Marcellus Drilling News

Ashland County | Coterra Energy (Cabot O&G) | Energy Companies | Ohio

Cabot Files for Permit to Drill Below the Utica in Ashland, OH
March 16, 2018March 16, 2018

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Cabot Oil & Gas continues its quest to discover “what’s next after the Marcellus.” As we told you in December, Cabot has leased acreage in Ashland County, OH, west of most active Utica drilling (see Cabot O&G Considers Drilling in Ashland County, OH). We originally thought Cabot was targeting the Utica in Ashland County, but Cabot director of external affairs, George Stark, set us straight. Cabot is targeting a layer below the Utica in Ashland County. (Although so far, Cabot will not reveal which layer.) The new news is that last week Cabot filed for a permit with the Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources to drill a test well in Ashland…
Read More “Cabot Files for Permit to Drill Below the Utica in Ashland, OH”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | New York | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide NY | Williams

FERC Grants Limited Rehearing Request for Constitution Pipeline
March 16, 2018March 16, 2018

There’s a number of threads to the ongoing saga of Constitution Pipeline, a $683 million, 124-mile pipeline from Susquehanna County, PA to Schoharie County, NY to move Marcellus gas into New York State and from there, into New England. The Andrew Cuomo-corrupted NY Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) refused to grant the pipeline necessary federal stream crossing permits, blocking construction, in April 2016 (see NY Gov. Cuomo Refuses to Grant Permits for Constitution Pipeline). There have been a number of court cases and regulatory actions since that time. Williams, the builder of Constitution, asked the Federal Regulatory Commission (FERC) to overrule the DEC and allow construction to begin. In January of this year, FERC denied that request (see Death of the Constitution Pipeline? FERC Refuses to Overrule NY DEC). In February of this year, Williams asked FERC to reconsider their decision (see Constitution Pipe Files for FERC Rehearing, Then Back to Court). FERC has 30 days to rule on the rehearing request. If they don’t do anything, it’s considered an automatic rejection. However, on Wednesday (just under the wire), FERC granted a “limited” rehearing request–meaning FERC wants more time to consider the request before making a final decision. It’s not a “yes” that they will reconsider and perhaps overrule the DEC–but it’s also not a “no.” Which is a good thing…
Read More “FERC Grants Limited Rehearing Request for Constitution Pipeline”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Westmoreland County

H&H About to Drill Well in Upper Burrell as Antis Plead with Judge
March 16, 2018March 16, 2018

In some places, drillers have to fight tooth and nail, every inch of the way, just to drill a simple Marcellus Shale well. Such is the case in Upper Burrell (Westmoreland County), PA. Huntley & Huntley has plans to drill four shale wells in Upper Burrell Township. Sure there’s been push-back, but we thought the corner had been turned when town supervisors voted last November to approve H&H’s plans (see H&H Drilling in Upper Burrell Gets Final Approval, Raucous Crowd). The supporters of drilling far outnumbered the antis at the meeting. However, a small group of antis remains committed to blocking H&H’s drilling plans. The latest twist is that antis are asking a judge to rule that the supervisors, who were discharging their duties in accordance with the law, erred in their decision to grant final approval for H&H’s drilling plans. Here we go again…
Read More “H&H About to Drill Well in Upper Burrell as Antis Plead with Judge”
Best of the Rest

Other Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Mar 16, 2018
March 16, 2018March 16, 2018

The “best of the rest”–stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading: 18 rigs operating in Ohio Utica; PUC ratifies halt to Mariner East 1, for now; PA Senate to hold joint pipeline safety hearing next week; 5 antis arrested in Maryland for protesting pipeline; Belmont County officials urge patience with PTT cracker; ET announces a new Gulf Coast ethane export facility; Russian hackers target American energy grid; and more!
Read More “Other Energy Stories of Interest: Fri, Mar 16, 2018”
Berkeley County | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Morgan County (WV) | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide MD | West Virginia

Mountaineer Gas Begins Work on Morgan County, WV Pipeline
March 15, 2018March 19, 2018

Anti-fossil fuel nutters have been on a holy mission to stop a 3.5-mile, 8-inch pipeline from being installed under the Potomac River (see Maryland Antis Oppose 13th Pipeline Under Potomac as “Dangerous”). They are trying to pressure the pusillanimous RINO governor of Maryland, Larry Hogan, to block the project–a project from Columbia Gas Transmission (now part of TransCanada). Don’t tell the antis, but the pipeline system Columbia’s proposed 3.5-mile pipeline will feed is now under construction in West Virginia, just on the other side of the Potomac. In 2017, Mountaineer Gas launched the Eastern Panhandle Expansion pipeline project–a project to deliver natural gas via local distribution channels to a new industrial facility in Berkeley County, WV, and to provide gas to other local businesses and residents in the Tri-State area. Mountaineer’s pipeline expansion will be fed by the 3.5-mile Columbia Gas pipeline under the Potomac. There are three phases to the Eastern Panhandle Expansion project: Phase One runs a 22.5-mile, 10-inch-diameter steel pipeline from Morgan County to Martinsburg; Phase Two includes a loop to Charles Town; and Phase Three will build a four mile segment of pipeline into Martinsburg. The West Virginia Dept. of Environmental Protection approved the Eastern Panhandle Expansion in February (see WV DEP Issues Permit for Mountaineer Gas Pipeline in Eastern WV). As of last week, work on Phase One has begun, on both ends of the 22.5-mile pipeline…
Read More “Mountaineer Gas Begins Work on Morgan County, WV Pipeline”
Crime | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Olympus/Huntley & Huntley | Pennsylvania | Seismic Testing | Westmoreland County

Whoops! Stolen Seismic Testing Nodes in SWPA have Tracking Devices
March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

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To the person or people who recently stole nine seismic testing nodes in Westmoreland County, PA, know this: You have until March 26 to return the devices (worth $1,500 each). After that, you will be tracked down and prosecuted for the multiple felonies you’ve committed. Yes, each stolen seismic device has a tracker embedded in it, and you WILL be found (loser!). The seismic testing devices were legally placed in various locations by Geokinetics, hired by Huntley & Huntley to map what’s below the surface in preparation for drilling shale wells. Are anti-drilling wackos responsible for stealing the devices as a way to prevent H&H from drilling shale wells? It’s certainly possible and fits the pattern of previous actions by some of the more insane among the movement. However, we’ll reserve judgment. The thefts could have been your garden variety dopers who steal to get money to buy drugs. Either way, the loser or losers who have stolen the equipment will be found out–unless they decide to do the right thing and return the equipment. The clock is ticking, loser(s)…
Read More “Whoops! Stolen Seismic Testing Nodes in SWPA have Tracking Devices”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Taxation

PA Senator from Philly Slanders Marcellus, Accepts $635K in Union $
March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

PA State Senator Vincent Hughes

Pennsylvania State Senator Vincent Hughes from Philadelphia is smug, arrogant, and completely wrong about the Marcellus industry–and he enjoys being wrong. Maybe because he’s being paid to be wrong. At a recent PA Department of Revenue Senate Appropriations Hearing (watch it below), Hughes attacked the Marcellus industry with slanders, slurs and outright lies in an attempt to paint the industry as greedy because they have resisted a severance tax on top of an impact tax. Hughes’ testimony was so full of lies, so egregiously wrong, the Marcellus Shale Coalition felt compelled to respond with a document to correct the whoppers the arrogant Hughes pedaled at the hearing (see it below). Why does Hughes attack the industry? We think we know. The Commonwealth Foundation recently published the Top 10 recipients of funds received from public sector unions (including Philly teacher’s unions). Senator Hughes received the second largest amount since 2010–topping $635,000. Yeah, Hughes is BOUGHT AND PAID FOR by Philly teacher’s unions–the same unions Gov. Wolf has promised, repeatedly, that he would shower with money from a Marcellus Shale severance tax…
Read More “PA Senator from Philly Slanders Marcellus, Accepts $635K in Union $”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Crime | Energy Services | Equitrans/EQT Midstream | Industrywide Issues | Pipelines

How to Remove Law-Breaking MVP Tree Sitters without Hurting Them?
March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

Last week MDN told you about two radical anti-fossil fuel activists who built tree houses in the Jefferson National Forest and are living in them (for now) in an attempt to prevent the trees and the trees around them from being cut to make way for the legally permitted Mountain Valley Pipeline (see Radicals Go Up a Tree in Quest to Illegally Block MVP Construction). Their strategy is to stay up a tree until March 31, when the trees can no longer be cut due to bat season–a prohibition on tree clearing to prevent killing a threatened species of bats that may roost in those trees (season lasts until October). MVP needs those trees to come down now, before the end of the month, or the pipeline won’t get built this year. On Tuesday a judge agreed, granting an injunction that says the tree sitters have to come down. Just one problem–when MVP reps tried to serve the tree sitters with a summons, the radicals refused to identify themselves or “hear” the summons, hiding out in their magic tree houses so they couldn’t be served. What can MVP (and the Forest Service) do now to get them out of the trees?…
Read More “How to Remove Law-Breaking MVP Tree Sitters without Hurting Them?”
Energy Services | Fairmount Santrol

Ohio’s Fairmount Santrol 2017 Proppant Sales Up 44%
March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

Fairmount Santrol, an Ohio-based sand producer that sells sand as a proppant for use in Utica and Marcellus Shale drilling, recently released its fourth quarter and full year 2017 update. Sand is good in Buckeye State. Fairmount reports the company sold 43.8% more sand in 2017 than in 2016–a sure sign that drilling in the Marcellus/Utica spiked up in 2017. Fairmount made $53.6 million in 2017, versus loosing $140.2 million in 2016, which is another positive sign. According to CEO Jennifer Deckard, “Proppant demand remained robust during the fourth quarter.” This may be the last quarterly update we bring you from Fairmount. As you may recall, late last year the company announced it is selling itself to Unimin, a subsidiary of Belgium-based SCR-Sibelco (see OH Sand Producer Fairmount Santrol Merging w/Unimin in $170M Deal). The sale/merger with Unimin has not yet happened but will this year…
Read More “Ohio’s Fairmount Santrol 2017 Proppant Sales Up 44%”
Dominion Energy | Duke Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | North Carolina | Pipelines | Regulation

NC Republicans Slam Democrat Gov. for Approving Atlantic Coast Pipe
March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

We’re not quite sure what to make of this story. North Carolina has been, as we’ve long pointed out, nitpicking in an attempt to slow down (or stop) the Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) from traversing the state (see NC Plays “Death by a Thousand Questions” with Atlantic Coast Pipe). Dominion Energy and Duke Energy are building the $5-$6.5 billion, 594-mile ACP–a natural gas pipeline that will stretch from West Virginia through Virginia and into North Carolina–reaching almost to the border with South Carolina. NC has a Democrat governor, Roy Cooper, whose administration has been hassling ACP for months. But then, all of a sudden, the NC Dept. of Environmental Quality issued permits approving the pipeline–which happened at the same time Dominion and Duke set up a $58 million fund “to protect the environment” in those counties where the pipeline will run. Sure sounds like a $58 million bribe to us, but hey, what do we know? If it gets the job done, it’s a cost of doing business, right? So now NC Republicans, who would normally be in favor of a project like ACP, are crying foul and launching an investigation into NC Gov. Roy Cooper’s $58 million “slush fund,” threatening to hold up work on ACP…
Read More “NC Republicans Slam Democrat Gov. for Approving Atlantic Coast Pipe”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

EPA Throws Bankrupt Philly Refinery a Lifeline
March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

In January MDN brought you the sad news that the Philadelphia Energy Solutions (PES), which operates the East Coast’s largest refinery on the banks of the Delaware River, had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy (see Philadelphia Refinery Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy). PES’ stated reason for bankruptcy is due to an onerous EPA requirement that refiners must blend in biofuel with gasoline and diesel, or purchase very expensive credits. PES can’t blend, so they must buy the credits, and buying the credits put them under water financially. Sadly, the Trump administration caved to the Midwest corn growers lobby and decided to uphold the Obama EPA’s onerous requirement to buy credits. But what’s this? Following withering criticism of the EPA, and visits to PES from luminaries like U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, the EPA has had a change of heart. The EPA has asked the bankruptcy court judge to waive $350 million PES owes for the credits (about half of the total bill). Will it be enough to save PES?…
Read More “EPA Throws Bankrupt Philly Refinery a Lifeline”
Best of the Rest

Other Energy Stories of Interest: Thu, Mar 15, 2018
March 15, 2018March 15, 2018

The “best of the rest”–stories that caught MDN’s eye that you may be interested in reading: OH residents to get chance to comment PTT cracker air emissions; power gen drivers of East Coast gas demand; OOGA gets a new leader; TransCanada starts up Cameron LNG feeder pipe; Texas drillers expand 14th month in a row; US exported more energy to Mexico than imported – for 3rd year in a row; will Trump’s steel tarrifs threaten US natgas industry?; Staoil changes name; Arctic freeze makes Europe nervous re Russian gas supplies; and more!
Read More “Other Energy Stories of Interest: Thu, Mar 15, 2018”
Energy Services | Energy Transfer Partners | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide OH | Statewide PA | Statewide WV | West Virginia

WV DEP Orders Rover Pipe to Stop Construction for Violations
March 14, 2018March 14, 2018

Rover Pipeline is in hot water again. This time it’s not Captain Craig “Ahab” Butler from the Ohio EPA, but the West Virginia Dept. of Environmental Protection. In a letter just released publicly (dated March 5), WVDEP slapped Rover with a “cease-and-desist” order, stopping all construction of Rover in the state, because of inspections in February that found 14 violations of water pollution regulations. The violations occurred in Doddridge, Tyler and Wetzel counties. Violations ran the range of leaving trash behind at construction sites to improper perimeter controls (no erosion devices installed) to failure to clean up the roads they used. In addition to trouble in WV, Rover is also facing new issues in both Ohio and Pennsylvania. In February heavy rains in the region caused “slippage issues” where the pipeline is being installed. Rover filed a report with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) last week to say it has eight crews working to correct slippage issues at six locations along its 51-mile Burgettstown Lateral. Here’s the latest on WV shutting down Rover, and Rover’s work to fix slippage issues…
Read More “WV DEP Orders Rover Pipe to Stop Construction for Violations”
Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Pipelines | Regulation | Statewide PA | Sunoco Logistics

PA PUC Votes Thursday to “Ratify” Shutdown of ME1 Following Sinkholes
March 14, 2018March 14, 2018

Last week MDN reported that due to underground horizontal direction drilling (HDD) in Chester County, PA for the Mariner East 2 (ME2) Pipeline project, a third sinkhole had developed. ME2 is being built close to the existing Mariner East 1 (ME1) pipeline. The sinkhole exposed a portion of the ME1 pipeline to the open air, which is why the head of the state Public Utility Commission (PUC) temporarily shut down the propane and ethane flowing through ME1 (see PA PUC Shuts Down Mariner 1 Pipeline Due to Mariner 2 Sinkhole). The shutdown is for 10-14 days, which sent ME1 customers Range Resources an CNX Resources scrambling to find alternate ways to ship their ethane and propane (see Range, CNX Look for Alternatives to ME1 Pipe Following Shutdown). Tomorrow the PUC will meet and as part of that meeting, they will vote to ratify the action of PUC Chairwoman Gladys Brown in issuing last week’s emergency shutdown order…
Read More “PA PUC Votes Thursday to “Ratify” Shutdown of ME1 Following Sinkholes”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Dominion Energy | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Pipelines | Statewide VA | Virginia

Big Green Makes Desperate Attempt to Stop Atlantic Coast Pipe
March 14, 2018March 14, 2018

Big Green groups opposed to Dominion Energy’s $6.5 billion (up from $5 billion due to delays) Atlantic Coast Pipeline (ACP) from West Virginia through Virginia and into North Carolina are about out of options in their holy mission to stop the project. They’ve tried multiple lawsuits, protests, bullying state environmental agencies–the whole bag of nasty tricks. And yet ACP is now under construction. What’s left to try to stop it? The Southern Environmental Law Center and Appalachian Mountain Advocates, on behalf of a mishmash of second tier radical groups, have filed a “hail Mary” request with the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals to stop construction of ACP until a lawsuit sitting before the Fourth Circuit questioning the validity of the permits granted for the project is played out. In other words, back to the tried-and-true playbook: delay, delay, delay–until eventually you deny…
Read More “Big Green Makes Desperate Attempt to Stop Atlantic Coast Pipe”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Statewide PA

PA DEP Introduces New Paperwork to “Save Time” on Permit Reviews
March 14, 2018March 14, 2018

We bet you didn’t know that a bloated, inefficient government bureaucracy like the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) can cut down on the amount of time it takes them to review permits necessary in the drilling process (like erosion and stream crossing permits)–just by changing the paperwork. That’s the claim the DEP is making. Yesterday the DEP released new paperwork–new forms to fill out–for Chapter 105 General Permit Registrations relating to water obstructions and encroachments. These new forms “will improve the quality of General Permit registration requests, eliminate unnecessary redundancies, and reduce review time frames.” Yeah, and we have a bridge in Brooklyn we’d like to sell ya…
Read More “PA DEP Introduces New Paperwork to “Save Time” on Permit Reviews”