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Marcellus Drilling News
  • Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | Industrywide Issues | North Carolina | Pipelines

    NC Dem Gov. Roy Cooper Vetoes Bill to Help MVP Southgate

    October 6, 2023October 6, 2023

    Equitrans Midstream, the builder of the 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) project, wants to extend the pipeline by an extra 75 miles from the current terminus in Pittsylvania County, VA, to Alamance County, NC, to provide natural gas for heating and electric generation. The extension is called MVP Southgate. In typical fashion, Democrats oppose it (see NC Leftist Gov. Cooper Asks FERC to Deny MVP Southgate More Time and 52 NC Legislators Join Gov. in Seeking to Block MVP Southgate). Some energy analysts have chimed in with their view that MVP Southgate will never get built (see Analysts Say MVP Southgate Pipe in NC Not Likely to Get Built). However, all the negative Nellies are not stopping NC’s Republicans, who are trying to make it easier for MVP to get the permits it will need from the Dem-controlled Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
    Read More “NC Dem Gov. Roy Cooper Vetoes Bill to Help MVP Southgate”

  • Hope Utilities | Industrywide Issues | LDCs | Monongalia County | West Virginia

    WV’s Hope Gas Parent Hearthstone Rebrands as Hope Utilities

    October 6, 2023October 6, 2023

    In August 2022, MDN brought you the news that Hearthstone Utilities, a Naperville, Illinois-based company, was planning to move its corporate headquarters to Morgantown, West Virginia (see Hearthstone Utilities Moving HQ to WV to Leverage Marcellus/Utica). The move finally happened in June of this year (see Utility Co. Hope Gas Transfers HQ from Illinois to Morgantown, WV). Why move? According to CEO Morgan O’Brien, “We’re very bullish on West Virginia and the idea of having a gas utility sitting on top of the Marcellus and Utica shales, and what that could mean.” Hearthstone operates local natural gas utilities in Indiana, Maine, Montana, North Carolina, Ohio, and with the purchase of Hope Gas from Dominion Energy earlier this year, it now operates in West Virginia (see Dominion Selling WV Utility – Deal Incl. 2K Miles Gathering Pipes). The parent company is changing its name from Hearthstone Utilities to Hope Utilities.
    Read More “WV’s Hope Gas Parent Hearthstone Rebrands as Hope Utilities”

  • Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Ohio | Statewide OH

    Foreign-Backed Big Green Sets Sights on Suing Ohio for Climate Chg

    October 6, 2023October 6, 2023

    The so-called Center for Climate Integrity (CCI), backed with FOREIGN MONEY, is behind most of the lawsuits filed by municipalities around the country (cities, counties, states) against Big Oil & Gas companies, claiming fossil energy companies know and have known for years that using their products is toasting Mom Earth into oblivion. It is the most outrageous abuse of the justice system we know of. The lawsuits are instigated (and funded) by CCI and a litany of colluding tax-free nonprofits. In August, we told you all the signs are pointing to CCI targeting Pennsylvania (see Leftist Groups Try to Convince PA Officials to File O&G Lawsuits). The same signs are now present in Ohio.
    Read More “Foreign-Backed Big Green Sets Sights on Suing Ohio for Climate Chg”

  • CNG/LNG | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Research

    U.S. Exports of NatGas Set Record High in First Half of 2023

    October 6, 2023October 6, 2023

    U.S. natural gas exports set a record high in the first half of 2023, largely thanks to LNG exports. However, don’t forget that nearly as much natural gas is exported to Mexico and Canada via pipelines as LNG is exported to other countries via cargo ships. For the first six months of 2023, the U.S. exported an average of 11.6 Bcf/d (billion cubic feet per day) of gas via LNG, and 8.8 Bcf/d via pipelines. Added together, the 20.4 Bcf/d of natgas we exported during 1H23 was the most ever exported for the first half of any year on record. Pop the cork!
    Read More “U.S. Exports of NatGas Set Record High in First Half of 2023”

  • Apex Energy | Butler County | CONSOL Energy | Energy Companies | EQT Corp | HG Energy | Lewis County | Lycoming County | Marion County | Monongalia County | Ohio County | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | PennEnergy Resources | Pennsylvania | Southwestern Energy | Weekly Permits | West Virginia | Westmoreland County

    23 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 25 – Oct 1

    October 6, 2023October 6, 2023

    New shale permits issued for Sep 25 – Oct 1 in the Marcellus/Utica were up a few ticks from the previous week. There were 23 new permits issued last week, up from 21 permits issued two weeks ago. Last week’s permit tally included 10 new permits in Pennsylvania, no new permits in Ohio, and a surprising 13 new permits in West Virginia. Two companies tied for top permittee, one you know, one you may not know. Olympus Energy received 5 permits to drill in Westmoreland County, PA. Consol Mining Company received 5 permits to drill in Monongalia County, WV. Consol used to own CNX Resources before spinning off CNX into its own company. Consol concentrates on coal mining. We were surprised to see Consol wandering back into shale drilling.
    Read More “23 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Sep 25 – Oct 1”

  • Best of the Rest

    Other Stories of Interest: Fri, Oct 6, 2023

    October 6, 2023October 10, 2023

    OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Tellurian seeks more time to complete Driftwood LNG terminal; NATIONAL: Exxon Mobil closing in on megadeal with shale driller Pioneer; Oil drops below $83 on demand fears; Oil could hit $100/bbl as OPEC+ sticks with supply cuts; Peak hourly U.S. electricity demand in July 2nd highest since 2016; ESG has lost its meaning; Haaland’s daughter has ties to Cuban Communists; INTERNATIONAL: Rystad analysts say oil demand peaking, predict $60 a barrel by 2027; Chevron Australia LNG workers threaten to resume strikes.
    Read More “Other Stories of Interest: Fri, Oct 6, 2023”

  • Energy Services | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide VA | Statewide WV | Virginia | West Virginia

    MVP Cuts Deal with PHMSA for Third-Party Inspections of Pipe Coating

    October 5, 2023October 5, 2023

    The left thought it had won the Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) battle with three colluding (corrupt) and sympathetic judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (4th Circuit). But then Congress, under the leadership of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, passed the “debt ceiling” bill that forces the completion of MVP (see Equitrans Announces Mountain Valley Pipe to Get Completed in 2023). The left tried one last Hail Mary, challenging the law itself in the sympathetic 4th Circuit. But the U.S. Supreme Court stepped in and stopped the nonsense (see Supreme Court Overturns 4th Circuit, MVP to Restart Construction). However, the creative left wasn’t done with its efforts to defeat MVP.
    Read More “MVP Cuts Deal with PHMSA for Third-Party Inspections of Pipe Coating”

  • Columbiana County | Encino Energy | Energy Companies | Hilcorp Energy | Lease & Royalty Payments | Ohio | Pin Oak Energy Partners

    Leasing in Columbiana County Picks Up; Bonuses & Royalties Down

    October 5, 2023October 5, 2023

    Once upon a time (roughly 12 years ago), Chesapeake Energy and other shale drillers were leasing property in Columbiana County, OH, in deals that often paid $6,000 per acre for a signing bonus and granted 20% royalties for any oil or gas produced. According to an analysis by the Youngstown Business Journal, those days are long gone. However, many of those original leases have expired, and there is a new push to re-lease in the county, says a Youngstown attorney specializing in oil and gas. Just don’t expect big signing bonuses and royalty rates.
    Read More “Leasing in Columbiana County Picks Up; Bonuses & Royalties Down”

  • Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide OH | Statewide PA

    Plugging Orphan Wells in OH, PA More Complicated Than Just Money

    October 5, 2023October 5, 2023

    In the fall of 2021, President Biden signed into law the so-called Infrastructure Bill, some $1.2 trillion in pork barrel spending, passed with the help of turncoat Republicans (see Biden So-Called $1.2T Infrastructure Bill Passes Thanks to RINOs). Only about 9% of the $1.2 trillion will go to actual infrastructure projects like roads and bridges. One of the line items in the bill (so small it’s a rounding error) is money to plug orphaned and abandoned oil and gas wells. A small amount of money was distributed last fall, a year after the bill became law (see PA DEP Solicits Bids to Plug First 50 Orphaned Wells Using Fed $$). Finally, after two years of waiting, the Bidenistas issued the next round of money in July — some $660 million in total, of which $163 million (or 25%) went to Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia (see Bidenistas Dispense $163 Million to Plug Old O&G Wells in OH-PA-WV). It turns out that just throwing money at the problem doesn’t fix it. There is a long list of challenges before an old well gets plugged.
    Read More “Plugging Orphan Wells in OH, PA More Complicated Than Just Money”

  • Energy Services | Summit Midstream

    Summit Midstream 3Q Update – Considers Selling Part or All of Co.

    October 5, 2023October 5, 2023

    Summit Midstream Partners, formed in 2009 and headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, operates natural gas, crude oil, and produced water gathering (pipeline) systems in several unconventional shale plays, including the Marcellus and Utica. On Tuesday, the company issued an operational update based on third-quarter results (no financials, just operations). The company saw significant quarterly volume growth across nearly every segment, including 19% volume growth in its Northeast (Marcellus/Utica) segment. However, the big news from the update is that the company has received overtures to buy some or all of the entire company. The Summit board is now actively considering those offers.
    Read More “Summit Midstream 3Q Update – Considers Selling Part or All of Co.”

  • Columbia Pipeline Group | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | M&A | Pipelines | TC Energy/TransCanada

    TC Energy Completes Sale of 40% Interest in Columbia Pipe to GIP

    October 5, 2023October 5, 2023

    TransCanada Corporation, which renamed itself TC Energy in 2019, bought out/merged in U.S.-based Columbia Pipeline Group (now Columbia Gas Transmission) in 2016 (see TransCanada and Columbia Pipeline Tie the Knot Today). TransCanada paid $13 billion for Columbia, including the assumption of $2.8 billion of debt. In July, TC Energy announced it was selling a 40% stake in Columbia for US$3.9 billion (C$5.2 billion) to investment firm Global Infrastructure Partners (see TC Energy Sells 40% Interest in Columbia Pipeline to Investor GIP). TC will retain majority ownership and operate the Columbia assets, which include 11,899 miles of pipeline extending from New York state to the Midwest and Southeast, along with dozens of storage fields in multiple states. As of yesterday, the deal is done and TC has a new partner.
    Read More “TC Energy Completes Sale of 40% Interest in Columbia Pipe to GIP”

  • CNG/LNG | Exporting | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

    Freeport LNG Still Not at 100%, Asks FERC to Approve Full Restart

    October 5, 2023October 5, 2023

    Freeport LNG’s export terminal with three liquefaction “trains” shut down in June 2022 after an explosion and fire (see Explosion Rocks Freeport LNG Export Plant – Offline for 3 Weeks). What was originally thought to be a three-week outage lasted for ten months! The plant finally returned online in March of this year (see Freeport LNG Plant Back to Full Capacity Using 2.1 Bcf/d of NatGas). However, something that had (until now) escaped our notice: The plant is not yet back to 100% full operational status. A second loading dock is still offline. Freeport recently asked FERC for permission to return Dock 2 to operational status, which would goose output from the current 2.1 Bcf/d to 2.38 Bcf/d.
    Read More “Freeport LNG Still Not at 100%, Asks FERC to Approve Full Restart”

  • Best of the Rest

    Other Stories of Interest: Thu, Oct 5, 2023

    October 5, 2023October 5, 2023

    NATIONAL: A new study zaps Biden’s plan to transform the electrical grid; Oil plummets amid demand outlook concerns; What McCarthy’s fall means for energy, environment policy; INTERNATIONAL: Germany reactivates coal plants for winter power boost.
    Read More “Other Stories of Interest: Thu, Oct 5, 2023”

  • Industrywide Issues | Pipelines | Regulation

    Turns Out Willie Phillips Isn’t Just Acting – He’s FERC Chairman

    October 4, 2023October 4, 2023
    Willie Phillips – FERC Chairman

    In November 2021, the U.S. Senate confirmed regulatory lawyer Willie Phillips to serve as a commissioner on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), replacing Neil Chatterjee (see Senate Confirms D.C. Swamp-Dwelling Democrat Lawyer to FERC). When FERC Chairman Richard “Dick” Glick left in January of this year (forced out by Joe Manchin), President Biden named Phillips to take over as Acting Chairman (see Willie Phillips Takes Over as Acting FERC Chairman, Dick Glick Gone). At least, that’s what we were told — that Phillips is just “Acting” Chairman. It turns out Phillips was appointed full Chairman from Day One, and nobody knew about it because the White House kept it a secret.
    Read More “Turns Out Willie Phillips Isn’t Just Acting – He’s FERC Chairman”

  • Industrywide Issues | LDCs | M&A | Statewide WV | West Virginia

    Hope Gas Closes Acquisition of Peoples Gas WV – Adds 13K Customers

    October 4, 2023October 4, 2023

    Hope Gas, a Local Distribution Company (LDC), otherwise known as a utility company, provides gas service to approximately 112,000 residential, industrial, and commercial customers in thirty-five West Virginia counties. In January, Hope announced it was buying the West Virginia division of Peoples Gas, currently owned by Essential Utilities, for an undisclosed amount (see Hope Gas Cuts Deal to Buy Peoples Gas of West Virginia). The deal will add another 13,000 customers to Hope’s customer base. The Hope/Peoples deal finally closed yesterday.
    Read More “Hope Gas Closes Acquisition of Peoples Gas WV – Adds 13K Customers”

  • Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Research

    EIA Consistently Underestimates NatGas Needed for Power Generation

    October 4, 2023October 4, 2023

    U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) forecasters are predicting a sharp drop in natural gas demand in the power sector in the coming decades based on an expectation that unreliable renewables will add tremendous new capacity build-out and will accelerate and displace other sources. However, EIA’s forecasts over the past decade have “consistently and severely” underestimated gas burn for power. The sharp analysts at RBN Energy have done a deep dive into the pitfalls of forecasting gas consumption in a world often focused on pushing a renewables-heavy generation stack.
    Read More “EIA Consistently Underestimates NatGas Needed for Power Generation”

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