The Marcellus Shale | April 2022
Field Overview
The Marcellus Shale is the largest gas play onshore in the US. Located in the Northeast, it supplies the high-demand markets along the East Coast. Most of the basin’s gas is produced through unconventional methods, while the little oil produced is mostly by conventional means. Some of the top formations include the Onondaga and the Huntersville.
State Drilling Statistics
Active Drilling Rigs in Basin- 39 (
+2)
Total Rigs in Pennsylvania- 25 (+2)
Total Rigs in United States- 728 (+336)
Total U.S. Rigs 37.5% YTD
State Permitting Data
Permits Approved – 85
Marcellus Top Producers
Top Producer By BOE – Chesapeake
Basin Highlights
New York to Ban Natural Gas in New Buildings, Environmental Groups Say
California is often touted as being home to the most stringent environmental standards in the country. Plans to be the first state to ban natural gas in all new buildings has been in the works for some months now, but New York may be the first to actually do it. Governor Kathy Hochul In her State of the State address in January, committed to “zero on-site greenhouse gas emissions for new construction no later than 2027.” The near term benefits won’t be noticeable due to most emissions coming from older buildings, however, the long term effects will be multiplied as more energy is produced through renewables.
Big Greenhouse Gas State, PA. is Taking its Biggest Climate Step Yet
Carbon pricing policies have been enacted in twelve states, bound together by the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RRGI). The only state part of the RRGI that is a major oil and/or gas producer is California. Pennsylvania, however, has just passed legislation that will lead to them joining the RRGI. Mark Szybist, a senior attorney for the New York-based Natural Resources noted that the RRGI “ is the farthest-reaching step being taken in Pennsylvania to fight climate change.” Joining the initiative is expected to reduce Pennsylvania’s carbon dioxide emissions by 97 million tons to 225 million tons through 2030.
Legislation to Allow Pennsylvania Companies to Bid on Well-Plugging Contracts
Pennsylvania has 26,000 orphaned oil and gas wells which all need to be plugged and abandoned properly. Current law favors giving the plugging contracts to out-of-state companies, however, new legislation will amend current law to provide well-plugging contracts to Pennsylvania companies. House Bill 2528 will bring jobs to Pennsylvania by allowing any Pennsylvania company, regardless of size, to bid for a contract. Money to pay companies for plugging the wells will come from federal funds totaling $400 million for the state.
Operators with Most Permits in PA
| Rank | Company | Permits Approved |
| 1 | Range Resources | 18 |
| 2 | Chesapeake | 11 |
| 3 | Seneca Resources | 8 |
| 4 | Repsol | 7 |
| 5 | BKV | 5 |
Top Producers By Gas
| Change | Rank | Company | Gas Production (MCF) (2/22) |
| – | 1 | Chesapeake | 92.9 |
| – | 2 | Coterra Energy | 74.3 |
| – | 3 | Range Resources | 56.4 |
| – | 4 | EQT | 54.9 |
| – | 5 | Rice Drilling | 44.4 |
Rig Count
PA Oil Production
PA Natural Gas Production
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