MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Pennsylvania’s largest coal plant to close amid shift to gas; NATIONAL: Data science is the future of oil and gas; U.S. House Republicans aim to defend gas-stove owners’ freedoms; Not so fast… energy transition trips over security concerns; Why you should doubt the DOE’s sudden projection of falling natgas demand.
Read More “Other Stories of Interest: Tue, Jun 6, 2023”
It literally took an Act of Congress, but the 303-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline will be, according to the builder and main owner, Equitrans, completed and online by the end of 2023. Victory!!! Finally, the good guys win one. The bulk of the credit for this significant victory goes to…House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who listened to the Republicans of West Virginia and stuck his own neck out to ensure this pipeline project gets completed by including it in the debt ceiling bill. Yes, liberal Democrat Joe Manchin gets credit for calling attention to the plight of MVP, but make no mistake–Manchin could not seal the deal. He fumbled the ball and could not get it across the finish line for a touchdown. It was McCarthy who picked up the ball and ran with it. It was Congresswoman Carol Miller (from West Virginia) and Senator Shelley Moore Capito (also from WV) who fought and lobbied (behind the scenes). Their work aided McCarthy in securing a place for MVP in the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. Hats off to the Republican delegation from WV for their success.
Read More “Equitrans Announces Mountain Valley Pipe to Get Completed in 2023”
Last week the Pennsylvania Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) released its latest quarterly Natural Gas Production Report for January through March 2023 (full copy below). There was 120 new horizontal wells spud (drilled) in 1Q23, a big decrease of 27 wells (-18%) compared to 1Q22. Natural gas production volume was 1,838 billion cubic feet (Bcf) in 1Q23, down 14 Bcf (-0.7%) from 1Q22. It is the fifth quarterly decrease in production in a row, comparing the same quarters year-over-year. Sadly, 1Q23 production was also down from 4Q22–by 1.0%.
Read More “IFO Report: Big Decrease in PA Shale Production, Drilling in 1Q23”
Last week shale drillers could, for the first time, begin to apply for permits to drill under (not on top of) Ohio state lands and state parks under newly formulated rules established by the Ohio Oil & Gas Land Management (OGLM) Commission (see Ohio State Lands Now Open for O&G Leasing – Virtual Ribbon-Cutting). Mike Chadsey, director of public relations for the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, said, “State lands leasing is open – cut the ribbon and see who’s interested.” It turns out there are quite a few interested…
Read More “8 Cos. Bid to Drill Under OH State Land, Applications Anonymous”
Anti-fossil fuel zealots are demanding an update on a $2.5 million “study” awarded to the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health to “conduct research on the potential health effects of hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania” (see Pitt Researchers Get $2.5M for Fake Study to Link Shale & Kid Cancer). The problem is it’s not real research. The study was prompted by an uptick in rare childhood cancers in southwestern PA. Instead of looking for all potential causes of the cancer cluster, only one potential cause was identified–fracking. Ignored is an old uranium dumpsite nearby. The study began (rather, the money was distributed) 2 1/2 years ago. Antis want their ears tickled with half-baked conclusions so they can continue their campaign to smear shale energy. Why doesn’t Pitt help them out?
Read More “Anti-Shale Enviro Groups Demand Update on Pitt Cancer Study”
Cornell University professor Robert Howarth has poked his head up again to bash shale energy. This time he’s taking aim at hydrogen produced from natural gas. Howarth hates fossil fuels–all of them–including clean-burning natural gas. In March 2011, Howarth and two other Cornell profs published a peer-reviewed study in the journal Climatic Change titled, “Methane and the greenhouse-gas footprint of natural gas from shale formations” (see New Cornell University Study Says Shale Gas Extraction Worse for Global Warming Than Coal). The study made the laughable claim that shale gas extraction is worse for the environment than burning coal because of greenhouse gases.
Read More “Anti-Fossil Fuel Zealot from Cornell Trash Talks PA Blue Hydrogen”
Rystad Energy, based in Norway, is an independent energy research and business intelligence company providing data, analytics, and consultancy services to clients exposed to the energy industry across the globe. Rystad is tuned in regarding what’s happening in the oil and gas industry. In May, the company published research that shows the oil and gas industry reaped “unexpected investments” of an extra $140 billion in 2022 and 2023. The extra inflow was due to the war in Ukraine and energy security concerns. Rystad predicts the extra windfall will be short-lived.
Read More “Rystad Says Fossil Fuel Spending Surged $140B in 2022/23, Temporary”
Republican pushback against ESG (environment, social, governance) madness finally appears to be making a difference. Sometimes it seems as if the side of righteousness never makes any progress. And then, an act of Congress comes along to complete a gas pipeline. And now, more good news. Big Insurance companies are leaving a United Nations climate alliance in droves–because of Republican pushback. Let’s sit back and bask in the glow of success!
Read More “Insurance Cos. Flee Net-Zero Climate Alliance Due to GOP Pressure”
The most recent day of active trading was Fri., Jun. 2, 2023. The numbers below reflect Friday’s closing numbers.
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Utica Shale Academy holds graduation ceremony; NATIONAL: Exxon bets new ways to frack can double oil pumped from shale wells; Biden abandons plan to nominate radical environmentalist at highway safety agency; Hourly pay for us shale workers tops $43; INTERNATIONAL: Saudi to cut output by 1MM BPD in solo OPEC+ move.
Read More “Other Stories of Interest: Mon, Jun 5, 2023”
New shale permits issued for May 22-28 in the Marcellus/Utica fell again for a second week. There were only 8 new permits issued, down from 12 new permits issued the previous week (and 26 the week before that). This is the latest indicator of a slowdown in gas drilling in our region–the first indicator being a sudden dropoff a few weeks back in the rig count (see U.S. Natural Gas Drilling Rig Count Craters, Down 10% in One Week). Last week’s permit tally included 6 new permits for Pennsylvania, no new permits for Ohio, and 2 new permits in West Virginia.
Read More “8 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV May 22-28”
The most recent day of active trading was Thu., Jun. 1, 2023. The numbers below reflect yesterday’s closing numbers.
Yesterday the virtual ribbon was cut, and drillers could, for the first time, begin to apply for permits to drill under (not on top of) Ohio state lands and state parks. In January, Ohio House Bill (HB) 507 became law with the signature of Gov. Mike DeWine (see OH Gov. Signs Bill Expanding Drilling in State Parks, NatGas “Green”). The new law allows shale drilling under Ohio state-owned land. In fact, it encourages (pushes for) more drilling under state-owned land. The question now is, will anybody show up and apply? Chances are pretty good they will.
Read More “Ohio State Lands Now Open for O&G Leasing – Virtual Ribbon-Cutting”
It’s time to catch up on a project we haven’t written about in some time. In March 2017, Williams filed a full, official application for the Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) Project (see Williams Files with FERC to Expand Transco Pipeline to NYC, NE). NESE is meant to increase pipeline capacity and flows heading into northeastern markets. Both New York and New Jersey, where portions of the project would be built, have pushed back against the project, causing Williams to seek time extensions with FERC. The most recent time extension expired in May. Williams has asked FERC for another three years, until May 3, 2025, to get the NESE project built.
Read More “Williams Asks FERC for 3 Yr Extension to Complete NY-NJ NESE Pipe”
Marcellus driller Northeast Natural Energy (NNE) has begun to drill a geothermal and carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) data collection well, all the way down to 15,000 below the surface (see WVU & NNE Drilling Test Well for CCS, Geothermal Energy). The test well is being drilled near the Morgantown Industrial Park in cooperation with (under the direction of) West Virginia University and the U.S. Dept. of Energy. The study and the data collected from the well aim to test the potential of geothermal energy in the region and gather information on the potential for underground CCS in the Appalachian basin. NNE Drilling Manager, Josh Dalton, says he believes this will be the future for companies like his–drilling geothermal wells instead of Marcellus wells. We respectfully disagree.
Read More “M-U Driller Northeast Natural Energy Believes Geothermal the Future”
Seneca Resources Company, the Marcellus/Utica drilling arm of utility giant National Fuel Gas Company (headquartered in Williamsville, NY), has contracted with a company called Tachyus (headquartered in Houston, TX) to use its cloud-based greenhouse gas tracking and reporting service called Aurion. The purpose is, of course, to lower Seneca’s carbon and fugitive methane footprint–and to prove that is has lowered it.
Read More “Seneca Resources Deploying Aurion to Track & Report GHG Emissions”
