TriCounty Oil & Gas Business to Business Expo in Washington, Pa: A Grassroots perspective on the Marcellus

ShureLine Construction was one of more than 700 that attended Tri-County Oil and Gas Expo. The originally anticipated attendance of only 250 was a severe underestimation with the ever growing fervor surrounding the Marcellus Shale play. The pinnacle moment of the weekend seemed to be the mixer held at the Hilton Gardens in Southpointe where presenters essentially echoed what seems to quickly becoming a battle cry of those currently engaged in unconventional gas industry or striving to break in like many there: Welcome to the gold rush of our lifetime. The scope and scale of what we currently know to be the projected daily production cubic feet of natural gas (NG) available with the Marcellus is approximately 550 MMCF and climbing to 2900 MMCF per day by 2012. However, with innovations in geology and seismology techniques used to determine the virtual topography of the shale and the subsequent available NG and oil, as well as the potentiality for the price per cf of NG to drop to a point of greater economic feasibility and create the possibility of drilling deeper than is currently fiscally solvent to do so, there exists distinct possibility that we’ve only discovered the tip of the iceberg.

While every foreseeable business was in attendance at the Washington County Fairgrounds, with vendors spilling out into the unseasonably cold, blustery day and sandwiched throughout the halls there were three breakout sessions being rotated throughout the day. The sessions addressed questions on every business owner’s mind: how to gain traction with the oil and gas companies (both on the exploration and Procurement (E&P) and midstream sides)and become an approved vendor, business opportunities available and how to leverage numerous local, university, foundation, and governmental resources to obtain financing and an overview of the regulatory framework that governs the oil and gas industry in PA as well as OHSA requirements as they pertain to working within the industry. CNX Gas, EQT Corporation, Admiral Well & Platinum Pressure Services, Washington County Chamber of Commerce, Range Resources, Marathon Oil, and the Southwestern regional office of the PA DEP were among the presenters. I was surprised that the breakout sessions weren’t better attended, however, there seemed to be a lack of clear promotion online and many exhibitors had no idea there were sessions available. Surprisingly, there were many members of the community present who shared their experiences (which were echoed by homemade signs I saw driving around that admonished certain O& G's for their water gluttony) with drilling operations and the DEP, both positive and negative. As an aside, as operations within the Marcellus ramp up, the coal industry must be feeling the heat I noticed the deeper I drove into to former coal country now being threatened by cleaner unconventional NG production, the billboards and commercials proclaiming the need to preserve the industry were inundating me at an alarming rate that reeked of desperation. Interestingly enough, they were followed by NG commercials touting the clean energy benefits beneath our feet that would give the PA job market and economy the shot in the arm that it needs. Despite its momentous efforts, it definitely appears that the coal industry is hanging on by its fingertips. O&G has come in like gang busters, the focus on cleaner emissions and lessening our carbon footprint through retrofitting current coal fired power plants, has signed the walking papers for the coal industry. There is so much more to be said about this weekend’s B to B that I can’t possibly capture here: my own self-guided tour of a drill site (aka, I drove around until I found a rig and a MarkWest processing plant as well as a frac water staging area and where it took water from the local lake...I took pictures as well, will post soon), Frach Tech frac water stating area and processing plant. Although my thoughts may seem mundane or routine for those of you that live within drilling territory, bear in mind that I live and am from an area where this issue is still just contemporary "folklore" and intangible, despite believing its existence of course. I welcome you to contact me to discuss.

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Comment by Matthew Burns on June 9, 2010 at 6:13am
Anyone have anything more from the show?
Comment by Danny R. Watkins on May 16, 2010 at 1:55pm
Here is a link to a few pictures of outside booths set up at the show.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001088066468&v=app_23...!/album.php?aid=2644&id=100001088066468
Comment by Josephine Sabillon on May 13, 2010 at 8:25am
Absolutely! Just flew in late last night and I hit the gorund running but defintely plan to share pics and my observations. This was also another great venue for suppliers/manufacturers to peddle their E&P and midstream wares however, the physical set up wasn't conducive for them. No way to bring equipment or large material in, the university staff wouldn't let them in before a certain time to set up or even go back to their booth. If someone had handicap accessible needs it would be extremely difficult for them to access. When i arrived there was no one there to register me and I didn't want to miss a second of all the info packed sessions so I had to leave my info and comeback later. The distance between the hall where the classes were given and the auditorium was exstensive and the food, while not bad, was cold. Although the booth space and registration fee was very affordable. From listening to vendors I believe they felt that there could've been a better physical venue as well as industry mix as they were largely just trying to sell to one another. What I'm getting at is that based on this and the feedback I got grom exhibitors at the B to B this past weekend, I think there is money to be made from improving the mousetrap for conferences and expos for the industry. If anyone has a background in this I would suggest they run with it!
Comment by Matthew Burns on May 12, 2010 at 12:53pm
Look forward to seeing some of the sights since I too was unable to attend!
Comment by Tom Copley on May 11, 2010 at 11:03am
Hi Josephine-- Interesting report. Any chance we can use some of your photos in the Wiki? --Tom
Comment by Michael Havelka on May 11, 2010 at 8:47am
Josephine
Thanks for the update on this show. I found out about it it too late and we were on-site all weekend. It sounds as if this as a good venue for the local suppliers, who have seen a very nice bump out of the Marcellus shale. We have a local supply shop (pumps, valves and fittings) who in the first three months of this year has already done more business than he did all of last year. Gold rush seems to be the correct phrase. As an aside, there will be an event tomorrow evening in Pittsburgh sponsored by the Enterprise Forum. I will post the info on this site. It looks to be a good networking session for shalers of all types... Thanks

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