Marcellus Drilling News

WPX Water Well Test Results for Franklin Twp, PA

May 9, 2012May 9, 2012

methane molecule Last December, the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) started investigating methane in three water wells in Franklin Township (Susquehanna County), PA. Since there are several gas wells being drilled by WPX Energy a few thousand feet away, wells that were cited for improper casing, the DEP asked WPX to install methane venting systems for the families of the three wells in question while the DEP investigates (see this MDN story). WPX is also investigating, and their results conclusively show the methane in the water wells isn’t coming from WPX’s gas wells.

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Property Value | Washington County

Homeowner Refused Mortgage Because of Nearby Gas Drilling

May 9, 2012May 9, 2012

One of the arguments used against natural gas drilling is that it can drive down property values of nearby homes. While MDN has not seen studies to prove or disprove that argument, we did spot this story about a homeowner in western PA who has been refused refinancing of their mortgage by three different national lenders because there’s active natural gas drilling across the street from their home:

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

Vermont will Become First State to Ban Fracking

May 9, 2012May 9, 2012

Not that it matters beyond PR value, but Vermont will become the first state to ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing, either later this week or next:

Industrial Complex near Columbiana, OH Gets Shale Makeover

May 9, 2012May 9, 2012

The former National Refractories complex just outside Columbiana, OH is getting a shale gas makeover. Owner Jerry Stoneburner says the 300,000 square foot facility that sits on 100 acres will become both a shale gas wastewater treatment center and a transfer point to load railroad cars with crude oil and condensate being produced in the Marcellus and Utica Shale.

Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Regulation | Statewide OH | Utica Shale

Ohio DNR Hires 70 New Field Inspectors for Utica Shale

May 9, 2012May 9, 2012

In yet another sign that Utica Shale drilling for oil and gas is rapidly expanding in Ohio, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) has hired and is training 70 new field inspectors to help with the well permitting and reviews.

Crosstex Energy | Energy Services | Utica Shale

Crosstex Energy Buys Clearfield Energy for Utica Assets

May 9, 2012May 9, 2012

Crosstex Energy, L.P., a midstream natural gas company headquartered in Dallas, TX that operates approximately 3,300 miles of pipeline, ten processing plants and four fractionators, wants a piece of the Utica Shale action and announced they are buying out privately-held Clearfield Energy to get it.

From the Crosstex press release:

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pennsylvania | Washington County

Pittsburgh Newspapers Sue to Unseal Drilling Court Case

May 9, 2012May 9, 2012

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and the Observer-Reporter of Washington, PA have sued to open sealed court documents in a case involving a Pennsylvania couple who previously were outspoken critics of the natural gas drilling industry and who made claims that drilling had contaminated their water supply. Last week, anti-drillers joined their cause and filed a brief in state Superior Court.

Dominion Energy | Dominion Exploration | Energy Companies | Energy Services

Dominion Announces Marcellus/Utica Shale Expansion

May 9, 2012May 9, 2012

Dominion Resources, the third-largest public utility in the U.S., held its annual shareholder’s meeting in Pittsburgh on Tuesday where president & CEO Thomas Farrell announced plans to expand natural gas pipeline and processing projects in every state where there is Marcellus and Utica Shale.

Ten company-endorsed candidates were voted on and approved for the board of directors. But six shareholder proposals, largely anti-drilling in sentiment, were voted down:

Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Wed, May 9, 2012

May 9, 2012May 9, 2012

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:

Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies

Chesapeake’s Largest Shareholder Says: Consider Selling

May 8, 2012May 7, 2012

for sale sign Yesterday, the largest outside shareholder of Chesapeake Energy stock (with 13.6 percent)—Southeastern Asset Management—sent a letter to CEO Aubrey McClendon and the board of directors with a loud and clear message: “We urge the board to be open to any offers to acquire the whole company.” Ouch. Not exactly a ringing endorsement. The letter also included some other “friendly” advice on how Chesapeake ought to be running its business (gotta love those investors, eh?).

Here’s the entire letter, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission:

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

SRBC “Insists” Drillers Use Acid Mine Water if Possible

May 8, 2012May 7, 2012

An idea that’s been floating “out there” for some time, at least in Pennsylvania, is for gas drillers to use acid mine water that flows from abandoned coal mines. It’s estimated there is some 300 million gallons per day of acid mine water—more than enough to frack every well drilled in PA each year. Last year, Gov. Tom Corbett’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission recommended that the state Department of Environmental Protection set up an approval process to make it happen—something now in the works.

Blue Ridge Mtn Res/Magnum Hunter | Energy Companies | Tyler County | West Virginia

Magnum Hunter Strikes it “Rich” in Tyler County, WV

May 8, 2012May 7, 2012

Driller Magnum Hunter Resources has struck it “Magnum rich” in Tyler County, WV. A well recently drilled and fracked by Magnum yielded more than 7 million cubic feet of gas in a single day earlier this year. Not only that, it also yielded 651 barrels per day of natural gas liquids.

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Regulation | Statewide OH

OH Legislators Vote to Approve New Drilling Rules

May 8, 2012May 7, 2012

The Ohio Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review, a committee made up of five Ohio State Representatives and five Ohio State Senators, has approved new rules for constructing oil and gas wells in the state. They also approved new guidelines for Utica and Marcellus Shale drilling permits.

MarkWest Buys Keystone Midstream for $512M

May 8, 2012May 7, 2012

Pipeline giant MarkWest has just gobbled up another, albeit much smaller, competitor. MarkWest announced yesterday it is purchasing Keystone Midstream for $512 million. Keystone is owned by Stonehenge Energy Resources and Rex Energy with operations primarily in Butler County, PA.

As part of the deal, MarkWest will gain contracts and a partnership with Rex Energy and Sumitomo Corporation to transport and process their rapidly expanding production in the liquids-rich portion of the Marcellus Shale in Butler and Beaver counties in Pennsylvania. MarkWest and Rex are also exploring a deal for Utica Shale production in eastern Ohio.

MarkWest Inks Two New Deals to Expand Processing in WV

May 8, 2012May 7, 2012

MarkWest has been in the news a lot lately, signing a raft of new agreements and even buying out a competitor. Last Friday, MarkWest announced they had signed an agreement (terms not disclosed) to expand MarkWest’s processing capacity in the Marcellus Shale to handle more Chesapeake production. The areas covered by the agreement include northern West Virginia (Brooke, Ohio and Marshall counties), and Washington County in Pennsylvania.

Best of the Rest

Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Tue, May 8, 2012

May 8, 2012May 7, 2012

The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading: