Marcellus & Utica Shale Newsroom

Drilling Companies Scaling Back

Spilman Marcellus News 17 Feb 2012 | 8:58 AM

Several natural gas drilling companies (Chesapeake, CONSOL, Talisman…) have opted to scale back operations recently, due to low gas prices and an unseasonably warm winter. Are there more to follow? Moreover, what impact will such market dynamics have upon the Marcellus … Continue reading →

Pa. PUC on Impact Fees

Spilman Marcellus News 15 Feb 2012 | 3:54 PM

The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) answered questions about their stance on impact fees: They don’t have one. The PUC will remain neutral and available to municipalities who need to approach them for advisement. The following news brief contains more information. ### PUC: … Continue reading →

Spilman News Alert: Pa. Gov. Corbett Signs New Oil & Gas Legislation

Spilman Marcellus News 14 Feb 2012 | 12:02 PM

Click here to read the latest Spilman News Alert and learn all about the details of new Pennsylvania oil and gas legislation, signed yesterday by Governor Corbett. Our original, attorney-authored article provides comprehensive analysis of such topics as the  unconventional gas well … Continue reading →

Utica Acreage Leases Still Going Up

Spilman Marcellus News 13 Feb 2012 | 2:20 PM

Antero Resources has recently reached an agreement with Ohio landowners to pay $112 million to lease 19,000 acres of Utica shale. This amounts to roughly $5,900 per acre, the highest yet paid in eastern Ohio, according to this article. For … Continue reading →

New Pa. Pipeline Maintenance Rules Coming Soon

Spilman Marcellus News 09 Feb 2012 | 1:50 PM

Natural gas utilities operating in Pennsylvania could soon have stricter regulations regarding pipeline maintenance. The Pa. Public Utility Commission is currently accepting comment on the new proposal, which is intended to bring the state standards more in line with federal … Continue reading →

Will Landowners Be Allowed to Terminate Their Leases?

Spilman Marcellus News 08 Feb 2012 | 10:26 AM

Ohio landowners are attempting to use a clause in their lease agreements to terminate their leases with Chesapeake Exploration LLC and negotiate a better deal with other firms. Chesapeake has answered with a suit filed January 25 to stop them … Continue reading →

Pa. Legislature May Vote on Shale Gas Fee This Week

Spilman Marcellus News 07 Feb 2012 | 8:46 AM

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett and legislative Republicans appear to have finally come to an agreement on Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction fees. The result is a fee of $240,000-$355,000 per well, depending on the price of gas natural gas and … Continue reading →

Wheeling, W.Va. Center of Gas Industry Activity

Spilman Marcellus News 03 Feb 2012 | 3:05 PM

At a recent informational event about the gas industry, an advisor for the American Petroleum Institute called Wheeling, W.Va. (where one of Spilman’s seven offices is located) “dead center” of the Marcellus & Utica Shale fields. Wheeling and the surrounding region … Continue reading →

Eminent Domain Battles Arise in Pa.

Spilman Marcellus News 03 Feb 2012 | 2:57 PM

Pennsylvania landowners are fighting the use of eminent domain by a company building a 39-mile pipeline through the state. These residents have brought their challenges to eminent domain proceedings to court and are appealing approval of the pipeline by the … Continue reading →

Despite Reduced Shale Gas Estimates, EIA Still Optimistic

Spilman Marcellus News 01 Feb 2012 | 3:34 PM

The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently issued a report that dramatically reduced their estimates of recoverable U.S. shale gas resources. Despite this, the EIA remains optimistic about increases in production over the next few decades. Read this article for more … Continue reading →