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A Look Ahead - What's Next for 2014

 

With 125 days left in 2014, we find ourselves looking at What's Next for the oil & gas industry in the Marcellus and Utica Shale Plays. It has been an eventful year and with just four months until 2015, we look forward and identify key conferences, symposiums and issues that are top of mind.

 

2014 Events

 

There are a wide range of upcoming events with programs and topics relevant to E&P, midstream, field services and downstream markets. Annual meetings, summits, roundtables and conferences provide valuable opportunities to learn from and connect with industry leaders.


 

Click here to get the complete list events hosted by organizations such as WVONGA, Infocast, PIOGA, IOGA-WV, Polymer Alliance Zone of WV, Marcellus Shale Coalition, Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission, IOGA-NY, IPAA and OOGA.

 

 

2014-2015 Legislative Issues


 

Those with interests in the Marcellus and Utica Shales will be actively monitoring the rulemaking process in the remainder of 2014, while preparing legislative initiatives and agendas for 2015. We take a look at prominent issues in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio that will be at the forefront. 


 

Click here to read updates on issues such as severance taxes, above ground storage tank regulations and shallow-well pooling.

 

 

 
In The News
Pa. Commonwealth Act 13 Ruling 
Pittsburgh

On July 17, 2014, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania ruled on the issues regarding Act 13 that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court had remanded to it in the Supreme Court's December 2013 decision. The Commonwealth Court held constitutional Act 13 provisions providing (1) notice requirements related to spills should be made to public drinking water systems, without the same notice requirement for private drinking water systems [Section 3218.1], (2) physician non-disclosure requirements, prohibiting healthcare professionals from disclosing to others regarding the composition and quantities of hydro fracturing constituents [Section 3222.1], and (3) granting certain natural gas transport, storage, or sale corporations the power of eminent domain [Section 3241(a)]. 

 

However, the Commonwealth Court determined that Section 3305, which provided the Pennsylvania Utility Commission ("PUC") with the ability to review zoning ordinances for compliance with Pennsylvania law and to withhold distribution of impact fee funds to communities with noncompliant ordinances, was unconstitutional. As a result of the Supreme Court decision to strike down portions of Act 13, the Commonwealth Court found that municipal ordinances related to drilling remain under the jurisdiction of the respective county Courts of Common Pleas, and that Section 3305 was not severable from the remainder of Act 13.  
 
The PUC has appealed the ruling on Section 3305 to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Click here to read the Commonwealth Court decision.
Nearly 95 Percent of Pa. Shale Producers Participated in the MSC Annual Workforce Survey
The Marcellus Shale Coalition recently released its annual workforce survey results based on 2013 data. Is the industry growing, stagnant or declining? Read the findings by clicking here.
Utica Shale Starting to Look A Lot Like The Eagle Ford
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the first 20 months of production in the Utica Shale is very close to the highly producing Eagle Ford Shale. How much natural gas is produced per day? Click here to read the entire article.
Featured Shale Team Member
Neva Lusk
Neva G. Lusk (Charleston, W.Va.)
Ms. Lusk's primary area of practice is general litigation with emphasis on toxic torts, class actions and product liability. She has served as trial counsel for corporate clients in mass toxic exposure matters, including class actions and medical monitoring. Ms. Lusk has represented natural gas producers, midstream companies and oilfield service companies in contract disputes, deliberate intent cases and a variety of other matters. She has held leadership roles in several professional organizations for defense litigators, including DRI and the Defense Trial Counsel of West Virginia.
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