Marcellus Gas Production Dominated by Counties in Penna. & WV

by admin on July 7, 2019

Four counties in Penna. are leaders

GlobalData: Susquehanna county PA drives natural gas production in Marcellus Shale in the US

From an Article by Nicholas Woodroof, Oilfield Technology, July 4, 2019

The majority of the drilling and production activity in the Marcellus shale continues to take place in northeast and southwest of Pennsylvania, especially in Susquehanna and Washington counties, according to GlobalData.

The company’s latest report, ‘Marcellus and Utica Shales in the US, 2019 – Gas Shales Market Analysis and Outlook to 2023’ reveals that Marcellus and Utica formations produced around 31 billion ft3/d of natural gas in May 2019 and the production is forecast to reach approximately 35 billion ft3/d by the end of 2023.

The major natural gas producing counties in Marcellus and Utica shale plays are Susquehanna, Washington, Bradford and Greene counties in Pennsylvania and Doddridge county in West Virginia.

Located in close proximity to the major industrial hubs on the US East Coast, Marcellus and Utica shale plays in the Appalachian basin have witnessed steady natural gas production growth over the last five-six years.

Andrew Folse, Oil & Gas Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Fracking activity in Marcellus and Utica formations is driven by large demand for natural gas from the nearby populated areas. As in the case of other unconventional shale plays, operators in Marcellus and Utica shales continue to drill longer laterals beyond 12 000 ft and some as long as three miles.”

The Appalachian has seen a clear trend for larger scale developments by key operators by increasing the surface of contiguous acreage and allowing for more production by well recovery.

Folse continues: “Marcellus and Utica plays continue to receive premium for their natural gas compared to the benchmark of Henry Hub. Over the past three years, this region has received an average US$0.40 premium over Henry Hub. At the same time, operators have become more efficient in optimising costs reaching a lower break-even price. With the demand continuing to grow in the region and consistent premiums over Henry Hub, the Appalachian Basin will continue to drive natural gas production in the US.”

GlobalData forecasts hydrocarbon production in Marcellus and Utica plays to rise throughout 2023. The production from the Marcellus play is projected to be over 10,000 billion ft3 equivalent by the year 2023, with about 4% increase every year. The Utica play is projected to have about 3% increase year over year with production in 2023 to be over 2600 ft3 equivalent.

EQT Corp, Antero Resources, Cabot Oil & Gas, Southwestern Energy and Range Resources, were the leading producers in the Marcellus shale while Ascent Resources and Gulfport Energy were the leading producers in the Utica shale in 2018.

{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }

Cathy Lodge July 7, 2019 at 11:41 pm

LETTER: “A parent’s reaction”

Pittsburgh Post Gazette, July 7, 2019

As a Fort Cherry School District parent, I need to respond to the July 1 letter “Natural Gas Companies are Committed to Public Safety” by Jim Welty and Kevin Moody. The letter references a recent study at a well pad near Fort Cherry. This was a Gradient Corp. report commissioned by Range Resources of the Yonker well.

If the Marcellus Shale industry is truly committed to the well-being of my community, why use a company such as Gradient Corp. to produce a report about the air we breathe here?

Gradient Corp. frequently works on behalf of industry. Also, the Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project recently released a public statement slamming Gradient’s Fort Cherry report as being invalid. This is probably why the Marcellus industry goes to Gradient when it needs something to positively spin this hazardous industry, which has been placed so close to our children.

Parents are getting tired of this spin.

CATHY LODGE, Bulger, Washington County, PA

https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/letters/2019/07/07/A-parent-s-reaction/stories/201907070080

Reply

Bob Morris July 7, 2019 at 11:47 pm

LETTER: “Record says otherwise”

Pittsburgh Post Gazette, July 7, 2019

I laughed out loud when I read the July 1 letter “Natural Gas Companies are Committed to Public Safety” by Jim Welty, vice president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, and Kevin Moody, general counsel and vice president of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Independent Oil & Gas Association.

The letter states: “Our organizations, members and local employees are committed — on the most personal level — to protecting the health, safety and environment of the communities where we are privileged to to live …”

If what he said is correct, why did the industry push for a “gag clause” for physicians that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down? Why do so many of the fracking firms that settle with families over health issues caused by fracking want confidentiality clauses?

The industry’s track record on health, safety and the environment speaks for itself. No amount of propaganda is going to change the facts.

BOB MORRIS, Moon Township, Allegheny County, PA

https://www.post-gazette.com/opinion/letters/2019/07/07/Record-says-otherwise/stories/201907070082

Reply

Cancel reply

Leave a Comment

Previous post:

Next post: