U.S. Rig Count Adds 1 @ 626, M-U Even @ 41 but PA Down 1, WV Up 1
The Baker Hughes U.S. rig count hit a new low for 2023 five weeks ago (see U.S. Rig Count Hits New 2023 Low – Loses 2 @ 616, M-U Even @ 40). Since then, the count has steadily added at least one rig each week and now stands at 626 active rigs as of Friday. The Marcellus/Utica stayed even at 41 active rigs last week. However, there was a change. Pennsylvania lost one rig, which West Virginia picked up.
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In August, University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) researchers released three studies commissioned by the State Dept. of Health supposedly investigating whether or not there is a connection between shale drilling and childhood diseases, including cancer (see 
With all of the posturing and hoopla happening at the 28th United Nations Climate Change (COP28) conference being held in Dubai, which mercifully ends tomorrow, let’s look at the facts. The windbags at COP28 have elected to make natural gas THE DEVIL at this year’s event. Fugitive methane (escaping into the atmosphere) is the big boogeyman that will toast Mom Earth into a cinder, so they say. The solution, according to flatulating windbags like U.S. Special Envoy John Kerry and UN Secretary-General António Guterres, is to outlaw fossil fuels (specifically natural gas). Yet here’s what the facts show: The Marcellus/Utica natural gas industry is already the world leader in lowering methane emission intensity, due to the implementation of best practices for years.
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Need to ‘phase-out’ fossil fuels, Markey says; NATIONAL: John Kerry pledges to slash emissions from AC units, refrigerators; US industry group backs pipeline safety bill.
New shale permits issued for Nov 27 – Dec 3 in the Marcellus/Utica were much improved over the previous few weeks. There were 25 new permits issued last week versus 14 issued two weeks ago and just one new permit three weeks ago. So the trend is our friend! Last week’s permit tally included 15 new permits in Pennsylvania, 8 new permits in Ohio, and 2 new permits in West Virginia. Three companies tied for top place with 4 permits each: Seneca Resources in PA, Ascent Resources and Encino Energy in OH.
Hart Energy keeps the hits rolling, publishing interviews and articles from the recent DUG Appalachia event held in Pittsburgh in November. The latest is a transcript of an interview between Hart Energy’s editorial director and Encino Energy’s CTO. According to the CTO, the company uses “machine learning” to perfect its oil drilling in the northern Ohio Utica, and it’s paying off. Encino is looking to expand in the Ohio Utica — looking to lease more and drill more.
One of the speakers at the recent Hart Energy DUG Appalachia event in Pittsburgh was Douglas Kris, senior vice president of Diversified Energy. For years, we have highlighted Diversified’s “contrarian” business model (
Venture Global’s Calcasieu Pass LNG export facility recently received Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) authorization to place the final three liquefaction blocks (7-9) into service (see 
In May, the PHMSA issued a proposed new rule that would slap onerous and very expensive new requirements on pretty much all natural gas pipelines in the country, including 2.7 million miles of gas transmission, distribution, and gathering pipelines; 400+ underground natural gas storage facilities; and 165 liquefied natural gas facilities (see 
Each year, the Oil & Gas Journal updates oil and natural gas reserves by each O&G-producing country. It’s a fascinating look at where the biggest (and smallest) oil and gas supplies exist on the planet. Would it surprise you to learn that three other countries have more (far more) natural gas reserves than we have here in the U.S.? Perhaps even more startling, There are eight countries with more oil reserves than the U.S. Unfortunately, most of the countries with larger supplies are enemies of the U.S.
In May, MDN told you that since taking office in January, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has been a major dud — someone who doesn’t know how to lead (see