The Marcellus Shale | February 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- 36 (+2)
Total Rigs in Pennsylvania- 25 (+6)
Total Rigs in United States- 650 (+ 40)
Total U.S. Rigs 26% YTD

State Permitting Data
Permits Approved – 85

Marcellus Top Producers
Top Producer By BOE – Chesapeake

Basin Highlights

Energy Transfer Charged with Environmental Crimes in Pennsylvania

Problems for Energy Transfer LP continue in Pennsylvania as they are charged with nine accounts of environmental crimes all related to their Revolution natural gas pipeline. The pipeline burst in 2018 causing a fire that resulted in damage to nearby power lines, homes, and several acres of forest. Energy Transfer is being charged with four accounts of unlawful discharge, two accounts of unlawful pollution and two accounts of unlawful conduct. Over the past several years Pennsylvania has fined the company for millions of dollars related to similar issues. 

EQT Joins Alliance to Establish Hydrogen Hub in Appalachia

EQT is one of, if not the largest producer of natural gas in the country. A fuel source that is touted as being critical in the energy transition for its low carbon emissions when compared to the more traditional coal and oil. EQT is also busy developing other low carbon projects such as hydrogen industrial hubs in and around the Appalachian together with an alliance of companies. The alliance will work to decarbonize the industrial sector and be a pioneer for sustainable energy and production systems in the sector. Rice, EQT’s CEO, said “U.S. LNG powered by the Marcellus Shale is the biggest green initiative on the planet,” followed by “We shouldn’t be thinking about cutting down LNG exports, we should be thinking about doing more.”

Construction Wraps on Problem-Plagued Mariner East Pipeline that Spans Pennsylvania

A multi-billion dollar pipeline that connects the Marcellus Shale to export sites along the eastern coast has finally been completed after a series of setbacks. The Mariner East pipeline is part of a network owned by Energy Transfer that transports various sorts of gasses to refineries and export locations within Pennsylvania. Energy Transfer has been criminally charged with numerous accounts of environmental damage including fouling residential water sources and spilling thousands of gallons of drilling fluids. With the recent completion of the latest pipeline addition, the Mariner East network now has a total capacity of 350,000 to 375,000 barrels per day.

Pa. Governor Sues to Force Carbon-Pricing Plan to Take Effect

Pennsylvania may soon become the first major fossil fuels producing state to impose a carbon pricing policy. Currently 11 other states have a carbon pricing policy, however, those states make up a very small portion of fossil fuel production. If Pennsylvania were to join the consortium called the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, all power plants would have to pay for emissions over a capped amount. Power plants can purchase credits from the state if they  exceed the cap amount, the money would then be directly used in clean energy investments by the state. This decision has been met with opposition and is still making its way through the courts. 

Operators with Most Permits in PA

Top Producers By Gas

Change	Rank	Company	Gas Production (MMscf) (12/21)
+1	1	Chesapeake	1101.6
	2	Coterra Energy	911.3
	3	Range Resources	701.1
-3	4	EQT	686.9
	5	Rice Drilling	560.2

Rig Count

PA Oil Production

PA Natural Gas Production

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PETRO Engineering, PLLC via the following sources unless otherwise
noted:

www.eia.gov
www.drillinginfo.com
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