Timing & Future of Venture Global’s CP2 LNG Project Murky

The timing (even the very future) for Venture Global’s proposed Calcasieu Pass 2 (CP2) LNG export plant is murky at best. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in June issued a 2-1 decision to approve the project (see FERC Approves Expansion of Venture Global’s CP LNG Export Plant). However, the project is on hold (with…

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Feds & PA Soak PennEnergy with $2M Fine, $3.6M Upgrades re Emissions

PennEnergy Resources, LLC, the 11th largest shale driller in Pennsylvania, agreed to a “deal” with the Biden Department of Justice (DOJ), the Biden Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the Josh Shapiro Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to pay a $2 million fine and spend another $3.6 million on “upgrades” related to air emissions at its…

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PA+WV+OH Produced Nearly One-Third of All U.S. NatGas in 2023

Yesterday, the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) reported five states produced more than 70% of the record 113.1 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) of U.S. marketed natural gas production in 2023. Two of the five were in the Marcellus/Utica: Pennsylvania (18% of the country’s gas) and West Virginia (8% of the country’s gas). We…

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Methane Emissions in Marcellus/Utica Down 52% from 2019 to 2023

The environmental left is hellbent on regulating fossil fuels, including oil and natural gas, out of existence. One of their favorite (false) memes is to claim methane is a bazillion times more “potent” in causing global warming than other things, like carbon dioxide. The false narrative continues that shale drilling is causing a stratospheric increase…

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Dec. STEO Predicts 40% Higher NatGas Price for Winter 2024/25

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) issued its latest monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook yesterday, the agency’s monthly best guess about where energy prices and production will go in the next 12 months. In October, the EIA predicted the average spot price for natural gas would be $3.10/MMBtu in 2025 (see Oct. STEO Predicts Lower Output,…

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Trump Promises Expedited Enviro Permits for New Investments of $1B+

Yesterday, President-elect Donald Trump posted an interesting message to his Truth Social account: “Any person or company investing ONE BILLION DOLLARS, OR MORE, in the United States of America, will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals. GET READY TO ROCK!!!” The implication is that the…

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Ohio O&G Commission Approves More Fracking Under State Lands

Yesterday, the Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission (OGLMC) voted to award a contract to Gulfport Energy to drill and frack under (not on) about 30 acres of the Egypt Valley Wildlife Area in Belmont County. Commissioners also voted to open an additional 884 acres of Salt Fork State Park in Guernsey County for…

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PA IFO Predicts Impact Tax Revenue to Drop 9% in 2024

Pennsylvania assesses an impact fee (PA’s version of a severance tax) on shale drillers, raising revenues that are paid to local municipalities and the black hole of Harrisburg politicians. Yesterday, the PA Independent Fiscal Office (IFO) issued an estimate for how much the impact fee will raise this year, which will be distributed next year….

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MACH2 Hydrogen Hub, Opposed by PA Green Groups, Crashing & Burning

In October 2024, the Bidenistas announced the Hydrogen Hub Hunger Games winners (see Hydrogen Hub Winners Announced – WV Takes Prize in M-U Region). Seven projects were selected from 33 finalists. Among the winners was the West Virginia-led Appalachian Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub (ARCH2), which is a project that will use Marcellus/Utica natural gas as…

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Huge Data Center Eyeing Site Near Harrisburg, Big Jobs & Tax Rev.

The Harrisburg Patriot-News is reporting a developer is seriously looking at a site in Cumberland County, PA, near the state capital of Harrisburg, to build a huge new “hyperscale data center complex” on 700 acres. Allow us to connect the dots for you. These data centers use an incredible amount of electricity. That electricity either…

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Details on Diversified Deal to Plug More Wells in WV, OH, PA

One month ago, we brought you the news that Diversified Energy and EQT Corporation had settled a class action lawsuit originally brought by several West Virginia landowners (see EQT, Diversified Settle WV Class Action Lawsuit re Old Wells). There is the money aspect of the lawsuit, a payout of up to $6.5 million (subject to…

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OH Drops 1, PA Adds 1 Rig; National Rig Count Soars, Adds 7 @ 589

The Baker Hughes national rig count dramatically increased last week, adding seven rigs for a national count of 589. Note that the national count continues to be rangebound between 581 and 589 since June (except for Sep. 13, when it hit 590 for a single week). Will we break out of the rut and go…

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Upper Burrell Twp Makes Moves to Ban Wastewater Injection Wells

Upper Burrell (Westmoreland County, PA) town supervisors have historically been receptive (or at least tolerant) to the Marcellus Shale industry that has so blessed their town and Westmoreland County (see our Upper Burrell stories here). According to MDN’s soon-coming data service, Upper Burrell has 20 actively producing shale wells, with 17 of them drilled since…

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Same Guy Who Drilled 1st Marcellus Well Helped Crack Utica Oil Code

Hart Energy has published a number of articles highlighting companies and key people in the Marcellus/Utica region. Hart has an ongoing series called Hart Energy’s Hall of Fame to honor industry pioneers and the Agents of Change (ACEs) who are leading the energy sector into the future. A recent Hall of Fame article highlights one…

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Williams Sues ET Again, This Time for Blocking La. Pipe Project

Two pipeline industry titans are going after each other again. Energy Transfer and Williams previously tangled over an aborted proposed merger, a saga that stretched from 2015 until it was finally settled in 2023 (see Williams Finally Wins Case Against ET Aborted Merger – $495 Million). More recently, Williams sought permits to drill for a…

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