Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Monday, Sep 26, 2011
The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:
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MDN Weekly Update – Sept 25, 2011: Vandalism at Drilling Sites
Below are the results of last week’s poll on whether or not local governments should be able to ban drilling.Should local municipalities have the power to ban gas drilling?
No (70%, 190 Votes)
Yes (26%, 72 Votes)
Not sure (4%, 10 Votes)Total Voters: 272
Should vandalism at drilling sites be considered an act of terrorism?
This past week MDN reported on a case of “vandalism” at a drilling site in Indiana County, PA (see MDN story here). There were some comments on that story taking MDN to task for not waiting to find out who the perpetrator is. MDN says it doesn’t take a genius to figure out it’s an anti-driller gone amok. Someone who’s finally gone over the edge. Could it be a simple case of vandalism? Perhaps. But not very likely in MDN’s opinion.
So MDN wades into controversial waters once again, this week by asking the question: If people who are opposed to drilling perpetrate crimes against drillers by damaging equipment, should that be considered an act of domestic terrorism? MDN thinks it’s a fair question and an issue we should address.
Agree? Disagree? Click on your answer along the right-hand side of any page, and feel free to leave a comment on this post with your opinion.
Below are the most recent “top 5” lists and the calendar of Marcellus related events for the next two weeks.
Happy reading,
Jim Willis, EditorRead More “MDN Weekly Update – Sept 25, 2011: Vandalism at Drilling Sites”
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Exxon Acquiring Acreage in OH Utica Shale for Oil Drilling
A rather generic story put out by Reuters yesterday refers to Exxon Mobil’s interest in acquiring acreage in the Utica Shale in Ohio as a new source of oil drilling. Details are sparse about Exxon’s plans, but it points out the white-hot interest there is in Ohio’s Utica Shale since Chesapeake announced in July they have struck oil, as well as natural gas and gas liquids, in Eastern Ohio (see this MDN story). Looks like Exxon considers Eastern Ohio to now be “one of the biggest sources of crude oil in the United States.”Read More “Exxon Acquiring Acreage in OH Utica Shale for Oil Drilling”
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Drilling Operation in Indiana County, PA Vandalized
How sad and tragic when someone opposed to drilling comes unhinged and turns to violence, as just happened in Indiana County, PA:
Read More “Drilling Operation in Indiana County, PA Vandalized”
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Chief Gathering | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Luzerne County | Pennsylvania
Chief Gathering Counter-Sues 3 Families in Luzerne County, PA
In a country with a proud tradition of free speech and open dissent, there is a line that can be crossed. That line is called libel and slander, and it’s always been a gray area, most often determined by the courts. We have a new case for the courts to decide related to the Marcellus drilling industry in Luzerne County, PA.
But this is not solely a case of slander. The people accused of slandering pipeline company Chief Gathering first filed a lawsuit themselves in an attempt to use the courts to stop the pipeline. So Chief is fighting back with their own lawsuit seeking to a) have the original lawsuit filed against the pipeline overturned, and b) seeking damages for the (according to Chief) slanderous remarks of the people and their attorney. Chief says their reputation in the community has been wrongly damaged.
Read More “Chief Gathering Counter-Sues 3 Families in Luzerne County, PA”
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Gas Drilling Industry Takes Care of Roads in PA
The drilling industry in Pennsylvania is working hard to ensure roadways are maintained and in good condition, and according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT), it shows.
Read More “Gas Drilling Industry Takes Care of Roads in PA”
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Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Friday, Sep 23, 2011
The “best of the rest” – stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading:
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Is Marcellus Shale a Mineral? An Important Question in PA
A court case in Pennsylvania may have a chilling effect on Marcellus gas drilling in the state even before it’s finally decided. This is a bit complicated, so buckle up! And be sure to read this post if you own land in PA.Read More “Is Marcellus Shale a Mineral? An Important Question in PA”
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Is Range Resources for Sale?
An interesting rumor is making the rounds that Range Resources is about to be sold:
Read More “Is Range Resources for Sale?”
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New Quinnipiac Poll Shows NY Remains Split on Gas Drilling
Another week, another public opinion poll in New York about whether or not residents support Marcellus Shale drilling. This one is a regular poll done by Quinnipiac University and has trending details, showing previous vs current opinion. Bottom line from this poll: Residents remain split about evenly about whether or not drilling should be allowed, with a slight majority in favor. The full questions and responses, by category, is embedded below.
Read More “New Quinnipiac Poll Shows NY Remains Split on Gas Drilling”
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Forest Hills, PA May Adopt Fracking Ban
Forest Hills, PA Council members are supporting a ban on Marcellus gas drilling within their borders. Forest Hills is a small borough in Allegheny County, PA with a population of 6,500. A petition with 275 signatures requesting a ban was delivered to Council members and apparently 4 percent of residents is close enough to a majority for Forest Hills elected representatives to take immediate action.
Read More “Forest Hills, PA May Adopt Fracking Ban”
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Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Greene County (PA) | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Statewide WV | West Virginia
EQT Starts Construction on New Pipeline in WV/PA
EQT has received federal approval to construct a new natural gas pipeline that will reach from West Virginia into Pennsylvania, and will begin construction immediately:
Read More “EQT Starts Construction on New Pipeline in WV/PA”
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Marcellus & Utica Shale Story Links: Thursday, Sep 22, 2011
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: Thursday, Sep 22, 2011”
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Chenango County | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Jobs | Madison County | New York | Norse Energy | Statewide NY
Norse Energy “Reduces” Employees by 50 Percent
Early today, Norse Energy, a Norwegian company with gas drilling operations in New York State, issued an interesting press release about laying off half of their employees (see the full release below). Norse holds some 180,000 net acres of natural gas leases in New York, of which 130,000 are in the Marcellus and Utica Shale zones.Until recently, Norse was using conventional vertical methods of drilling for natural gas in Upstate New York counties like Chenango and Madison. But Norse announced in early August that they are “betting the farm” that New York will adopt new regulations to allow shale gas drilling, and so they have focused the company on that prize. So much so they have filed the very first permits to drill in the Utica Shale in New York and have ceased all other kinds of gas drilling until it happens (see this MDN story).
Read More “Norse Energy “Reduces” Employees by 50 Percent”
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119 Groups Ask Obama to Support Fracking
Arguing that existing federal and state regulations are sufficient, a diverse group of organizations sent a letter to President Obama yesterday asking him to not impose new regulations on hydraulic fracturing and instead to support it. The 119 organizations signing the letter included bankers, bowlers, grocers, the energy industry and many others. The full text of the letter and the groups signing is embedded below.
Read More “119 Groups Ask Obama to Support Fracking”
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Accidents | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pike County | Pipelines | Tennessee Gas Pipeline
Tennessee Pipeline Construction Racks up 45 Violations in 3 Months
A conservation official in Pike County, PA is “fed up” with the Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company and their project to expand their 300 Line pipeline by adding seven looping segments in Pennsylvania and New Jersey totaling 127 miles of 30-inch pipeline. Pike County Conservation District Executive Director Susan Beecher is asking the state DEP to assess a fine sooner rather than later, to send a message and encourage Tennessee to tighten up its operations.
Read More “Tennessee Pipeline Construction Racks up 45 Violations in 3 Months”
Below are the results of last week’s poll on whether or not local governments should be able to ban drilling.
A rather generic story put out by Reuters yesterday refers to Exxon Mobil’s interest in acquiring acreage in the Utica Shale in Ohio as a new source of oil drilling. Details are sparse about Exxon’s plans, but it points out the white-hot interest there is in Ohio’s Utica Shale since Chesapeake announced in July they have struck oil, as well as natural gas and gas liquids, in Eastern Ohio (
A court case in Pennsylvania may have a chilling effect on Marcellus gas drilling in the state even before it’s finally decided. This is a bit complicated, so buckle up! And be sure to read this post if you own land in PA.
Early today, Norse Energy, a Norwegian company with gas drilling operations in New York State, issued an interesting press release about laying off half of their employees (see the full release below). Norse holds some 180,000 net acres of natural gas leases in New York, of which 130,000 are in the Marcellus and Utica Shale zones.