Marcellus Drilling News

Williams Announces it Will Split, Exploration & Production Will Become Separate Company

February 22, 2011February 22, 2011

Williams is one of the largest energy producers in the U.S. Their operations include exploration & production (E&P), as well as “midstream” – or processing, storage and transportation of gas, including an extensive network of pipelines. In fact, Williams owns three interstate natural gas pipelines totaling some 15,000 miles in length. We now get word that Williams is going to split the company.

Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

New Drilling in PA State Forests Back On with New Governor

February 22, 2011February 22, 2011

The drilling moratorium on Marcellus drilling in Pennsylvania state forests has been lifted by new Gov. Tom Corbett:

Forced Pooling | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Forced Pooling in W.Va. Taken Out of New Legislation

February 22, 2011February 22, 2011

West Virginia gets closer with new rules and regulations for drilling in the Marcellus Shale. And it looks like the forced pooling provision has been dropped:

Cortland County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York

Hydraulic Fracturing Debate at SUNY Cortland, Ingraffea vs Siegel

February 21, 2011February 22, 2011

Yesterday, a debate on horizontal hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”), the process used to extract natural gas from the Marcellus Shale, was held on the campus of the State University of New York at Cortland. “Debating the Pros and Cons of Gas Drilling” featured Professor Anthony R. Ingraffea from Cornell University on the anti-drilling side, and Professor Donald Siegel from Syracuse University on the pro-drilling side. Unfortunately MDN could not be in attendance. Since those opposed to drilling focus almost exclusively on the issue of fracking, one would expect this event to be heavily covered by the media. But checking news sources in the Binghamton, Cortland, Syracuse and Ithaca areas finds only a single report from all of the news outlets, from Binghamton’s WBNG-TV Channel 12 (embedded below).

Number of Permits Issued & Wells Drilled in Select PA Counties, including the County with the Most Wells

February 21, 2011February 21, 2011

In a story about how Armstrong County, PA has to keep the County Courthouse open late one night a week so researchers can review property records for potential Marcellus shale gas well development, we get some interesting numbers on recent drilling activity in PA:

Blue Ridge Mtn Res/Magnum Hunter | Energy Companies | Talisman Energy | Ultra Petroleum | Williams Production

What We Learn from Financial Statements About Future Plans for Drilling in the Marcellus Shale

February 21, 2011February 21, 2011

Reading financial statements by corporations is about as fun as watching paint dry—but hey, someone has to do it. We do learn important tidbits of news from drilling companies about their recent activities, and more importantly, what they are planning for the coming year. Henceforth, a few gleanings from some recent financial statements.

Statewide WV | West Virginia

IOGA’s Mike McCown Talks about Marcellus Drilling and the Future of Energy in West Virginia

February 21, 2011February 21, 2011

Mike McCown, president of the Independent Oil and Natural Gas Association (IOGA) in West Virginia, was interviewed by the Register-Herald (Beckley, WV). IOGA represents some 600 oil and gas companies throughout WV, including those drilling in the Marcellus Shale in that state. Among Mike’s comments:

MDN Weekly Update

MDN Weekly Update – Feb 20, 2011

February 20, 2011February 21, 2011

Welcome to a new, regular post on MDN called the MDN Weekly Update. With so many things happening in the Marcellus Shale, and with so many new people stopping by the site to read about them, I would like an easy way for MDN readers to know what issues are trending up and what issues seem to be catching people’s interest. No doubt I will tweak the format and content of this update in time, but for now, it will show the five most viewed stories from last week, two weeks ago and the past 30 days. I will also list any events MDN is aware of happening this coming week (from the MDN Calendar).

PA Marcellus Gas Coming to Broome County, NY via New Gathering Pipeline

February 18, 2011February 20, 2011

The Town of Windsor, located in Broome County, NY is about to get a new natural gas pipeline built that will connect gas wells across the border in PA (where drilling is happening) to the Millennium Pipeline which runs through Broome County. Yesterday the New York Public Service Commission (PSC) gave the green light for construction to begin*. The pipeline, being built by Laser Northeast Gathering Company, will be about 9.8 miles long on the New York side of the border, out of a total 33 miles.
Read More “PA Marcellus Gas Coming to Broome County, NY via New Gathering Pipeline”

Bradford County | Economic Impact | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania

Marcellus Shale Drill Cuttings Pay for New Equipment, Training for First Responders in Bradford County, PA

February 18, 2011February 18, 2011

One more economic benefit from Marcellus shale drilling in Pennsylvania: Shale cuttings, the bits of rock that are left over after drilling gas wells in the Marcellus Shale, are paying for new equipment and training for first responders in Bradford County, PA.

Broome County, NY Landowners Sue Energy Companies that Try to Extend Expired Leases with “Force Majeure” Clause

February 17, 2011February 18, 2011

Many landowners in the Broome County, NY area who signed gas leases years ago are now receiving letters from the energy companies holding those leases that the landowner is “locked in” to the terms of the lease even though the original term has now expired. Why? The legal term is “force majeure,” which roughly means “due to circumstances beyond our control—the fact that New York State continues to prevent drilling—you have to stick with us for a while longer.” Because this involves contracts and interpretation of the terms of those contracts, it’s now in the hands of lawyers, or heading in that direction.

Broome County | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation

Free Bus Ride from Binghamton Area to DRBC Hearings in Liberty, NY on Feb 22 for Pro-Gas Supporters

February 17, 2011February 17, 2011

MDN received the following email from the Joint Landowner Coalition of New York, offering free bus rides to the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) hearings scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 22 in Liberty, NY. Pickup locations include Binghamton, Windsor and Deposit, NY. The hearings are to accept public comments on the DRBC’s draft regulations that will govern drilling in the Marcellus Shale within DRBC-controlled areas. The DRBC adds an extra layer of regulation for drilling within watershed areas as part of it’s charter to protect water supplies. As Dan Fitzsimmons points out, it’s important for those who support drilling to make their voices heard at the DRBC hearings.

Atlas Energy | Chevron | Energy Companies | Reliance Industries

India’s RIL Loses Bidding War for Atlas Energy – $4.3 Billion Deal with Chevron Goes Forward

February 17, 2011February 17, 2011

India’s largest private sector company, and one of the world’s largest energy companies, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), lost its bidding war with Chevron to buy Atlas Energy.

Energy Companies | Westmont Resources

Westmont Resources Sells Gold Mines to Pursue Bigger Pot of Gold in the Marcellus Shale

February 17, 2011February 17, 2011

Westmont Resources, an independent oil and gas production company with headquarters in Bellevue, WA, just sold off their Canadian gold mining properties so they can concentrate on oil and gas drilling in the U.S., particularly in the Marcellus and Chattanooga Shale plays.

Chemung County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Steuben County

Anschutz Exploration Responds to Lawsuit Claiming Drilling Operations Contaminated Water Wells in Big Flats, NY

February 16, 2011February 17, 2011

Yesterday MDN ran an article about a lawsuit filed in Chemung County, NY against Denver-based Anschutz Exploration Corporation (see here). The New York City personal injury law firm Napoli Bern Ripka & Associates recently filed a lawsuit on behalf of nine families in the Big Flats, NY area who are experiencing problems with their water wells.

Statewide WV | West Virginia

WV Gov. Tomblin Creates Task Force to Encourage Marcellus Gas Chemical Manufacturing

February 16, 2011February 16, 2011

West Virginia Governor Early Ray Tomblin wants to leverage Marcellus Shale drilling in his state as much as possible, and he’s created a new task force to encourage it.