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”
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WPX Water Well Test Results for Franklin Twp, PA
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.Read More “WPX Water Well Test Results for Franklin Twp, PA”
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Homeowner Refused Mortgage Because of Nearby Gas Drilling
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:
Read More “Homeowner Refused Mortgage Because of Nearby Gas Drilling”
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Vermont will Become First State to Ban Fracking
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:
Read More “Vermont will Become First State to Ban Fracking”
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Columbiana County | Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Mahoning County | Ohio | Wastewater
Industrial Complex near Columbiana, OH Gets Shale Makeover
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.
Read More “Industrial Complex near Columbiana, OH Gets Shale Makeover”
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Ohio DNR Hires 70 New Field Inspectors for Utica Shale
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.
Read More “Ohio DNR Hires 70 New Field Inspectors for Utica Shale”
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Crosstex Energy Buys Clearfield Energy for Utica Assets
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:
Read More “Crosstex Energy Buys Clearfield Energy for Utica Assets”
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Pittsburgh Newspapers Sue to Unseal Drilling Court Case
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.
Read More “Pittsburgh Newspapers Sue to Unseal Drilling Court Case”
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Dominion Announces Marcellus/Utica Shale Expansion
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:
Read More “Dominion Announces Marcellus/Utica Shale Expansion”
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Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Wed, May 9, 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, May 9, 2012”
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Chesapeake’s Largest Shareholder Says: Consider Selling
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:
Read More “Chesapeake’s Largest Shareholder Says: Consider Selling”
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SRBC “Insists” Drillers Use Acid Mine Water if Possible
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.
Read More “SRBC “Insists” Drillers Use Acid Mine Water if Possible”
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Magnum Hunter Strikes it “Rich” in Tyler County, WV
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.
Read More “Magnum Hunter Strikes it “Rich” in Tyler County, WV”
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OH Legislators Vote to Approve New Drilling Rules
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.
Read More “OH Legislators Vote to Approve New Drilling Rules”
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Beaver County | Butler County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Rex Energy | Sumitomo
MarkWest Buys Keystone Midstream for $512M
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.
Read More “MarkWest Buys Keystone Midstream for $512M”
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Antero Resources | Brooke County | Chesapeake Energy | Doddridge County | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Harrison County | Industrywide Issues | MarkWest Energy | Marshall County | Ohio County | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Processing Plants | Washington County | West Virginia
MarkWest Inks Two New Deals to Expand Processing in WV
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.
Read More “MarkWest Inks Two New Deals to Expand Processing in WV”
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 (
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?).