Marcellus Drilling News

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Wastewater

PA Marcellus Gas Drillers Close to Recycling 100 Percent of Wastewater, Now Use Just a Few Chemicals in Fracking
March 1, 2011March 2, 2011

One of the chief objections of those who oppose drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale is the amount of water used in drilling—an average of 3-4 million gallons per well. Environmentalists raise the alarm of sourcing the water from rivers and streams, and the disposal of what’s left over.

Here’s how the numbers break down: It takes between 100,000 and 300,000 gallons of water during the drilling process itself, and another 3-4 million gallons of water gets mixed with sand and chemicals and pumped in under pressure to fracture the shale, releasing the gas. Anywhere from 10 to 50 percent of the water comes back out—something called “flowback.”

Read More “PA Marcellus Gas Drillers Close to Recycling 100 Percent of Wastewater, Now Use Just a Few Chemicals in Fracking”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Wastewater

Marcellus Shale Coalition Provides Devastating Critique of NYT Anti-Gas Article
March 1, 2011March 1, 2011

Below is a detailed response from the Marcellus Shale Coalition to the New York Times “hit piece” on gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale (see MDN’s review of that article here).

Read More “Marcellus Shale Coalition Provides Devastating Critique of NYT Anti-Gas Article”
Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Will PA Merge DEP and DCNR to Oversee Marcellus Shale Drilling?
March 1, 2011March 1, 2011

The rumor mill has been working overtime in Harrisburg, PA with talk that newly minted Gov. Tom Corbett is planning to merge two state agencies that oversee drilling in the Marcellus Shale into one. Corbett officials are trying to tamp down the rumors:

Read More “Will PA Merge DEP and DCNR to Oversee Marcellus Shale Drilling?”
Energy Companies | Gastar Exploration | Marshall County | West Virginia

PPG Chemical Plant in Marshall County, WV Gets a $50M Marcellus Shale Payday
March 1, 2011March 1, 2011

PPG Industries, a $12 billion global supplier of paints, coatings, optical products, specialty materials, chemicals, glass and fiber glass, is about to get another $50 million from the gas beneath one of it’s chemical plants located in Marshall County, WV.

Read More “PPG Chemical Plant in Marshall County, WV Gets a $50M Marcellus Shale Payday”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Preston County | Superior Appalachian Pipeline | West Virginia

New Marcellus Shale Gas Pipeline Coming to Preston County, WV
March 1, 2011March 1, 2011

A new Marcellus Shale gas pipeline is coming to Preston County, WV which will ultimately mean more drilling in the region.

Read More “New Marcellus Shale Gas Pipeline Coming to Preston County, WV”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Wastewater

New York Times Publishes Hit Piece on Natural Gas Drilling, Quoted Source Responds to the Article
February 28, 2011March 1, 2011

Have no fear, the great New York Times is now on the case of natural gas drilling, and it has “uncovered” some rather disturbing news:

With hydrofracking, a well can produce over a million gallons of wastewater that is often laced with highly corrosive salts, carcinogens like benzene and radioactive elements like radium, all of which can occur naturally thousands of feet underground. Other carcinogenic materials can be added to the wastewater by the chemicals used in the hydrofracking itself.

While the existence of the toxic wastes has been reported, thousands of internal documents obtained by The New York Times from the Environmental Protection Agency, state regulators and drillers show that the dangers to the environment and health are greater than previously understood.(1)

Read More “New York Times Publishes Hit Piece on Natural Gas Drilling, Quoted Source Responds to the Article”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues

Subjecting Wind Power to the Same Scrutiny as Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing
February 28, 2011February 28, 2011

Opponents of drilling for natural gas usually key in on the process of hydraulic fracturing, claiming that it pollutes groundwater supplies. “Clean water!” becomes the rallying cry—and who is not for clean water? The Environmental Protection Agency has joined the chorus by ordering a “cradle to grave” study of hydraulic fracturing that will begin this year and run until 2014 before the final results are in. Waiting for the results of the study will no doubt be used as an excuse to delay drilling in some states and municipalities.

Read More “Subjecting Wind Power to the Same Scrutiny as Horizontal Hydraulic Fracturing”
Allegheny County | Pennsylvania

7 Percent of Allegheny County (PA) Now Under Lease for Natural Gas Drilling, But Permits Indicate Little Drilling
February 28, 2011February 28, 2011

In an article on the developing situation of whether and where to allow Marcellus Shale drilling in Allegheny County, PA, we get this update of how much land has been leased, and the likelihood of whether or not drilling will commence in the county:

Read More “7 Percent of Allegheny County (PA) Now Under Lease for Natural Gas Drilling, But Permits Indicate Little Drilling”
MDN Weekly Update

MDN Weekly Update – Feb 27, 2011
February 27, 2011February 28, 2011

This is a new, regular post on MDN. Below I list the five most viewed stories from last week, two weeks ago and the past 30 days. There is also a list of any events MDN is aware of happening this coming week (from the MDN Calendar). Be sure to send your event announcements to jim@marcellusdrilling.com.

I’m excited to announce a new special report coming soon exclusively from MDN titled: Will There Be Marcellus Shale Drilling Near Me? Subtitled, Drilling Permits for Marcellus Shale Gas Wells from January 2010 to February 2011. This new report, created by MDN, shows how many permits have been applied for or issued by county and in most cases by local municipality for New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The report not only details the number of well permits, but also lists the numbers by drilling company. Leases are being signed in many locations—landmen are on the move. Although signing a lease can yield a good source of income now, the real money is when an energy company drills on or near your property. You need a permit in order to drill, so permits are a good barometer of the intentions of drilling companies. If you’re a landowner, you can use this special report to see who’s “serious” about drilling near you. If you’ve already signed a lease, use this report to see if drilling may be coming in your area in the near future. Many other interested parties will use this report as well, to see when and if drilling is happening in their communities (local business owners, government officials, residents concerned about traffic, etc.).

So, stay tuned for further announcements about how you can get your copy of this important new special report.

Happy reading,
Jim Willis, Editor

Read More “MDN Weekly Update – Feb 27, 2011”
Broome County | Industrywide Issues | Landowner Coalition News | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

A Glimmer of Hope for Marcellus Drilling in New York State
February 25, 2011February 27, 2011

Newly elected Governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, will be a key figure (perhaps the key figure) in determining whether or not drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale goes forward in the state. His appointment of Joe Martens on Jan. 4 to be head of the Department of Environmental Conservation which oversees drilling was not a good sign to those who favor drilling (see MDN’s story here). But Mr. Martens seems to be signing a different tune these days.

Read More “A Glimmer of Hope for Marcellus Drilling in New York State”
Accidents | Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Washington County

Update on Well Explosion in Western PA
February 25, 2011February 25, 2011

Chesapeake Energy was flaring three gas wells in Avella, located in Washington County, PA on Feb. 23 when tanks holding some 105,000 gallons of natural gas liquids exploded. Contrary to some reports, the explosion had nothing to do with hydraulic fracturing fluids. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation and not known at this time.

As for the three workers injured, at least one of them is still in critical condition:

Read More “Update on Well Explosion in Western PA”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

Final Set of DRBC Hearings Held in Trenton, NJ – More of the Same
February 25, 2011February 25, 2011

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) held it’s final round of public hearings yesterday near its Trenton, NJ headquarters. The hearings held earlier this week in Liberty, NY and Honesdale, PA, along with the hearings yesterday in Trenton, NJ, were for public comment on the DRBC’s proposed new extra layer of drilling regulations for Marcellus Shale gas wells drilled within the Delaware River watershed, which includes portions of Pennsylvania and New York where Marcellus drilling occurs. By all accounts, there was a similar theme from the comments in Trenton: Those in favor of drilling say the regulations are way too restrictive, and those against drilling say they’re not strict enough.

Read More “Final Set of DRBC Hearings Held in Trenton, NJ – More of the Same”
Accidents | Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Washington County

Explosion at Chesapeake Drilling Site in Western PA Injures Three Workers
February 24, 2011February 25, 2011

An explosion last night at a well site along the Pennsylvania/West Virginia border injured three workers and resulted in a fire that burned for about three hours.
Read More “Explosion at Chesapeake Drilling Site in Western PA Injures Three Workers”
Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | Penn Virginia Corporation | Pennsylvania | Potter County | Tioga County (PA)

Cabot Oil & Gas Calls Marcellus Operations “Prolific”; Penn Virginia Will Drill 14 New Wells in Marcellus in 2011
February 24, 2011

More gleanings from year-end financial statements from drilling companies, this time from Cabot Oil & Gas and Penn Virginia Corporation. Of note, Cabot talks about the “prolific nature” of their 44 Marcellus gas wells, and Penn Virginia will drill their second Marcellus gas well in 2011 as they continue to shift their resources to the Marcellus with plans to drill 14 wells this year.

Read More “Cabot Oil & Gas Calls Marcellus Operations “Prolific”; Penn Virginia Will Drill 14 New Wells in Marcellus in 2011”
Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Mahoning County | Ohio | Trumbull County

Drilling in Marcellus Shale Created 88K Jobs and $8 Billion Revenue in 2010, Will More than Double by 2020
February 24, 2011February 24, 2011

Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, spoke at the Youngstown/Warren (OH) Regional Chamber economic breakfast yesterday. She outlined the economic boom created by drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus. That boom is not only benefiting Pennsylvania, but also over the border in Ohio as well. Some of her comments included:

Read More “Drilling in Marcellus Shale Created 88K Jobs and $8 Billion Revenue in 2010, Will More than Double by 2020”
Industrywide Issues | New York | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide NY | Statewide PA

Gas Drilling Supporters Outnumber Those Opposed at Honesdale DRBC Hearings, Roundup of Yesterday’s Hearings in PA and NY
February 23, 2011February 24, 2011

Yesterday saw the first round of hearings by the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC), four hearings total—two in Honesdale, PA and two in Liberty, NY (afternoon and evening sessions at both locations). The hearings were for public comment on the DRBC’s proposed new extra layer of drilling regulations for Marcellus Shale gas wells drilled within the Delaware River watershed, which includes portions of Pennsylvania and New York where Marcellus drilling occurs.

Read More “Gas Drilling Supporters Outnumber Those Opposed at Honesdale DRBC Hearings, Roundup of Yesterday’s Hearings in PA and NY”