Seneca Resources Company LLC and Highland Field Services had a productive year, despite the global pandemic.
Seneca Resources reported the addition of nearly 40 new employees in 2020, job growth that was due in part to the acquisition of Shell’s integrated upstream and midstream assets in Pennsylvania in July.
National Fuel Gas Company, the parent company of Seneca Resources, acquired Shell’s Pa. assets, which provided the opportunity to expand National Fuel’s development areas in Tioga County.
“While the assessment is an ongoing process, Seneca will add a second drilling rig in January to focus on Tioga County. And the county should expect increased permitting and leasing activity over the next few months,” said Rob Boulware, director of stakeholder relations for Seneca Resources Corp. “We anticipate a smooth transition from Shell to Seneca systems.”
According to fourth quarter and full year results, reported by National Fuel Gas Company in November, Seneca had a strong fourth quarter. The company produced 67.3 Bcfe, an increase of around 14% compared to last year’s fourth quarter. Despite low in-basin natural gas prices, which led company officials to opt to curtail about 6 Bcf, Seneca Resources recorded its largest quarterly production ever. For the year, the company reported that annual net production came in just over 241 Bcfe.
“This new fiscal year high for Seneca was supported by our development program and the impact of the recent Shell acquisition,” Boulware reported.
Seneca Resources has plans for development to shift toward an area in northeast Elk County / west-northwest Cameron County, in an area identified as Rich Valley-Beechwood. Locations east of Mansfield in Tioga County are also a focus for future drilling.
Seneca Resources also sold 92,000 acres of timberland in the region, which was purchased by Lyme Timber Co. The sale will help with the finances related to a purchase of assets from Shell that totaled $504 million.
Seneca’s water management subsidiary Highland Field Services continues to expand operations at the Mount Jewett / Kane facility. All construction work to this point has been performed by local contractors, with a list that includes businesses from Bradford, St. Marys and even Washington, Pa.
Meanwhile, community outreach remains an important effort to Seneca Resources, with special attention to those in need due to this year’s financial struggles because of COVID-19. Some examples of outreach completed this year include: a $10,000 donation to Children’s Hospital Free Care fund; a $4,000 donation to the Marsh Creek Greenway Trail Project in Wellsboro; a $3,000 annual commitment to Hunters Sharing the Harvest which provides venison to families across the Commonwealth who are food insecure; a $2,500 donation to the Kane Area United Fund in Kane (This fund sets a goal each year to raise $40,000 which is then distributed to more than 15 different organizations in the area.); and a $1,000 donation to Christian Food Bank in St. Marys that allowed for purchase of disinfectant, masks and bars of soap that were given out during their food distributions.
Finally, the corporate website has been updated. The website can be reached at the same address, https://www.nationalfuel.com/ but provides a new look for visitors to experience. There are also two new sections, one for leaseholder information and the other for vendor/supplier information.
