After a long moratorium on Marcellus Shale drilling in New York, a variety of proposed regulations and local bans on drilling could render millions of leased acres as worthless.
More at FuelFix.com.Marcellus Shale
$4.7 Billion from Marcellus Gas?
An AP article reports that drillers produced about $4.7 billion worth of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West Virginia during 2011.
More at Manufacturing.net.
Rouge Fractures
“The chances of rogue fractures due to shale gas fracking operations extending beyond 0.6 kilometres from the injection source is a fraction of one percent, according to new research led by Durham University. The analysis is based on data from thousands of fracking operations in the USA and natural rock fractures in Europe and Africa.” Quoted from the Durham University press release.
More at Durham University.
Pennsylvania Act 13: Drilling Impact Fee
“The law provides for the imposition of a drilling impact fee and the expenditure of the funds generated by that impact fee to local and state purposes specifically outlined in the law. The law also contains a mechanism as to how the fees shall be distributed. A significant portion of the fees generated will be used to cover the local impacts of drilling while several of state agencies will also receive funding for a variety of other purposes.” Quote from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
More at Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
Geography of Marcellus Drilling in West Virginia
An article on TheIntelligencer.net website explains how the geography of natural gas drilling in West Virginia is shifting from the dry gas areas that consists of most of the state to a few counties in the northern panhandle where wells yield natural g…
More at TheIntelligencer.net.
Shale Gas, Hydraulic Fracturing, and Induced Earthquakes
“USGS scientists discuss the opportunities and impact associated with hydraulic fracturing. Doug Duncan, associate coordinator for the USGS Energy Resources Program, addresses the increasing role that unconventional oil and gas resources play in the nation’s petroleum endowment. USGS hydrologist Dennis Risser discusses some of the major water availability and quality challenges associated with natural gas development, with a focus on the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania. Bill Leith, associate coordinator the USGS Hazards Program, concludes by discussing the potential connection between disposal of waste fluids from hydraulic fracturing and earthquakes.” Quoted from the USGS video release.
More at USGS.
Propane Fracking in New York’s Marcellus?
Fracking the Marcellus Shale with propane instead of water may be allowed in New York and one company is exploring the possibility of using the method.
More at StarGazette.com.
Maryland Natural Gas Severance Tax?
The Maryland House approved a bill that would create a 7.5% severance tax on “all natural gas, natural gas liquids, and other fluid hydrocarbons, not defined as oil, which are produced from a natural reservoir.”
More at Maryland House Bill 907.
Sue the State to Control Drilling?
Seven communities in southwestern Pennsylvania are suing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania because they want to control natural gas drilling in their zoning districts.
More at Post Crescent.com.
Appalachian Natural Gas Targets for 2012
An article on the Platts.com website summarizes the 2012 drilling plans of Range Resources, EQT Production and Consol Energy.
More at Platts.com.
New Jersey-New York Pipeline
“Spectra Energy has received conditional environmental approval from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff on its proposed New Jersey-New York Expansion project. [...] The system, which would be the first major natural gas pipeline to reach New York City in 40 years.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration.
More at Energy Information Administration.
Natural Gas Parallel Universe
An article titled “Marcellus Shale Parallel Universe” explores the impact of different approaches to natural gas development experienced in Pennsylvania and New York.
More at NorthcentralPA.com.
This Marcellus Pipeline Goes South
A $1 billion pipeline has been proposed that will deliver Marcellus Shale gas from northern Pennsylvania to markets in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, DC.
More at Philly.com.
The Range Resources “Super-Rich Area”
Range Resources is starting to focus its Marcellus Shale drilling in a portion of southwestern Pennsylvania known as the “Super-Rich Area”.
Information for this story is in a .pdf document here (click the 2/21/2012 company presentation link) [1]
[1] http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=101196&p=irol-presentations
More at Range Resources.
Hydraulic Fracturing Isn’t the Problem
“Hydraulic fracturing of shale formations to extract natural gas has no direct connection to reports of groundwater contamination [...] many problems ascribed to hydraulic fracturing are related to processes common to all oil and gas drilling operations, such as casing failures or poor cement jobs.” Quoted from the University of Texas at Austin press release.
More at University of Texas at Austin.
Dry Shale Gas Production Trends
The EIA Natural Gas Weekly Update has an interesting graph that tracks the month-by-month dry gas production growth from various shale gas fields in the United States. For example, it shows that production from the Haynesville Shale started to increas…
More at Energy Information Administration.
Impact of Natural Gas Drilling on Washington County PA
This video and article feature some of the positive impacts that natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale has brought to the economy of Washington County, Pennsylvania and neighboring areas.
More at WTOV9.com.
Oil and Natural Gas Data for Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has created interactive reports that allow citizens create reports that summarize oil and gas production information, permits issued, drilling commence date, county data, operator specific data, a…
More at Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
Eminent Domain and Pennsylvania Pipelines
An article on the ABC News website reports on how eminent domain is being used in Pennsylvania by a natural gas pipeline company to acquire missing pieces of a pipeline right-of-way.
More at ABC News.
Overproduction in the Natural Gas Industry
National Public Radio has a podcast titled: “Is The Booming Natural Gas Industry Overproducing?”. It explores how natural gas companies are cutting back on production, filling underground storage and moving their rigs out of the dry gas areas.
More at National Public Radio.
Errors in Marcellus Shale Well Counts?
Newspapers, legislators, drillers and environmental organizations have been confused by Marcellus Shale drilling data published by the State.
More at Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Methane Is Ubiquitous in Shallow Groundwater
An article published by the Oil and Gas Journal shows that methane was ubiquitous in shallow groundwater prior to oil and gas drilling in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.
More at Oil and Gas Journal.
US Gas Shales Attract Worldwide Investors
In just the past few weeks companies from China, France and Japan have purchased large holdings in the Eagle Ford, Utica and Marcellus Shales.
More at Bloomberg.
Fracking Did Not Cause the 8/23/11 Virginia Earthquake
Someone must have blamed the Virginia earthquake of August 23 on hydraulic fracturing. An extensive article in the Daily Press explains why that is impossible.
More at Daily Press.
Declining Royalty Payments from Natural Gas Wells
Many property owners are very surprised when the royalties that they receive from a natural gas well on their property decline sharply. They are learning about production decline curves.
More at Geology.com.
Electric Power from the Marcellus and Utica Shales
As environmental regulations hasten the closure of coal-fired power plants American Electric Power plans to build a 1bcf/day pipeline to deliver gas from wells in the Marcellus [1] and Utica Shales [2].
[1] http://geology.com/articles/marcellus-shale.shtml
[2] http://geology.com/articles/utica-shale/
Economic Impacts of Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania
“This
study
examines
how
several
key
unexplored
aspects
of
Marcellus
Shale
natural
gas
development
in
Pennsylvania
will
affect
the
overall
economic
impact
occurring
in
the
Commonwealth.
Where
leasing
and
royalty
dollars
are
actually
going,
and
how
they
are
being
spent,
has
not
been
examined
in
previous
economic
studies.” Quoted from the report’s abstract.
Marcellus Shale in 2012
An article on the Boston.com website explores possible developments related to the Marcellus Shale in 2012. A new lease environment, geographic shifts in activity, price directions and more.
More at Boston.com.
Maryland: Marcellus Shale Severance Tax
Maryland’s Marcellus Shale Safe Drilling Commission released a study that recommends a state severance tax on natural gas produced from the Marcellus Shale.
More at Platts.com.
Jobs Created by the Marcellus Shale
An article on the PennLive.com website explores the diversity of jobs associated with development of the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania. Sue Mukherjee a directory with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry says: “The fastest 12 growing occupations in Pennsylvania are all directly related to Marcellus Shale.”
More at PennLive.com.
Natural Gas: Is it Jobs vs Environment?
An article in Crain’s New York Business titled “Natural-gas drilling is a great divider” explores why natural gas drilling has enormous support and enormous opposition in the state of New York.
More at Crain's New York Business.
Local Workers for Natural Gas Drilling?
In many parts of the Marcellus Shale gas play local residents are disappointed to see so many workers from over a thousand miles away getting high-paying jobs while local unemployment rates are very high. Letters similar to this one have been publishe…
More at Huntington News.net.
The Era of Aggressive Natural Gas Leasing is Ending
Some industry experts believe that onshore natural gas leasing is winding down and major plays like the Marcellus and Utica are unlikely to be found in the future.
More at Bloomberg.
Learning about Oil and Gas Leases
An article in the New York Times reviews some potential rewards and problems that occur when a landowner decides to lease his property for oil and and gas development.
Related: Mineral Rights [1]
[1] http://geology.com/articles/mineral-rights.shtml
More at New York Times.
Podcast: Who Should Regulate Natural Gas Drilling?
Some local governments would like to have greater control over where, when and how natural gas drilling can be done in their areas of jurisdiction. This podcast explores the division of regulation between state and local governments in Pennsylvania.
More at National Public Radio.
Hunting Safely in Natural Gas Country
The Marcellus Shale Coalition website has an article that provides safety advice for people who will be hunting in areas where natural gas drilling is taking place.
More at Marcellus Shale Coalition.
Deer Hunting and the Marcellus Shale
Monday is the first day of deer hunting season in Pennsylvania and many hunters believe that natural gas drilling has not damaged their sport.
More at PennLive.com.
States Compete for Natural Gas Drilling?
An article on the PittsburghLive.com website explains how regulations and costs of doing business in neighboring states can stimulate or deter the development of a resource such as natural gas. Not mentioned in the article is how a moratorium on Marce…
More at PittsburghLive.com.
Pennsylvania Citizen Opinions on Natural Gas Drilling
The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan conducted a public opinion poll on “Fracking for Natural Gas”. One of their key findings:
“While fairly divided on this matter, more Pennsylvanians believe that natural gas drilling has thus far provided more benefits than problems for Pennsylvania. A larger number anticipate greater future benefits than problems for the state.”
A Post-Gazette article summarizes the findings and links to a PDF copy of the study.
More at The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Delaware River Basin Commission: Natural Gas Drilling Regulations
The Delaware River Basin Commission will vote on a new set of rules for natural gas drilling within the basin. If they are approved a moratorium on drilling in the basin will be lifted.
More at PhillyBurbs.com.
