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    Richmond, VA Police Train to Handle Anti-Pipeline Protests

    A faux religious group calling itself the Interfaith Alliance for Climate Justice (IACJ) is mad that this past Tuesday 27 agencies (many of them police departments) from across the Richmond, VA metro region trained together for a large-scale civil unrest opposing pipelines. Which is totally realistic. The IACJ, a Virginia-based nonprofit 501(c)(3), says it was organized for “supporting resistance to the Mountain Valley Pipeline and Atlantic Coast Pipeline.” Community organizers. Anarchists who refuse to follow the rule of law. That the police in the greater Richmond area are preparing to deal with them is smart. IACJ calls it, “American fascism, state violence, late stage capitalism, state repression.” We call the IACJ not only anti-capitalist, but anti-American. They are the fascists, in the truest sense of the word…
    Read More “Richmond, VA Police Train to Handle Anti-Pipeline Protests”

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    Southpointe Event Focuses on M-U NGL Storage Hub

    Yesterday the second annual Appalachian Storage Hub Conference convened at the Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh/Southpointe. Topic A (and B and C) was the proposed $10 billion NGL storage hub, which we’ve written about in the past (see our stories here). When you drill for one hydrocarbon, like natural gas (methane), you inevitably get other hydrocarbons coming out of the ground along with it. In southwestern PA, the northern panhandle of WV, and eastern OH, those other hydrocarbons are NGLs–natural gas liquids–including ethane, propane, and butane. NGLs are key to the petrochemical industry. Ethane can be chemically “cracked” to produce ethylene, or raw plastics. Shell is building a $6 billion ethane cracker in Monaca (Beaver County), PA, near Pittsburgh. A second ethane cracker is likely to get built in Belmont County, OH–by PTT Global Chemical. Manufacturing companies then locate near the crackers so they can use the ethylene pellets created by the crackers in their own manufacturing processes. It’s all connected. And right in the center of it, at the nexus, is the ability to store ethane and other NGLs. Without storage, you have to immediately use the NGLs as soon as they are produced. Which doesn’t often happen. There is a mismatch–a delay between the time NGLs are produced and the time they are needed at the plant for cracking/processing. A storage hub addresses that issue and makes everything work. A storage hub is so critical that an entire one-day event was organized to talk about it…
    Read More “Southpointe Event Focuses on M-U NGL Storage Hub”

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    Who *Sells* the Most NatGas in the U.S.?

    Who are the biggest natural gas sellers in the U.S.? You might be surprised to learn that the biggest sellers are not necessarily the biggest producers of natural gas. Oh, you might recognize some of the names of the top sellers (BP, Shell, ConocoPhillips). But others might be more of a mystery (Macquarie, Tenaska, Direct Energy). Would it surprise you to learn that BP (i.e. British Petroleum) is the #1 seller of natgas in the U.S., and has been for years? Last quarter BP sold 22.10 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas here in the colonies. That represents 18% of all natural gas bought and sold. Each quarter NGI (Natural Gas Intelligence) runs the numbers and publishes the list of 25 top natural gas marketers in the U.S. They recently published the first quarter 2018 list, which shows that for a second quarter in a row, overall volumes are up from the same quarter a year ago. Here’s the cool thing: NGI publishes the list absolutely free on their website! As we scan down the list of who sells (i.e. markets) the most natgas in the U.S., we can’t help but notice that many of them have operations in the Marcellus/Utica region…
    Read More “Who *Sells* the Most NatGas in the U.S.?”

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    Frack Gel Now Made from 4 Grocery Store Products

    The fracking revolution continues to revolutionize itself. Last time we checked, the #1 most visited article on MDN (by far) was this one, from 2010: List of 78 Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid in Pennsylvania. A LOT has changed since 2010. Fracking chemicals have become more “green” in recent years. Antis claim fracking uses “dangerous” chemicals in large quantities. How about this? Nowadays, fracking gel can be made from four items you can pick up at the local grocery store: guar gum, milk of magnesia, Visine original eye drops, and distilled white vinegar. That’s it! We’ve come a long way since 2010…
    Read More “Frack Gel Now Made from 4 Grocery Store Products”

  • Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Jun 8, 2018

    The “best of the rest”–stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading: Southern Tier Solar Works threaten local pro-gas advocate; OH Utica permits pace slows in April; geologist says Ohio Valley most profitable region for petchem plants; U.S. shale oil too waxy?; OPEC’s stumbling; can U.S. play swing producer with higher oil prices?; by backing coal and nuclear, Trump is shunning natgas; U.S. chemical industry has big advantage thx to shale gas; Schumer calls for tighter restrictions on crude-by-rail; and more!
    Read More “Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Jun 8, 2018”

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    PA Democrats Float Free College – Paid for by Marcellus Tax

    PA State Sen. Vincent Hughes

    Another mind-blowingly dumb Socialist/Communist plan is being floated by Democrats in PA (what’s new?). PA Dem state legislators yesterday announced new bills that would give families living in PA the right to send their kids to one of PA’s 14 state-run colleges for free–lock, stock and barrel. Free tuition. Free room and board. Free condoms. Free everything. IF the family makes less than $48,000 per year. Families making between $48,000-$110,000 per year get free tuition and fees only (they have to pay for Junior and Missy’s room and board). The “free” plan, according to Philadelphia area State Sen. Vincent Hughes, would cost around $800 million–and he thinks the Marcellus Shale industry should pay for it. That’s Hughes’ answer for everything–just tax the Marcellus industry. But Hughes has a little problem–he’s already promised Marcellus severance tax revenue to Philadelphia teachers’ unions–unions from which he has received $635,000 in campaign contributions (see PA Dem Senator from Philly Intros Bill to Steal Marcellus Money). In the unlikely event a severance tax is enacted in PA, it certainly won’t be enough to fund both K-12 education and pay for “free” college. How about this Sen. Hughes: We think the money for free college should come from taxes on government-paid workers instead. People like YOU. Why don’t we use YOUR money to pay for this “wonderful” plan?…
    Read More “PA Democrats Float Free College – Paid for by Marcellus Tax”

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    PA DEP Releasing Onerous New GP-5 & 5A Methane Regs June 8

    Last December the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) issued “draft final language” for the proposed General Permit 5A (GP-5A) and the revised General Permit 5 (GP-5)–regulations that supposedly will cut down on fugitive methane from escaping from drill pads and pipelines (see PA DEP Signals Onerous New GP-5 & 5A Methane Regs Coming 1Q18). The onerous regulations, which for now only apply to *new* sources (not existing) were originally prompted by bullying from the Obama Environmental Protection Agency. Even though EPA pressure disappeared under President Trump, PA Gov. Wolf is still pushing these onerous new regs. GP-5 applies to pipelines and compressor stations, while GP-5A applies to well pads and drilling. Following a flood of comments, the DEP tweaked the onerous regs yet again (for the third or fourth time), and in late March published yet another revised final final final final final version of the regs (see PA DEP Releases Draft Final GP-5 & 5A Methane Regulations). The DEP just announced they will issue the final final final final version of the revised regs on June 8, and two months later, on August 8, the new rules will officially go into effect–unless they delay it again…
    Read More “PA DEP Releasing Onerous New GP-5 & 5A Methane Regs June 8”

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    Quebec to Ban Utica Shale Drilling, Most Other Drilling Too

    It seems the Canadian province of Quebec has decided to ban pretty much all oil and gas drilling, which is a good news/bad news thing. The good news is that Quebec will have to import their hydrocarbons from other places–namely the Marcellus/Utica. The bad news is for Questerre, a Canadian driller who has patiently waited for years to begin drilling on their extensive Utica acreage in the St. Lawrence Lowlands of Quebec. Questerre thought they would begin drilling this year (see Questerre Plans 8 Initial Well Pads in Canadian Utica 2018-2019). Instead, Questerre is now hosed. In addition to a total frack ban, Quebec is instituting a “no drill zone” for conventional (non-shale) drilling of 1 kilometre (.62 miles) from municipalities, 300 metres (984 feet) from private residences, 550 metres (1,804 feet) from schools, hospitals or public buildings, and 200 metres (656 feet) from “ecotourism” sites. In other words, all drilling of any kind will be pretty much banned pretty much everywhere. Quebec is following in the footsteps of New York, where the hydrocarbon industry has been decimated by Gov. Andrew Cuomo. It’s a sad day for our Canadian cousins in Quebec…
    Read More “Quebec to Ban Utica Shale Drilling, Most Other Drilling Too”

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    NG Advantage’s Virtual Pipe Comes to the Rescue in Downstate NY

    NG Advantage, the pioneer in “virtual pipeline” trucked CNG service, majority-owned by Clean Energy Fuels, tried to build a compressor station/trucking hub in a Binghamton, NY suburb, but that effort failed earlier this year due to local opposition (see NG Advantage Virtual Pipeline Project Near Binghamton is Dead). We’re sure the entire situation left a sour taste in NG’s mouth. Even so, this past winter NG didn’t turn its back on New York State, much to their credit. National Grid, one of the largest investor-owned energy companies in the world (covering Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and the UK), had a problem in Long Island during the winter months. As temps got super low, National Grid needed more natural gas to meet the spike in demand from customers. NY is pipeline-phobic, so what could National Grid do? They turned to NG Advantage and NG rose to the occasion, trucking CNG (compressed natural gas) from facilities in Massachusetts and Vermont to Long Island, helping supply National Grid customers in the Empire State. Here’s the story of a company that didn’t turn its back on NY…
    Read More “NG Advantage’s Virtual Pipe Comes to the Rescue in Downstate NY”

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    Democrat FERC Commissioner Seeks to Block PennEast Pipe

    FERC Commissioner Richard Glick

    In January, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) voted 4-1 to approve the $1 billion, 120-mile PennEast Pipeline project that will stretch from northeast PA to the Trenton area of New Jersey (see FERC Grants Final Approval for PennEast Pipe – Real Battle Begins). Democrat FERC Commissioner Richard Glick (wind lobbyist, hand-picked by hyper-partisan NY Sen. Chuck Schumer), voted against approving the project. A number of Big Green groups filed a request for a “rehearing” of FERC’s decision to approve PennEast. FERC used a “tolling order,” which gives them longer than the statutory 30 days to respond, to play out the rehearing request. The use of tolling orders is the only way to get projects built these days. FERC has to play the game–put off saying “no” to these anti groups, because as soon as they tell them “no” to a rehearing request, antis then run to the courts and try to block the project there. Glick is siding with antis. He issued a statement last week once again trash-talking PennEast, and demanding FERC answer the groups rehearing request pronto so they can hurry like a bunny to the nearest Appeals court to try to stop PennEast…
    Read More “Democrat FERC Commissioner Seeks to Block PennEast Pipe”

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    Cove Point LNG Shutting Down for Maintenance This Fall

    Cove Point LNG, built by Dominion Energy, began exporting Marcellus Shale gas in April (see First-Ever Shipment of Marcellus LNG Leaves Cove Point, Maryland). Even though it’s only been up and running for about two months, there’s already talk of shutting Cove Point down. You may recall that two countries have contracted for all of the exported LNG coming from Cove Point: India and Japan (see Dominion’s Cove Point LNG Facility Achieves Important Milestones). Dominion Energy CEO Tom Farrell is currently visiting Japan to commemorate the first two shipments of Marcellus LNG arriving there. Yesterday Farrell shared that although Cove Point is doing just fine, the plant will undergo “brief maintenance” of “a few weeks” in the autumn. Scheduled downtime. Does that mean LNG will quit flowing out of the facility each day? According to Farrell, it “depends” on how full the storage tanks are ahead of the planned downtime…
    Read More “Cove Point LNG Shutting Down for Maintenance This Fall”

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    WVU to Research Fracking Effects on Cardiovascular Health

    Building and operating a fracking site can emit some airborne particles. But scientists don’t fully understand how many, and how these particles may impact human health. Do drilling operations for unconventional wells emit a lot or a little in the way of particles? And do those particles affect human health? Travis Knuckles, assistant professor at the West Virginia University School of Public Health, has received $450,000 from the National Institutes of Health to investigate these questions. Knuckles will attempt to answer the question, Does fracking impact cardiovascular health–for workers and for those living nearby? We applaud real research efforts like this one…
    Read More “WVU to Research Fracking Effects on Cardiovascular Health”

  • Energy Stories of Interest: Thu, Jun 7, 2018

    The “best of the rest”–stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading: Range gives $50K for STEM education programs; the Permian has a natgas problem; Duke Energy opens SC gas-fired power plant; Trump tariffs spur steel-making here at home; shale country is out of workers and dangling 100% pay hikes; oil giants willing to pay $10B for BHP’s shale assets; shale is turning US into global exporting power; distillate most exported petroleum product in 2017; and more!
    Read More “Energy Stories of Interest: Thu, Jun 7, 2018”

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    PIOGA Consultant Remarks (Mis)Used to Promote 250% Shale Fee Hike

    We spotted a rather strange story (for us) on a major energy news service (Platts) that says, in so many words, that “the industry” says hiking the permit fee to drill a new Marcellus well in Pennsylvania by 250%–to $12,500–is no big deal. Which made our eyebrows go up. According to a long-time regulatory consultant for the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association (PIOGA) quoted by Platts, “I don’t think it’s [the 250% fee hike] going to make or break people’s decisions” as to whether or not to drill. Hmmm. That’s not the feedback we’ve heard others, like the Marcellus Shale Coalition, say on the record. The same article quotes PIOGA President Dan Weaver saying, “We haven’t developed an official statement, but we definitely don’t agree with it [the fee hike]. We feel that we pay enough fees as it is.” So what’s going on here? Does the industry, as represented by PIOGA, think this fee hike is nuts (as we do)? Or does PIOGA think the fee hike is okey dokey? We contacted Dan to ask about the consultant’s comments and got an interesting response…
    Read More “PIOGA Consultant Remarks (Mis)Used to Promote 250% Shale Fee Hike”

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    EV Energy Partners Emerges from Bankruptcy with New Name

    EV Energy Partners (EVEP) has just emerged from bankruptcy court a mere two months after entering (see EV Energy Partners Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy). EVEP is joined at the hip with EnerVest, a private equity firm that owns a lot of acreage and wells (most of them conventional) in the Marcellus/Utica region. EVEP is EnerVest’s drilling subsidiary, with operations and assets in OH, PA and WV. According to the forthcoming Marcellus & Utica Shale Upstream Almanac 2018, EnerVest has or actively is drilling in Venango County in PA, and Caroll, Guernsey, Stark, Trumbull, and Tuscarawas counties in OH. EVEP is (or rather was) an MLP–a master limited partnership. On Monday EVEP emerged from bankruptcy with $355 million of debt erased and sporting a new name: Harvest Oil & Gas Corp. Also gone is the MLP organization and in its place, Harvest Oil & Gas is a corporation with shares of stock that will be traded over the counter on the “pink sheets.” Here’s the news about EVEP becoming HVST…
    Read More “EV Energy Partners Emerges from Bankruptcy with New Name”

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    Penn Twp Frack Ban Decision Now in Hands of Local Judge

    Last November we updated you on a lawsuit filed by a group of anti-fossil fuelers in Penn Township (Westmoreland County), PA (see Penn Twp Ninny Nannies File Lawsuit to Block Apex, H&H Wells). A group calling themselves Protect PT, backed with money and legal help from Big Green group PennFuture, filed a lawsuit to try and stop Apex Energy and Huntley & Huntley (H&H) from drilling wells in the township. A Westmoreland County judge heard some testimony in the case in April (see Penn Twp Antis Try to Use PA ERA to Block Shale Drilling). The peril with Protect PT’s lawsuit is that it uses Pennsylvania’s so-called Environmental Rights Amendment (ERA), which liberal PA judges have, in recent years, breathed new life into. The argument is that fracking denies those who live near this temporary activity their “right” to enjoy Mom Nature, therefore it should be banished forever. Protect PT is attempting to pull off a total frack ban in the Penn Township. Although the judge heard testimony in April, more was given this week. All testimony is now done and the case rests with the judge. We expect whoever loses will appeal. Below is a recap of the case and the testimony given this week…
    Read More “Penn Twp Frack Ban Decision Now in Hands of Local Judge”