New Drilling in PA State Forests Back On with New Governor
The drilling moratorium on Marcellus drilling in Pennsylvania state forests has been lifted by new Gov. Tom Corbett:
Read More “New Drilling in PA State Forests Back On with New Governor”
-
-
Forced Pooling in W.Va. Taken Out of New Legislation
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:
Read More “Forced Pooling in W.Va. Taken Out of New Legislation”
-
Hydraulic Fracturing Debate at SUNY Cortland, Ingraffea vs Siegel
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).
Read More “Hydraulic Fracturing Debate at SUNY Cortland, Ingraffea vs Siegel”
-
Bradford County | Greene County (PA) | Pennsylvania | Somerset County | Washington County | Westmoreland County
Number of Permits Issued & Wells Drilled in Select PA Counties, including the County with the Most Wells
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
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.
-
IOGA’s Mike McCown Talks about Marcellus Drilling and the Future of Energy in West Virginia
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 – Feb 20, 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).
Read More “MDN Weekly Update – Feb 20, 2011”
-
Broome County | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Landowner Coalition News | Laser Northeast Gathering | New York | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Susquehanna County
PA Marcellus Gas Coming to Broome County, NY via New Gathering Pipeline
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” -
Marcellus Shale Drill Cuttings Pay for New Equipment, Training for First Responders in Bradford County, PA
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.
-
Belden & Blake | Broome County | Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies | EnerVest | Lease & Royalty Payments | New York
Broome County, NY Landowners Sue Energy Companies that Try to Extend Expired Leases with “Force Majeure” Clause
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. -
Free Bus Ride from Binghamton Area to DRBC Hearings in Liberty, NY on Feb 22 for Pro-Gas Supporters
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.
-
India’s RIL Loses Bidding War for Atlas Energy – $4.3 Billion Deal with Chevron Goes Forward
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.
-
Westmont Resources Sells Gold Mines to Pursue Bigger Pot of Gold in the Marcellus Shale
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.
Read More “Westmont Resources Sells Gold Mines to Pursue Bigger Pot of Gold in the Marcellus Shale”
-
Anschutz Exploration Responds to Lawsuit Claiming Drilling Operations Contaminated Water Wells in Big Flats, NY
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.
-
WV Gov. Tomblin Creates Task Force to Encourage Marcellus Gas Chemical Manufacturing
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.
Read More “WV Gov. Tomblin Creates Task Force to Encourage Marcellus Gas Chemical Manufacturing”
-
Former BP Chief Executive Lord Browne Says Unconventional Gas is “A Game Changer”
“Unconventional gas,” or natural gas from sources that have traditionally not been used to provide natural gas, is increasingly a big deal. Not only here in the U.S., but in Europe and Asia as well. There has also been activity of late in Africa. Unconventional gas includes shale gas, like that found in the Marcellus Shale in the Eastern United States.
Read More “Former BP Chief Executive Lord Browne Says Unconventional Gas is “A Game Changer””
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.