UPDATE ~ Marcellus Shale Drilling & Fracking Continues, Plus & Minus

UPDATE from the Shale Gas Reporter by Sara Welch, May 4, 2022

CNX Resources recently announced a four (4) year extension of its long-term agreement with Evolution Well Services to continue using an all-electric fracking fleet in the Appalachian Basin, according to Natural Gas Intelligence.

CNX COO Chad Griffith said the “safety and efficiency benefits” have been clearly demonstrated after four years of working with Evolution’s all-electric fleet, leading the company to sign on for another four years.

CNX began working with Evolution’s 100% electric and natural gas- fuels fleet in 2019 and the deal has resulted in higher operational efficiencies, lower emissions and significant well cost savings.

CNX holds more than one million Marcellus and Utica shale acres scattered across Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

>>>>>>>…………………>>>>>>>……………………>>>>>>>

NEW DRILLING PERMITS, SAYS THE SHALE GAS REPORTER

Thirty new permits were issued to drill shale wells in Pennsylvania and West Virginia during the week ended April 24, according to Marcellus Drilling News.

Pennsylvania issued 22 new permits. EQT received five permits in Greene County. LOLA Energy and Snyder Brothers received four new drilling permits each in Butler County and Snyder County, respectively.

West Virginia issued eight permits. Arsenal Resources received four permits in Tyler County. Southwestern Energy received two permits in Brooke County and One in Ohio County. (Antero and Jay Bee are also active in Tyler County).

Ohio didn’t issue any new drilling permits during this time period.

#######+++++++#######+++++++########

“Tighter pollution thresholds coming” by Tony LaRussa, Pittsburgh Tribune Review, May 1, 2022

Drilling companies soon will have to do more to reduce pollution produced by their operations, Department of Environmental Protection spokesman Neil Shader said.
DEP is finalizing regulations that will set tougher methane emission thresholds for new wells and compressor stations, he said, noting the tighter rules already have been incorporated into some existing permits.

Pennsylvania also will require drillers to cut the amount of so-called “volatile organic compounds” being emitted by identifying and repairing gaps in pipes and fittings, he said. “In the process of installing equipment to reduce the VOCs, there also will be a reduction in methane that is being released through the same gaps,” Shader said.

>>>>>>>…………………>>>>>>>…………………>>>>>>>>

Gas drillers say 3rd-party monitoring shows greater responsibility; environmentalists remain skeptical | Tony LaRussa, TribLIVE.com, May 1, 2022

Companies that use fracking to drill for natural gas have begun turning to outside technology to help quash what they describe as a legacy of distrust built by years of bad business practices by some drillers.

To quell concerns about the impact wells might have on water, air, land and the quality of life in their communities, a number of energy companies are hiring independent companies to continuously monitor production and certify that operations meet or exceed government standards.

“The third-party review is part of a new wave of what’s come to be known as ‘responsibly sourced gas,” said Dan Weaver, president and executive director of the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association, headquartered in Marshall Township in the North Hills. The organization represents 375 energy companies statewide in Pennsylvania.