Marcellus Drilling News

Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

NJ Gov Murphy Seeks to Ban NatGas for Heat, Appliances Statewide
December 23, 2021April 18, 2022

New Jersey is a huge and important market for Marcellus Shale gas. NJ’s far-left Governor, Phil Murphy, recently won reelection to his job by 84,286 votes, about 3% of all votes cast. In other words, Murphy doesn’t have any kind of mandate to continue his socialist policies. Yet he’s now doubling down. Murphy is attempting to ban the use of natural gas for heating, stoves, etc. across the entire state! It’s completely bonkers and insane. Some 75% of the homes and businesses heat with natural gas.
Read More “NJ Gov Murphy Seeks to Ban NatGas for Heat, Appliances Statewide”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

New York Plans to Outlaw Heating with Wood, Cites Global Warming
December 23, 2021April 18, 2022

In June 2019 the New York State legislature passed a horrific “energy” bill that was later signed into law by the now defrocked Gov. Andrew Cuomo (see New York Pulls the Trigger, Commits Energy Suicide with New Law). The new law, called the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (or “Climate Act”), limits carbon dioxide emissions to zero (an impossibility) by 2050. Tuesday we brought you a guide to understanding all of the evils contained in the bill (see Citizens Guide to Understanding New York’s So-Called Climate Act). As we predicted in 2019, not only will this bill outlaw the use of oil and natural gas for heat during out cold winters, it will also outlaw the use of wood stoves.
Read More “New York Plans to Outlaw Heating with Wood, Cites Global Warming”
Alternative Energy | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues

Exposing the Abject Lie of “Energy Transition” from Fossil Fuels
December 23, 2021April 18, 2022

The left incessantly chatters about a so-called energy transition that’s “already underway” and “arriving any year now.” The transition is from using fossil fuel energy, which has led to the greatest advancements in civilization since we emerged from living in caves, to replacing fossil energy with so-called “renewables” including unreliable wind and solar. It’s pure fantasy that we will dump the use of fossil fuels anytime soon–within the next 100 years. But the lie is spreading nonetheless. How about checking in on how the “transition” is actually going, using real numbers and hard data.
Read More “Exposing the Abject Lie of “Energy Transition” from Fossil Fuels”
Best of the Rest

Other Stories of Interest: Thu, Dec 23, 2021
December 23, 2021April 18, 2022

NATIONAL: Front month NYMEX natural gas rose 2.77% to settle at $3.9760; Henry Hub marching toward $4/mn Btu; INTERNATIONAL: Geopolitical tension with Russia sends global gas soaring again; Ukraine says Russia’s Gazprom is creating ‘gas deficit’ in Europe; LNG flotilla carrying U.S. gas heading to Europe.
Read More “Other Stories of Interest: Thu, Dec 23, 2021”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Luzerne County | Nacero | Pennsylvania | Processing Plants

Big Green Organizes to Oppose Nacero GTL Plant Near Wilkes-Barre
December 22, 2021December 22, 2021

Nacero technology overview (click for larger version)

A group of 16 radical left groups (far far outside the mainstream) have banded together to announce their opposition to Nacero’s recently announced $6 billion gas-to-liquids (GTL) refinery, to be built on the site of a former coal mine in Newport Township and Nanticoke in Luzerne County, PA (see NEPA Huge Deal – $6B Plant to Convert Marcellus Gas to Gasoline). The plant will convert Marcellus natural gas into zero-sulfur gasoline for use in existing cars and trucks without modification. The groups, both local and statewide, are spreading lies about the facility and its environmental and economic impacts. Typical.
Read More “Big Green Organizes to Oppose Nacero GTL Plant Near Wilkes-Barre”
Allegheny County | Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Regulation

West Deer Township Denies Olympus Permit to Build Shale Pad
December 22, 2021April 20, 2022

Olympus Energy (formerly Huntley & Huntley) drills in the Greater Pittsburgh region, in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties. Earlier this year Olympus filed an application to build a new well pad in a rural part of Allegheny County, in West Deer Township. So-called “concerned citizens” got amped up to oppose the project (see Antis in West Deer, PA Gear Up to Oppose Olympus Well Pad). Looks like the antis successfully convinced the board of supervisors to come over to the dark side. Last week West Deer supervisors voted 4-0 to deny a permit to build the pad.
Read More “West Deer Township Denies Olympus Permit to Build Shale Pad”
CNG/LNG | Commodity Price | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

Boston NatGas Futures Hit Nearly $30/MMBtu, Spot Price $38/MMBtu
December 22, 2021April 20, 2022

New England has a problem, and Massachusetts Senator Elizbeth “Pocahontas” Warren is clueless as to its source. The problem is super high, continuously spiking prices for natural gas, which in turn lead to high and spiking prices for electricity (most of New England’s electricity is generated by natural gas-fired power plants). This week the futures price for natural gas traded at the Algonquin Citygate, the major gas delivery hub near Boston, hit almost $30 per MMBtu. Earlier this week the spot price for physically traded gas at Algonquin went over $38/MMBtu. The reason? New England depends on imported LNG to help with heating and electric production, and LNG cargoes have gotten a LOT more expensive.
Read More “Boston NatGas Futures Hit Nearly $30/MMBtu, Spot Price $38/MMBtu”
CNG/LNG | Exporting | Industrywide Issues

US LNG Export Plants Hit New Record High of Using 13 Bcf/d
December 22, 2021April 20, 2022

The amount of gas flowing to an LNG (liquefied natural gas) facility, which the facility then turns into a liquid, is called feedgas. Yesterday, Dec. 21, the six major US liquefaction facilities in operation were running at full capacity and used a staggering 13 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of natural gas, furiously converting it into liquid natgas for exports. A significant amount of that gas comes from the Marcellus/Utica.
Read More “US LNG Export Plants Hit New Record High of Using 13 Bcf/d”
CNX Resources | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Diversified Energy | Energy Companies | Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | EQT Corp | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | JKLM Energy | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Seneca Resources | Southwestern Energy | Statewide PA | UGI Energy Services

Marcellus Cos. Donate Over $100,000 to Nonprofits During Christmas
December 22, 2021December 22, 2021

Major drillers and pipeline companies operating in the Pennsylvania Marcellus have, once again, stepped up to offer donations of money, toys, and coats during the 2021 Christmas season. Companies giving generously include Coterra Energy, CNX Resources, Diversified Energy, Energy Transfer, Equitrans Midstream, EQT, JKLM Energy, People’s Gas, Range Resources, Seneca Resources, Southwestern Energy, and UGI have given, collectively well over $100,000.
Read More “Marcellus Cos. Donate Over $100,000 to Nonprofits During Christmas”
Chesapeake Energy | Energy Companies | ESG | Industrywide Issues

Chesapeake Gets “A” on Responsible Gas Report Card in Haynesville
December 22, 2021April 20, 2022

Break out the party hats and noisemakers. Yesterday Chesapeake Energy announced it has, after just five months, achieved both MiQ and Equitable Origin “responsibly sourced gas” certification for the natural gas it produces in the Haynesville Shale. Don’t worry, Chessy plans to certify its PA Marcellus gas production too.
Read More “Chesapeake Gets “A” on Responsible Gas Report Card in Haynesville”
Best of the Rest

Other Stories of Interest: Wed, Dec 22, 2021
December 22, 2021April 20, 2022

MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Quaker investors urge EPA to advance strong methane emissions rules; OTHER U.S. REGIONS: Texas upstream employment rises; NATIONAL: Natural gas markets continue sideways grinding; Three House Dems ask watchdog to probe ‘peaker’ power plants; No one to blame for the oil crisis but Biden’s lousy policies; INTERNATIONAL: Suez Canal lowers rebate tolls of LNG carriers; LNG cargoes diverted as European prices soar; Unconventional gas tech plays critical role in net zero; Checkmate– Putin has the West cornered.
Read More “Other Stories of Interest: Wed, Dec 22, 2021”
Columbia Pipeline Group | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Maryland | Pipelines | Regulation | TC Energy/TransCanada

Pipe Under Potomac River Comes Back to Life; Maryland Mixed Signals
December 21, 2021April 20, 2022

Columbia Gas, a subsidiary of Canada-based TC Energy, wants to build a tiny 3.37-mile, 8-inch pipeline under the Potomac River from Maryland to West Virginia. The Eastern Panhandle Expansion, as it is called, is being blocked by the lefties in Maryland (see Fed Judge Upholds Maryland Decision to Block Pipe Under Potomac). Maryland used the same flawed legal argument that New Jersey used to block PennEast Pipeline–that eminent domain can’t be used against land owned or controlled by a state. PennEast won its case against NJ in the U.S. Supreme Court in June (see PennEast Pipeline Squeaks Out 5-4 Supreme Court Victory Over NJ). Columbia now has grounds and is challenging Maryland in court once again. Columbia expects to win, and for good reason.
Read More “Pipe Under Potomac River Comes Back to Life; Maryland Mixed Signals”
American Energy Partners Inc. | Energy Companies

Small PA Energy Co. Snags Former CNX VP as Chief Operating Officer
December 21, 2021December 21, 2021

American Energy Partners, Inc. (AEPT), based in Allentown, PA, is a small but diversified company. They have their fingers in a number of different oil and gas pies, including subsidiaries in drilling, remediation, water, valuation services, and education. Yesterday American Energy announced they have hired a former CNX Resources vice president to become the company’s new Chief Operating Officer. Kurtis Z. Hoffman has been hired as COO for American Energy effective January 1, 2022.
Read More “Small PA Energy Co. Snags Former CNX VP as Chief Operating Officer”
Electrical Generation | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Regulation | Statewide WV | West Virginia

WV AG Update on Lawsuit Against EPA Regulating Power Plant Emissions
December 21, 2021April 20, 2022

A lawsuit filed by West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and the attorney generals from (originally) 17 other states, or 18 states in all, seeks to limit the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and their misinterpretation of the so-called Clean Air Act in order to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. According to Morrisey, his lawsuit is “the biggest case before the Supreme Court” for the 2022 session. In fact, two more states have joined the lawsuit on WV’s side (now 20 states total). Morrisey provided an update yesterday on the lawsuit.
Read More “WV AG Update on Lawsuit Against EPA Regulating Power Plant Emissions”
Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

Citizens Guide to Understanding New York’s So-Called Climate Act
December 21, 2021April 20, 2022

In June 2019 the New York State legislature passed a horrific “energy” bill that was later signed into law by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (see New York Pulls the Trigger, Commits Energy Suicide with New Law). The new law, called the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (or “Climate Act”), limits carbon dioxide emissions to zero (an impossibility) by 2050. Sadly, by our informal poll when talking about this evil law with our fellow NY residents, we find that something like 99% of all NY residents don’t have a clue that this law was passed and how it is about to fundamentally change their lives.
Read More “Citizens Guide to Understanding New York’s So-Called Climate Act”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues

Inflation is Fueled by Bad Policy, Not “Greedy” O&G Companies
December 21, 2021April 20, 2022

Joe Biden and the Democrat Party have turned what was a surviving, even thriving economy into a wasteland by pushing trillion-dollar spending bills, banning pipelines, banning new oil drilling on federal lands, and pressuring banks to deny lending to fossil fuel companies. The result is and (if you read MDN) was predicted: soaring energy prices and an economy teetering on the verge of collapse. Now that the Democrats ‘ failed governance has led to inflation through the roof and economic chaos, they are doing what politicians (of either party) always do: try to blame someone else. In this case, the Dems blame the oil and gas industry.
Read More “Inflation is Fueled by Bad Policy, Not “Greedy” O&G Companies”