Pennsylvania

Increased activity in the Permian Basin and Eagle Ford Shale helped push the U.S. rig count nine units higher to 512 during the week ended Friday (Sept. 17), according to the latest data from Baker Hughes Co. (BKR). A 10-rig increase in oil-directed drilling offset a one-rig decline in natural gas-directed rigs in the United…

The U.S. natural gas rig count rose two units to finish at 101 during the week ended Friday, a week that also saw a notable uptick in drilling activity in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM), according to updated data from oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Co. (BKR). Drilling gains in the United States for the…

The impact fees paid by Pennsylvania’s unconventional natural gas producers in 2020 declined by $54 million year/year to about $146.3 million mainly because of lower natural gas prices, according to the state Public Utility Commision (PUC). Since the fees were enacted in 2012, operators have paid more than $2 billion to the PUC for distribution…

Natural Gas production and prices in Pennsylvania both rebounded sharply during the first quarter after a pandemic-induced slump in 2020, according to a new report by the state’s Independent Fiscal Office (IFO). Gas production from horizontal wells totaled 1,863 Bcf during 1Q2021, up 5.4% year/year (y/y), researchers said. The report, based on data compiled by…

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that the attorney general (AG) can’t use the state’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law against natural gas producers in a setback to the AG’s case alleging landowners were underpaid royalties. The state’s high court reversed a lower court’s decision and ruled 6-1 that the law shields only…

A subsidiary of Chesapeake Energy Corp. has agreed to pay a $1.9 million fine and address environmental impacts in Pennsylvania as punishment for failing to identify and protect wetlands at 76 oil and gas well sites. The consent decree with Chesapeake Appalachia LLC was executed by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the U.S.…

The natural gas gathering Revolution Pipeline in Western Pennsylvania has been cleared to restart service after operator ETC Northeast Pipeline LLC reached a settlement with the state’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) addressing safety concerns over slope stability. The settlement, a consent order and agreement that requires ETC to pay a $125,000 civil penalty, allows…

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has cleared a National Fuel Gas Co. (NFG) subsidiary to start construction on the FM100 natural gas pipeline expansion and modernization project.  NFG said it would start construction early next month and expects to bring the project online by the end of the year. FM100 would boost natural gas takeaway…

Williams was given the green light by FERC on Friday to move forward with its Leidy South expansion in Pennsylvania, which is designed to carry about 600 MMcf/d of natural gas capacity to Atlantic Seaboard markets. Williams’ Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line LLC, aka Transco, brought 125 MMcf/d of Leidy South capacity online in November, with…