Drillers like CNX Resources (formerly CONSOL Energy) file to drill new shale wells on a pretty regular basis, no big deal. So why would we highlight CNX’s recent filing to drill four Utica wells in Westmoreland County, PA?
Read More “CNX Files to Drill 4 Utica Wells on Pad w/Existing Marcellus Wells”
In December, Columbia Pipeline asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for permission to start up an additional section of its Mountaineer XPress Pipeline in West Virginia (see Columbia Asks FERC to Start Up 2/3rds of Mountaineer XPress Pipe). The good news is that on Wednesday, FERC said yes.
Read More “FERC OK’s Mountaineer XPress Pipe to Start Up in WV”
Another situation is brewing with Gulfport Energy not unlike the situation at EQT. One of (we’re pretty sure THE) largest shareholders in Gulfport, investment firm Firefly Value Partners, is not happy with either the board of directors or current management, saying very publicly (via a letter, below) that the current board lacks “necessary skills and experience” to turn the company’s poorly performing stock around. Ba boom!
Read More “Gulfport’s Largest Investor Not Happy with Board or Management”
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) yesterday upheld an administrative law judge’s December decision against an “emergency” request by pipeline opponents to shut down both Mariner East 1 and 2 by claiming they are unsafe and need to be stopped. Can we FINALLY put this to rest and move on? ME1 and ME2 are both now online. There’s no going back.
Read More “PA PUC Affirms Decision to Reject ME 1&2 Pipe Shutdown Request”
We expect liberal Democrats like the far-left PA Gov. Tom Wolf to keep harping on a Marcellus-killing severance tax on natgas production in PA, even though the state already taxes production via an impact fee (i.e. tax). That’s what lib Dems do! They take money from economic producers and give it away to economic parasites who vote them into office–like teachers’ unions. But we don’t expect Republicans to sponsor such dumb initiatives.
Read More “RINO PA Sen. Tomlinson Introducing 5% Severance Tax Bill”
Shell has calmed the troubled Ambridge waters–that is, the Ambridge Water Authority waters. Shell hit a snag with plans to build its Falcon Ethane Pipeline when the Ambridge Water Authority claimed construction of the pipeline under several streams feeding the Ambridge reservoir would endanger the drinking water for 30,000 people (see Ambridge Water Authority Strongly Opposes Shell Ethane Pipe Route).
Read More “Ambridge Water Authority Changes Tune re Shell Ethane Pipeline”
Honest to God, we want to know, how do people get this stupid? Four adult men–three so-called farmers and one 38-year-old egghead student–chained themselves to a fossil fuel-belching farm tractor in the middle of a busy road in Connecticut to block a shipment of turbines on the way to a new natgas-fired electric plant under construction…in order to protest fossil fuels.
Read More “4 Protesters Arrested in CT for Blocking Gas-Fired Turbine Shipment”
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: EQT announces date and time for conference call to discuss 2019 guidance, analyst presentation; ACP official: Work on natural gas pipeline won’t recommence prior to March; Seven permits issued in Ohio’s Utica; Mariner East 2 pipeline will deliver economic jolt to Pennsylvania; Andrew Cuomo copies Ocasio-Cortez with his own ‘Green New Deal’ for New York; NATIONAL: EIA expects relatively flat natural gas prices, continued record production through 2020; Why pipeline opposition undermines environmental progress and safety; Bad bets on oil, gas spark wave of energy-fund closures; Florida Congressman wants to revive Obama-era fracking rule; INTERNATIONAL: Gas pipeline infrastructure market to hit $2 trillion by 2024.
Read More “Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Jan 18, 2019”
The political “leaders” in Franklin Park (Allegheny County, near Pittsburgh) have decided to reject a proposal to drill a shale well under (not on) the 80-acre Linbrook Park. With a signing bonus of $283,500 plus 18% royalties, the Franklin Park Borough would have seen revenue of *at least* $1 million. Talk about stupid.
Read More “Franklin Park Turns Down $1M+ to Drill Under Linbrook Park”
Did the Pennsylvania Supreme Court err in its judgment declaring so-called “stripper wells” can be taxed under the 2012 Act 13 law, slapped with an impact fee assessment, if those wells produce more than 90 thousand cubic feet per day (Mcf/d) of gas in a single month (see PA Supreme Court Rules Strippers Not Exempt from Impact Fee)? We have a different take on the high court’s decision than others.
Read More “Was PA Supreme Court Right to Tax Strippers? PIOGA Pushes Back”
Since when did calling a woman on Instagram a “retard” and a “c–t” become a crime? Sure, the language is crude and offensive. But a crime?! A pipeline worker in the Philly area used that language responding (in exasperation) to an anti, and his comments appear to be all the evidence Chester County District Attorney Tom Hogan has so far in his “criminal” probe of Mariner East 2 pipeline.
Read More “County DA’s ME2 Pipe Criminal Probe Evidence: Instagram Post”
Three important pipeline lawsuits are under consideration at the U.S. Supreme Court, waiting for the court’s decision on whether or not to hear them. One of the three, involving an appeal of whether or not Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) should have the right to use federal eminent domain laws, gets reviewed tomorrow.
Read More “3 Important Marcellus/Utica Pipeline Cases Up for Review @ SCOTUS”
Despite setbacks from Big Green groups launching a blizzard of lawsuits and regulatory challenges, Equitrans’ (EQT Midstream) 300-mile Mountain Valley Pipeline (MVP) is now 70% built (see Shocker: Mountain Valley Pipeline Now 70% Built, Online by 4Q19). The project continues to see positive momentum, the latest example coming from Franklin County, Va.
Read More “Franklin County, Va. Approves MVP Gate Station Permit”
Consolidated Edison (Con Ed) and National Grid–both large utilities that operate in New York City and its suburbs–are warning that unless new natural gas pipelines are built to the NYC region, they will slap a moratorium on hooking up any new natgas customers. Andrew Cuomo’s chickens are now coming home to roost.
Read More “Moratorium on New NatGas Customers Coming in NYC Area”
Once again Marcellus Drilling News is happy to partner with and support the Oil & Gas Awards, for 2019. The Awards boys have just released the of finalists for the Northeast Awards, being held March 14 in Pittsburgh. This year six of the entrants for the awards contracted with MDN editor Jim Willis to help them prepare their entries. It was a blast for Jim to dig in and understand more about the companies submitting an application for the awards–and to help them craft what we hope are winning entries! Jim worked with some true professionals from the companies entering the awards, it was a pleasure. Below is a list of the finalists. Good luck!
Read More “Finalists Announced for 2019 Northeast Oil & Gas Awards”
MARCELLUS/UTICA REGION: Gov. Wolf re-nominates Pat McDonnell for DEP, Cindy Dunn for DCNR secretary; Tri-State Shale Coalition helping region compete; Canadian engineering firm opens first U.S. office in Pittsburgh; FERC: West Rockhill site ‘optimal’ for compressor station; NATIONAL: EIA expects relatively flat natural gas prices, continued record production through 2020; EIA forecasts world crude oil prices to rise gradually, averaging $65 per barrel in 2020; Frack jobs peaked last May/June; The top Oil & Gas industry trends to watch in 2019; U.S. natural gas demand for electricity can only grow; FERC appointment critical to setting market-driven energy policy; Exxon argues for Texas justice as it defends self from climate change lawsuits; Shell names new Upstream director; EPA nominee Wheeler would not call climate change ‘the greatest crisis’ facing the planet.
Read More “Energy Stories of Interest: Thu, Jan 17, 2019”