Entries by Matt Kelso, BA

DEP = Department of…Economic Promotion?

In today’s Post-Gazette, Laura Olson quotes the DEP Deputy Secretary of Oil and Gas Management Scott Perry refuting the notion that hydraulic fracturing is an unregulated process, saying: “It’s important to point this out, because I think if the public loses confidence in the department’s ability to manage this industry, it’s going to have some […]

January to August Marcellus Shale Violations by Operator

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Oil and Gas maintains violation data on their website (download the Excel file). The following is a summary of Marcellus Shale violations issued in the first eight months of this year, including the number of wells that were flagged for violations. Marcellus Shale violations and offending wells […]

Severance Tax vs. Impact Fee, Revisited

It may not seem like it when you head to the pump, but the price of oil has plummeted in recent months. After peaking near $114 in April, the price has fallen all the way to $77.27, as of today. Natural gas, which was $4.27 last month, has fallen 15 percent since then to $3.62. […]

If It’s Unsuitable For Mining, Is Drilling Advisable?

There are a handful of watersheds, predominantly in central Pennsylvania, that the Department of Environmental Protection has deemed to be unsuitable for mining activities. According to pages 100-101 of the Oil and Gas Operator’s Manual, a region may be determined to be unsuitable for mining if the mining operation will: be incompatible with existing State […]

West Virginia Marcellus Shale Data Updated

Three new West Virginia datasets have been added to the DataTool to keep up to date with Marcellus Shale activities in that state. The West Virginia DEP is the source for all three datasets. Included are: West Virginia Marcellus Shale Permits Issued Marcellus Shale permits in West Virginia through September 6, 2011. Please click the […]

Marcellus Shale Production Decline Over Time in Pennsylvania

There are now three different Marcellus Shale production reports available on FracTracker’s DataTool: Pennsylvania Marcellus Shale Production, 7-1-09 to 6-30-10 PA Marcellus Shale Prduction Data: 7-1-2010 through 12-31-2010 PA Marcellus Shale Production Report: January-June 2011 The production data, which is self-reported by the drilling operators, is also available from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. In […]

Does Thickness of Shale Predict Production?

I was recently contacted by a resident of New York State who was concerned about Marcellus Shale gas drilling moving into his area. He found a report by geologists Dr. Gary Lash from SUNY – Fredoinia and Dr. Terry Engelder from Penn State that showed the shale layer thinning substantially as it heads north across […]

Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission Report Released

Yesterday, the Governor’s Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission, lead by Lieutenant Governor Jim Cawley, released a 137 report of their recommendations, which is available at the Post-Gazette website. The Commission, composed of industry and state government officials, came up with almost a hundred recommendations, including some controversial items such as a drilling “impact fee”, as well […]

Paid Marcellus Programming to Play in West Virginia

Who doesn’t love a good half hour commercial? But it’s not just for OxiClean and musical compilations of 70’s disco tunes anymore–the West Virginia Oil and Natural Gas Association is getting in on the act too. In addition to the half hour weekly episode of “Inside Shale”, in which callers ask questions of industry insiders, […]

2000 to 2010 Non Marcellus Waste Data

Yesterday, I provided our readers with a summary of long term non Marcellus Shale production data, which is self reported by the industry to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The DEP has recently made this information available retroactive to 2000, at least for oil and gas wells not drilled into the Marcellus Shale. […]