Drilling Down
ODNR Lifts Ban on Weathersfield Well No. 1
Friday, September 19, 2014
NILES, Ohio -- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has lifted its suspension on one of the two American Water Management Services injection wells in Weathersfield Township, the agency announced Thursday.
In a prepared statement, ODNR spokeswoman Bethany McCorkle said that after analyzing data in the wake of a 2.1 magnitude earthquake that occurred in late August, the agency determined that the shallower well – AWMS #1 -- was not related to any seismic activity.
Pa. Fines Range Resources $4.5M for Impoundments
Thursday, September 18, 2014
HARRISBURG, Pa. -- The Department of Environmental Protection today announced it has signed a wide-ranging consent order and agreement with Range Resources Corp. for violations at six of its Washington County impoundments.
The consent order requires the company to pay a $4.15 million fine, the largest against an oil and gas operator in the state's shale drilling era, close five impoundments and upgrade two other impoundments to meet heightened "next generation" standards under development at DEP.
Ohio's Chief Geologist Discusses Drilling Prospects
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The state's chief geologist says that the future of oil and gas exploration across Ohio might rest with improved technology and other shale plays that appear to have the same sort of rich organic content as the Utica/Point Pleasant shale, today a focal point of the industry.
"We're investigating the Rhinestreet shale and the Huron shale," said Tom Serenko, Ohio state geologist, Tuesday. "If you look at the cores, you see the similarities to the Point Pleasant. We're dealing with very dark, organic-rich shale."
Esmark to Convert Mill to Tri-Modal Terminal
Friday, September 12, 2014
PITTSBURGH -- Esmark Inc. says it is converting the former Ohio Cold Rolling Co. steel finishing mill in Yorkville, Ohio, into a tri-modal industrial services terminal to support companies engaged in oil and gas exploration and production in the Marcellus and Utica shale plays.
Esmark, which two years ago acquired the Yorkville steel finishing mill from bankrupt RG Steel and recently announced its closing, will repurpose the one million-square-foot facility into the newly named Yorkville Energy Services Terminal.