M-U Rig Count Stays @ 39 for 4th Week; Nat’l Count Adds 1 @ 546
The Baker Hughes rig count turned in its weekly report early last week, on Dec. 30 (Tuesday instead of the usual Friday), due to the holiday—for a second week in a row. The Marcellus/Utica rig count gained 1 rig four weeks ago in the Ohio Utica, bringing the total to 39 rigs. For the past four reports in a row, the M-U has maintained that count—the most rigs it has operated in more than a year. It’s a great way to start the New Year! Pennsylvania has held at 18 active rigs for seven consecutive weeks. Ohio has operated 14 rigs for four straight weeks (its highest in over a year). And West Virginia maintained 7 rigs, which it has operated since May 30. There were 24 rigs targeting the Marcellus and 15 targeting the Utica. The national count picked up 1 rig, bringing the total to 546 active rigs. Read More “M-U Rig Count Stays @ 39 for 4th Week; Nat’l Count Adds 1 @ 546”
Ascent Resources announced yesterday that its CEO, Jeffrey A. Fisher, who is both Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, will retire from his executive roles effective January 31, 2026. Following his retirement, he will serve as Special Advisor to executive management and the Board through December 31, 2026. The board has appointed Brooks M. Shughart, currently President & CFO, to succeed Fisher as CEO on January 31. While the official announcement does not refer to it, the company is currently in the middle of a bidding war to take it over. 
On December 17, 2025, a casing failure and loss of well control occurred at one of three wells during fracking operations at a Range Resources pad in Washington County, PA. After gas pressure spiked to 2,000 psi, the company stabilized the well and later installed two kill plugs. Despite Range sending an immediate email notification, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) cited Range for failing to use the required website portal for instant alerts. Additionally, the company missed deadlines for a mandatory Area of Review report regarding potential “communication” with other O&G wells and/or water wells in the area. 
In August 2023, the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) posted an Interim Final Environmental Justice Policy to guide DEP’s permit application reviews and outreach efforts in environmental justice areas throughout the Commonwealth (see 
In what we consider a misguided move, a Republican State Senator in South Carolina, Shane Massey (the SC Senate Majority Leader), has introduced a bill that would eliminate the use of eminent domain by pipeline companies. The move comes in response to concerns over a 71-mile Kinder Morgan pipeline that will flow Marcellus/Utica molecules to a planned 1,020-megawatt (MW) gas-fired power plant in the state’s Lowcountry, in Colleton County. 
In August 2024, Quantum Capital Group entered into an agreement to acquire Cogentrix Energy, an independent power producer, from another investment firm (Carlyle) for $3 billion (see 
OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Trump administration sues Calif. cities over natural gas bans; NATIONAL: U.S. natural gas extends losses on milder weather outlook; Foreign billionaires are investing in American energy lawsuits; Why the Boulder climate case is so dangerous and SCOTUS must step in; Top 10 energy prognostications for 2026 – Year of the Horse; INTERNATIONAL: Oil settles higher as US pressures Venezuela; Crude oil prices fell in 2025 amid oversupply; 2026 oil market will not be about Venezuela; Five energy market trends to track in 2026, the year of the glut; Trump to help oil companies ‘take back’ some of the billions Venezuela owes them. 
The combined number of new permits issued to drill shale wells across the Marcellus/Utica region was 26 for the week of Dec. 22 – 28, more than double the 12 issued two weeks ago. Pennsylvania issued 15 new permits, Ohio issued 6, and West Virginia issued 5. Among the companies receiving new permits were Antero, EOG, EQT, Hilcorp, INR, and Range Resources. 
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is seeking public comment on water quality permits for Eastern Gas Transmission’s LN-10 pipeline replacement project in Armstrong and Westmoreland counties. Eastern Gas Transmission and Storage (EGTS) is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy. Construction consists of removing and replacing approximately 13.1 miles of 20-inch-diameter natural gas transmission pipeline. Covering Chapter 102 and 105 regulations, the applications are available for review via the Regional Permit Coordination Office. While no public hearings are currently scheduled, they may be requested. Comments are due by January 26. 
Mixed signals are coming from Virginia’s regulatory agencies regarding a gas-fired project in Chesterfield. In June 2023, Dominion Energy announced plans to build four small “peaker” electric generating plants in Chesterfield County near Richmond (see 
In 2025, the United States became the first nation to exceed 100 million metric tons (mmt) of liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports annually, reaching a record 111 mmt. This 24% year-on-year growth, fueled by high terminal utilization and the rapid ramp-up of facilities like Venture Global’s Plaquemines plant, solidified the U.S. as the world’s leading exporter over Qatar. Europe remains the primary market as it shifts away from Russian energy, while shipments to Turkey and Egypt also stayed strong. Experts anticipate further growth in 2026 as new projects, including the Golden Pass LNG venture, begin production. 
It’s kind of interesting how things sometimes work out. Mark Carney became the 24th Prime Minister of Canada on March 14, 2025, following the resignation of Justin “man-child” Trudeau in January 2025. Before entering federal politics, Carney served as the UN Special Envoy on Climate Action and Finance. He worked (hard) to try to defund fossil energy companies. But what’s this? The Canadian province of Nova Scotia, which banned fracking in 2014, has reversed course and now wants to open up the province for fracking. Not a peep from Carney against Nova Scotia’s plan to allow fracking. Apparently, Carney has found that actually governing a country is a whole lot different from prancing around at the UN bashing fossil energy.