Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Mon, May 14, 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: Mon, May 14, 2012”
-
-
Marathon Petroleum’s Plans for Utica Shale Oil
Marathon Petroleum President Gary Heminger, speaking at the Hancock County Republican Party Century Club Dinner in Ohio on Thursday, predicted a great future for Utica Shale oil. He also offered some interesting insights into how much, and where, Utica Shale oil Marathon will be refining this year and next.Read More “Marathon Petroleum’s Plans for Utica Shale Oil”
-
Another New York Town Considers Fracking Ban
Yet another New York town, this one squarely in the Marcellus Shale “hot zone” of the Southern Tier area (Chemung County), is considering a ban on fracking if the state moves forward with allowing it.
Read More “Another New York Town Considers Fracking Ban”
-
Study of Fracking Released by Irish EPA
The Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released a report, a “preliminary study” that seeks to gather up what is known, and not known, about hydraulic fracturing. The 26-page study (full copy embedded below) was authored by Dr. David Healy from the University of Aberdeen’s School of Geosciences. Titled “Hydraulic Fracturing or ‘Fracking’: A Short Summary of Current Knowledge and Potential Environmental Impacts,” the study provides a good general backgrounder on what hydraulic fracturing is, how it works, and the main issues and objections to its use.
The main findings of the study are set out under three headings: (1) potential environmental impacts, (2) regulatory approaches used in other countries and (3) establishing best practice. Ireland has not seen fracking of any kind, but expects it may happen in Ireland within the next few years, hence this report and another that is planned.
A summary of the report’s findings:
Read More “Study of Fracking Released by Irish EPA”
-
PA PUC Adopts Guidelines for Impact Fee Collection/Disbursement
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) yesterday finalized provisions of Act 13 of 2012 related to the collection and disbursement of the impact fee for unconventional natural gas well drilling. Known as Chapter 23 of Act 13, the PUC voted 5-0 to finalize the procedures they would use to implement, collect and distribute the impact fee. A copy of the “Chapter 23 Final Implementation Order” as adopted is embedded below.
Because of an active lawsuit by seven townships and others against zoning provisions in Act 13 (known as Chapter 33 of Act 13), the PUC delayed action on that section of the new law.
Read More “PA PUC Adopts Guidelines for Impact Fee Collection/Disbursement”
-
NRDC Releases Report Critical of PA Fracking Wastewater
Advocating for stricter government controls, the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) earlier this week released a “comprehensive review” of how fracking wastewater is handled in Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale with recommendations for how it can be handled better. The NRDC says that the current methods of wastewater disposal are not adequate to protect drinking water supplies, and present a risk to the health of both humans and animals. A copy of the report is embedded below.
From the NRDC press release:
Read More “NRDC Releases Report Critical of PA Fracking Wastewater”
-
Chevron Tells PA Town No Plans to Drill – For Now
A representative from Chevron told Logan Township supervisors and residents at a meeting on Thursday that Chevron has no plans to drill on a Logan site for which they previously received a permit. Logan is located in Blair County, near Altoona, PA. The permit expires today and Chevron said there are no plans, at present, to apply for a new one.
Read More “Chevron Tells PA Town No Plans to Drill – For Now”
-
Altoona Scores a New Pump Plant for the Marcellus
Gardner Denver, a 150 year-old global manufacturer of industrial compressors, blowers, pumps, loading arms and fuel systems has a new manufacturing facility to add to the 40 it already owns around the world. The new 70,000 foot facility is located at Tipton, near Altoona, PA. The new plant will manufacture and repair pumps used in hydraulic fracturing in the Marcellus Shale. Gardner Denver expects to employ 100 people at the new plant within a year.
But why locate the plant in Altoona, where there’s very little nearby drilling?
Read More “Altoona Scores a New Pump Plant for the Marcellus”
-
Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Fri, May 11, 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: Fri, May 11, 2012”
-
Penn State Report Shows PA Counties with Drilling Prosper
An economic report released on March 30 by Penn State researchers (copy embedded below) shows that Pennsylvania counties where there is Marcellus Shale drilling do better economically—far better—than other counties.Marcellus counties bring in more sales tax revenue, a sign that businesses and business owners and the people who have jobs at those businesses are prospering. The more drilling there is in a county, the better the county does economically. And that’s even before Act 13 Marcellus drilling impact fees are collected and distributed.
Read More “Penn State Report Shows PA Counties with Drilling Prosper”
-
NY Coalition Releases Declaration of Landowner Rights
Yesterday, the Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY) launched a new public relations offensive in Albany, NY aimed at catching the attention of lawmakers. President of the JLCNY, Dan Fitzsimmons, along with other leaders of the coalition and state senators Tom Libous (R-Binghamton) and Tom O’Mara (R-Big Flats), delivered a “Declaration of Landowner Rights” to lawmakers. The Declaration (a copy is embedded below) contains six points that the JLCNY says are constitutionally protected under federal and state law, and they are reasserting and claiming those rights.
Read More “NY Coalition Releases Declaration of Landowner Rights”
-
PA Act 13 Zoning Lawsuit Goes to Trial in June
An update on the Act 13 lawsuit filed by seven Pennsylvania municipalities and the Delaware Riverkeeper Network at the end of March (see this MDN story). Act 13 is a set of new drilling rules and regulations adopted by the PA legislature and signed by Gov. Tom Corbett in February of this year. Part of the new regs included a statute that says state rules on zoning for oil and gas drilling supersede or override local zoning laws. The seven towns and Riverkeeper sued to stop that portion of the new law and Commonwealth Court Judge Keith Quigley granted a temporary, 120 day injunction (see this MDN story).
The case will now be heard by the full nine-member Commonwealth Court between June 4-8. That’s big news. But there’s even bigger news:
Read More “PA Act 13 Zoning Lawsuit Goes to Trial in June”
-
DHS & FBI Investigate Cyber Attacks on NatGas Pipelines
According to an article published by Natural Gas Intelligence (NGI), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FBI are investigating a series of ongoing cyber attacks against the computer networks of major natural gas pipelines in the U.S. The attackers use “spear-phishing” techniques, which use Facebook and other public sources of information to gather details about employees to send emails from alleged coworkers in order to trick them into revealing information or clicking on infected links.
Read More “DHS & FBI Investigate Cyber Attacks on NatGas Pipelines”
-
Columbiana County, OH Utica Shale Drilling Expands Again
Columbiana County, OH received four new drilling permits last week from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR). Three of the permits went to Chesapeake Energy. So far, Columbiana County has received permits to drill 32 horizontal wells in the Utica Shale.
Read More “Columbiana County, OH Utica Shale Drilling Expands Again”
-
Marcellus Shale Plays Starring Role in Gastar Q1 Results
Gastar Exploration released first quarter operating results and financials yesterday. Among the news for Gastar: although they had a net loss of $6.3 million for the first quarter, their production of natural gas, oil and natural gas liquids was up 32 percent from the first quarter of last year. Why the huge increase in production?
Read More “Marcellus Shale Plays Starring Role in Gastar Q1 Results”
-
Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Thu, May 10, 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: Thu, May 10, 2012”
Marathon Petroleum President Gary Heminger, speaking at the Hancock County Republican Party Century Club Dinner in Ohio on Thursday, predicted a great future for Utica Shale oil. He also offered some interesting insights into how much, and where, Utica Shale oil Marathon will be refining this year and next.
An economic report released on March 30 by Penn State researchers (copy embedded below) shows that Pennsylvania counties where there is Marcellus Shale drilling do better economically—far better—than other counties.