ethane cracker plant for West Virginia—this time from perennial ethane promoter Aither Chemicals. At last week’s Developing Unconventional Gas (DUG) East conference in Pittsburgh, Aither’s CFO said his company could build a new ethane cracker for a fraction of the cost Shell is proposing for their cracker in Monaca, PA. Another speaker expressed doubts that Shell will actually build their announced cracker plant in Monaca:

Read More “Aither Chemicals Still Wants to Build a Cracker Plant in WV”