Marcellus Drilling News

Baker Hughes | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

Trend Accelerates: Pennsylvania Loses 2 More Rigs to West Virginia
September 9, 2024September 9, 2024

A very big story is unfolding in the Marcellus/Utica, and nobody else is talking about it. There is a major reshuffling of rigs in the M-U, with Pennsylvania losing active rigs and West Virginia picking them up. Two weeks ago, PA dropped from 21 to 18 active rigs, the lowest count it has had in 2 1/2 years (see Pennsylvania Dropped 3 Rigs Last Week, Lowest Count in 2.5 Years). WV picked up one of those rigs, moving from five to six active rigs. Last week, the trend accelerated.
Read More “Trend Accelerates: Pennsylvania Loses 2 More Rigs to West Virginia”
Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide PA

Onerous New Regs for PA Liquids Pipes, Landmen Go Live in November
September 9, 2024September 9, 2024

In 2019, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) began formulating new regulations for intrastate pipelines transporting gasoline, petroleum, crude oil, and natural gas liquids like ethane. In July 2021, the PUC finally published a draft of new regulations (see PA PUC Proposes New Regs for Pipelines—Landmen Must be Licensed). The onerous regulations landed with a thud. The DEP and antis loved them; the oil and gas industry hated them. After another two years of tinkering, the PUC’s regs, all 314 pages of them, were approved in June and are about to be adopted as the equivalent of law in the Keystone State when they are published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin this month. They will become the equivalent of law (go into effect) in November. Read More “Onerous New Regs for PA Liquids Pipes, Landmen Go Live in November”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Iroquois Gas Transmission | Pipelines

Antis Attack Iroquois Plan to Expand Connecticut Compressor Stn
September 9, 2024September 9, 2024

Iroquois Gas Transmission’s Enhancement by Compression (ExC) project would increase horsepower at three compression stations — two in New York and one in Connecticut — by an extra 125 MMcf/d, to flow more Marcellus/Utica gas into New York City and New England. The two NY compressors include one in Dover and one in Athens. The CT compressor is located in Brookfield. The left, via the odious Food & Water Watch, has made a concerted effort to block the two NY compressor station upgrades (see Radicals Pressure NY Gov. Hochul to Block Iroquois Pipe Expansion). Now the left is making a run and blocking the Brookfield, CT, compressor upgrade via the odious Sierra Club and a fake “study” paid for by the Clubbers. Read More “Antis Attack Iroquois Plan to Expand Connecticut Compressor Stn”
Energy Companies | EQT Corp | Industrywide Issues | Wastewater

Va. Researcher “Novel Method” to Extract Lithium from M-U Brine
September 9, 2024September 9, 2024

(From left) Graduate student Peidong Liu and mining and minerals engineering Associate Professor Wencai Zhang analyze water samples in the lab. Photo by Hailey Wade for Virginia Tech.

Researchers at Virginia Tech’s College of Engineering have developed a “novel method” for direct lithium extraction from Marcellus produced water to contribute to the high demand for electric vehicles and so-called green energy. The researchers are getting a $1.8 million grant from the Department of Energy to optimize and scale up this new technique. Read More “Va. Researcher “Novel Method” to Extract Lithium from M-U Brine”
Columbiana County | Education | Industrywide Issues | Ohio

Utica Shale Academy Transforms Community Through Education
September 9, 2024September 9, 2024

Federal, state and local officials gathered Aug. 23 to cut the ribbon outside the Utica Shale Academy Energy Training Center’s newly expanded space in Salineville (click for larger version)

The Utica Shale Academy (USA), located in Salineville (Columbiana County), OH, is already a decade old. Where does the time go?! The USA, through an innovative high school curriculum, serves as a leading educational institution for all students who seek to explore, develop, and enhance career opportunities and further advance their education. The curriculum trains kids and adults in the skills needed to get jobs in the shale industry. Several weeks ago, USA staffers, state and local officials, and community members held a luncheon and ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the USA’s Connecting Communities Through Workforce Training Project. USA was heralded as a “transformative beacon for the community and education of youth and adults.” Read More “Utica Shale Academy Transforms Community Through Education”
CNG/LNG | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

Boston LNG Import Terminal is Poster Child for Bad U.S. Policies
September 9, 2024September 9, 2024

Over the years, we’ve written many posts about the Everett LNG import terminal near Boston (see our stories here). Everett LNG plays a key role in keeping the lights on and the furnaces belching heat throughout New England (see Everett LNG’s Key Role in Keeping the Lights on in New England). The Everett terminal has 3.4 Bcf of LNG storage capacity and plays a crucial role in stabilizing gas supplies in New England. Everett can supply up to 35% of regional gas demand on peak winter days — and is typically used to fill supply gaps during high-demand periods or when regional gas systems are under significant stress. Everett is also a poster child for what’s wrong with American energy policy. Read More “Boston LNG Import Terminal is Poster Child for Bad U.S. Policies”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues

Harris Hires Director of Gas Stove Ban Effort for Climate Outreach
September 9, 2024September 9, 2024

Oh yeah, Kamala “The Cackler” Harris is all in favor of fracking and natural gas and even oil. Right? Then why the heck did her campaign just hire Camila Thorndike, a self-styled “climate hype girl for democracy” who worked for two years at Rewiring America, the organization pushing a nationwide ban on natural gas stoves, as the campaign’s point person on climate outreach? These are the questions mainstream media should be asking, but mainstream media has become the de facto PR agency for the Democrat Party. You are being lied to every day about Harris and her true intentions. Read More “Harris Hires Director of Gas Stove Ban Effort for Climate Outreach”
Best of the Rest

Other Stories of Interest: Mon, Sep 9, 2024
September 9, 2024September 9, 2024

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Protestors interrupt forum featuring Manchin and Capito; PJM considers fast-track review for shovel-ready generating projects; NATIONAL: Oil settles down 2%, big weekly drop after US jobs data; Why has the green hydrogen hype faded?; Bernie Sanders says Kamala Harris is lying to win; Democrat voters have been hypnotized by media flunkies.
Read More “Other Stories of Interest: Mon, Sep 9, 2024”
Antero Resources | Carroll County | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | EOG Resources | EQT Corp | Greene County (PA) | Guernsey County | Lycoming County | Marshall County | Ohio | Ohio County | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Seneca Resources | Southwestern Energy | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Westmoreland County | Wetzel County

32 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Aug 26 – Sep 1
September 6, 2024September 6, 2024

For the week of Aug. 26 – Sept. 1, a total of 32 permits were issued to drill new shale wells in Marcellus/Utica, nearly matching the previous week’s 34. It’s nice to see the numbers returning to higher levels. The Keystone State (PA) had 18 new permits. PA’s top recipient was EQT (and its subsidiary Rice Drilling), with ten permits in Greene County. Seneca Resources was second, with five new permits issued in Lycoming County. Olympus Energy received three permits in Westmoreland County. Read More “32 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Aug 26 – Sep 1”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide PA

IFO 2Q24 Report: New Wells Drilled, Production Both Down in Pa.
September 6, 2024September 6, 2024

Yesterday, the Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released its latest quarterly Natural Gas Production Report for April through June 2024 (full copy below). There were 63 new horizontal wells spud (drilled) in 2Q24, a decrease of 26 wells (-29%) compared to 2Q23. That number was also down significantly (37%) from the 100 wells spud in 1Q24. This was the seventh consecutive quarter with a year-over-year (YOY) decline in new wells spud. Natural gas production volume was 1,776 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in 2Q24, down 89 Bcf (5%) from the 1,865 Bcf produced in 2Q23. Read More “IFO 2Q24 Report: New Wells Drilled, Production Both Down in Pa.”
Enbridge | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | North Carolina | Pipelines | Regulation | Virginia

FERC Gives OK to Start Building ETNG System Alignment in TN, NC
September 6, 2024September 6, 2024

In March of this year, MDN brought the news that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) had approved an Enbridge project to update its East Tennessee Natural Gas (ETNG) pipeline system (see FERC Approves East Tenn. NatGas System Alignment in NC, TN, VA). The project is referred to as the ETNG System Alignment Program Project. ETNG plans to add two electric compressor stations and pipeline capacity in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Here’s something you don’t read about every day: The original target by Enbridge was to begin construction on the project in the second quarter of next year. Scratch that! Last Friday, FERC gave Enbridge its approval to begin construction on the System Alignment Project now, nearly a year ahead of schedule. Read More “FERC Gives OK to Start Building ETNG System Alignment in TN, NC”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | New York | Pennsylvania | Pike County | Regulation | Statewide NY | Wayne County

DRBC Appoints New Executive Director Figurehead
September 6, 2024September 6, 2024

DRBC Deputy Executive Director Kristen Bowman Kavanagh, P.E.

In 1961, the federal government and the governments of Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York made a huge mistake. They entered into an agreement that created the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC). The DRBC has the independent legal authority to oversee and manage the Delaware River Basin. The DRBC treats the 17 counties in Pennsylvania under its jurisdiction (particularly Wayne and Pike counties) as a fiefdom, banning shale energy within those counties (see DRBC Jumps Off Cliff – Votes to Permanently Ban Fracking). Big Green pretty much runs the agency. The DRBC appoints an executive director as a figurehead to push papers around. Earlier this year, Steve Tambini, current ED, announced he would retire as of Dec. 1 (see DRBC’s Disappointing Executive Director Steve Tambini is Retiring). Yesterday, the agency announced who would replace him. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Read More “DRBC Appoints New Executive Director Figurehead”
Energy Services | Leatherstocking Gas

CEO of Corning Energy, Owner of Leatherstocking Gas PA, Retiring
September 6, 2024September 6, 2024

Michael German, CEO, Corning Energy Corp.

Corning Energy Corporation (formerly Corning Natural Gas) announced yesterday that Michael German, the company’s CEO, will retire effective December 31, 2024, after 18 years with the company. German was the key guy behind the creation of Leatherstocking Gas Company, which runs gas mains to residents and businesses in small, mainly rural communities—like Montrose, PA (see PA Rural Residents Burn Marcellus Gas, Save Big Bucks on Heating). Read More “CEO of Corning Energy, Owner of Leatherstocking Gas PA, Retiring”
CNG/LNG | Energy Companies | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Shell

Shell Says Venture Global Wrongfully Earned $3.5B from CP LNG Sales
September 6, 2024September 6, 2024

Shell is putting numbers to the gross transgression of Venture Global in screwing over its contracted customers for LNG shipments. Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass LNG export facility received Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) authorization to place the final three liquefaction blocks (7-9) into service in November 2023 (see Venture Global Gets FERC OK to Commission 3 Calcasieu Pass Trains). The other trains, 1-6, have been online for over two years. However, the entire facility is not officially in commercial service, even though it has shipped over 200 cargoes! Venture Global claims it is still working out the kinks. Shell and Venture’s other customers say horse manure! Shell says Venture Global has wrongfully earned $3.5 billion from selling cargos from long-term contracts on the spot market instead. PAY UP, Venture Global! Read More “Shell Says Venture Global Wrongfully Earned $3.5B from CP LNG Sales”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Statewide NY

NY Gov. Hochul Makes it Clear That She Hates Fracking
September 6, 2024September 6, 2024

Yesterday, MDN told you that if The Cackler (Kamala Harris) can turn on a dime and supposedly embrace fracking, why can’t leftist New York Governor Kathy Hochul do the same (see A Plea to NY Gov. Hochul to Overturn the Ban on Fracking in Upstate). Perhaps Harris’ supposed change of heart would inspire (give excuse to) Hochul to do the same. And then we woke up from our dream and said, nah, ain’t ever gonna happen. And we were right! Yesterday, maybe after reading the NY Post article we quoted, Hochul expressed her hatred of fracking at an energy summit in Syracuse, quipping, “We’re not fracking, we’re not burning coal.” Comrade Hochul’s words were spoken like a true dictator wannabe. Read More “NY Gov. Hochul Makes it Clear That She Hates Fracking”
Best of the Rest

Other Stories of Interest: Fri, Sep 6, 2024
September 6, 2024September 6, 2024

OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Berkeley now plans to tax buildings using natgas; NATIONAL: The leftwing judicial ethics crisis no one is talking about; Small storage build creates bullish shock to gas market; INTERNATIONAL: Egypt seeks to import more LNG for winter; Oil, gas will remain central to energy mix for foreseeable future; US imposes sanctions on companies, vessels linked to Arctic LNG 2. Read More “Other Stories of Interest: Fri, Sep 6, 2024”