Seneca

National Fuel Gas Co. continued to curtail natural gas production in its fiscal year (FY) 1Q2016, saying during its earnings call on Friday that it would scale back further by dropping a rig in the Marcellus Shale and delay its Northern Access pipeline expansion project until next year.

To shore up its liquidity and maintain its pace during the commodities downturn, National Fuel Gas Co. (NFG) subsidiary Seneca Resources Corp. has entered into a joint development agreement (JDA) with an affiliate of Dallas-based IOG Capital LP to drill up to 80 Marcellus Shale wells across 10,500 acres in Northern Pennsylvania.

Seneca Resources Corp., the exploration and production (E&P) subsidiary of National Fuel Gas Co. (NFG), said it plans to shift the focus of its Marcellus Shale operations from Lycoming County, PA, to three other counties in the western part of the state.

Despite higher oil and gas production in the Marcellus Shale, National Fuel Gas Co. (NFG) reported a 2% decline in profits during its fiscal fourth quarter, after the company set aside a reserve of $4.7 billion to possibly settle an ongoing rate case in New York State.

Located three counties due north of the wet gas window of the Marcellus Shale, and over a state line from expanding development in the Utica Shale, Mercer County, PA, nevertheless appears poised to benefit from development of both plays in the near future.

Carroll County and operators for Chesapeake Energy Corp. continue to hold the lion’s share of permits issued and producing wells in the Utica Shale, according to Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) figures.

Consol Energy Inc. said Monday that although it reported lower natural gas production for 3Q2012 compared to one year ago, the figure was misleading because of reporting adjustments and its decision in September to idle a southern Virginia coal mine that produced associated gas.

Two oil and natural gas industry executives lauded the economic success brought about by shale gas development, but warned that continuing success depends in large part upon educating the public on hydraulic fracturing (fracking), training future regulators and policy makers, and exporting liquefied natural gas (LNG).

In a move anticipated by oil and natural gas producers, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) said Monday it was suspending 64 water withdrawal permits due to ongoing drought conditions in the basin, the highest number of suspensions since it began issuing permits in 2008.