Fracking Does Not Contaminate Drinking Water, Says New Yale Study

Environmentalist opposition to fracking undeterred by data It actually pains me to disagree with celebrity Mark Ruffalo who has talked against fracking.   I’ll blame the egoistical Josh Fox for spreading and promoting misinformation. Hopefully Mark will sit up and ‘read for himself’ reports from Yale University who drafted a report regarding findings, none of which lead to widespread systemic impacts on drinking water resources in the United States. Of course like any other industry process fracking needs to be correctly monitored. Environmental activists continue to claim that fracking (the use of horizontal drilling with high-pressure water) to unlock vast stores of natural gas and oil from shale formations contaminates drinking water. They hint that natural gas and the constituents of fracking fluids migrate through cracks from the shale formations into drinking water wells. In fact, intensive research efforts have yet to confirm that any contamination that has occurred in
http://www.shaledirectories.com/blog/fracking-does-not-contaminate-drinking-water-says-new-yale-study/

Commonwealth Court Supports the Fairfield Township and Inflections Energy LLC

The Commonwealth Court decision, in the case of B. Gorsline, et al. v. Board of Supervisors of Fairfield Twp. v. Inflection Energy, LLC, et al. – 1735 C.D. 2014, was an important victory for natural gas development. The decision established some extremely important precedents with big fracking implications going forward.  The essence of the original complaint filed against Fairfield Township Supervisors was a  local neighbor s opposition to construction traffic that would pass their residence on the way  to the proposed Inflections site.  They challenged the approval of the application (permitting) by Fairfield Township and appealed to the Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas where it inexplicably got assigned to a local judge  overturning the Township’s approval. Fairfield Township Zoning Map – Notice that R-A District (yellow) encompasses the bulk of the Township and prohibiting development there would have effectively excluded it from the Township. The Commonwealth Cou
http://www.shaledirectories.com/blog/commonwealth-court-supports-the-fairfield-township-and-inflections-energy-llc/

Gulfport and Rice Energy Form Midstream JV

Independent producers Rice Energy and Gulfport Energy said Thursday the companies are forming a joint venture to develop midstream assets to support Gulfport s dry gas Utica Shale development in eastern Ohio. Rice and Gulfport plan to invest roughly $520 million to develop gathering and compression assets and $120 million for water assets within the JV over the next six years. Initial construction of the system is expected to begin immediately and first deliveries are planned for mid-2016. “We are excited about furthering our midstream relationship with Gulfport across their position in the core of the Ohio Utica Shale,” said Daniel J. Rice IV, CEO of Rice. The JV will be supported by long-term, fee-based service agreements with Gulfport, Kallanish Energy understands. Rice will own 75% of the JV and be responsible for constructing and operating the JV s assets. “Gulfport has a strong history with Rice in the Utica Shale and we are excited to expand our relationship by creating f
http://www.shaledirectories.com/blog/gulfport-and-rice-energy-form-midstream-jv/

North American E&Ps Risk Financial Stress

North American E&Ps risk financial stress having missed the price hedge window Many North American exploration and production (E&P) companies – particularly small and mid-size firms risk financial stress, as just 11% of 2016 production is hedged, according to analysis by IHS. The “IHS Energy North American E&P Peer Group Analysis: Hedging Protection Set to Plunge in 2016,” assessed the amount of oil and gas hedging protections in place for 48 small, midsize and large North American E&P companies for the second-half of 2015 and full-year 2016. Overall hedging for second-half 2015 was largely unchanged from previous IHS analysis the North American E&Ps have 28% of total production hedged for the remainder of the year. The weighted-average hedged prices the group has in place for 2016 are $69.04 per barrel (Bbl) of oil and $3.83 per thousand cubic feet (Mcf) of gas. The small and mid-sized E&Ps increased 2016 hedging the most during the first-half of 2015, while the large E&Ps rema
http://www.shaledirectories.com/blog/north-american-eps-risk-financial-stress/

Midstream PA 2015

The second annual Midstream PA was very informative with presentations from representatives from Sunoco Logistics, Williams, MarkWest, UGI, Southwestern Energy, McNees, Wallace & Nurick, Dawood Engineering, PA Department of Community and Economic Development and Penn State’s Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research. The combination of industry and government at the event gave the attendees a look at what is happening now, but more importantly what is coming in 2016 and beyond. Some of the more interesting remarks: Everyone expects the big pipeline projects to continue with the only slowdown coming from acquiring permits. Some of the smaller midstream projects may get pushed a little. PA Pipeline Task Force’s comments: The primary focus of the report will be on gathering lines. The members of the task force are from the industry, business, government official from the state and local level and academia. The first draft of the report is due November 2nd. With the complete report d
http://www.shaledirectories.com/blog/midstream-pa-2015/

ECONOMIC GROWTH WIDESPREAD ACROSS METROPOLITAN AREAS IN 2014

Advance 2014, and Revised 2001–2013 GDP-by-Metropolitan-Area Statistics Real GDP increased in 282 of the nation s 381 metropolitan areas in 2014, led by growth in several industry groups: professional and business services, wholesale and retail trade, and the group of finance, insurance, real estate, rental, and leasing. Natural resources and mining remained a strong contributor to growth in several metropolitan areas. Collectively, real GDP for U. S. metropolitan areas increased 2.3 percent in 2014 after increasing 1.9 percent in 2013. Professional and business services contributed 0.61 percentage point to U.S. metropolitan area real GDP growth in 2014. This industry contributed to growth in 314 of the nation s 381 metropolitan areas. Growth in this industry accounted for more than half of real GDP growth in 49 metropolitan areas, and contributed more than one percentage point to growth in 28 metropolitan areas, most notably in Midland, MI (4.56 percentage points) and San Francisco
http://www.shaledirectories.com/blog/economic-growth-widespread-across-metropolitan-areas-in-2014/

Patriot Begins Drilling in the Permian

Dallas-based oil and gas company Patriot Energy said Tuesday it has begun drilling operations at its 440-acres Thoroughbred-1 prospect, in eastern Permian Basin, West Texas, Kallanish Energy understands.The Thoroughbred-1 well targets multiple potential pay zones including the Strawn Lime, Cline shale, Cisco sands, Triple M Credo, Middle Wolfcamp and Albaugh. Drilling should be completed in three weeks, reaching roughly 9,000 vertical feet in early October.Patriot Energy’s President, Michael Miller, believes the Permian Basin multiple pay zones wells “offer very attractive potential, even at today’s oil prices.”“The economics are acceptable today, and we believe prices will eventually find their way back up to a more normal level,” added Miller.The shale producer is currently extending its operations on a farm-out lease, which will encompass at least 8 prospects, with the option to further drill out remaining acreage.According to Patriot, other wells near the farm-out leas
http://www.shaledirectories.com/blog/patriot-begins-drilling-in-the-permian/