Item 3. Legal Proceedings
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
In the ordinary course of business, various legal and regulatory claims and proceedings are pending or threatened against us. While the amounts claimed may be substantial, we are unable to predict with certainty the ultimate outcome of such claims and proceedings. We accrue legal and other direct costs related to loss contingencies when actually incurred. We have established reserves in amounts that we believe to be appropriate for pending matters and, after consultation with counsel and giving appropriate consideration to available insurance, we believe that the ultimate outcome of any pending matter involving us will not materially affect our financial position, results of operations or liquidity.
Environmental Proceedings
Pratt Storage Field Matter, Morgan Township, Pennsylvania . On October 31, 2018, a gas explosion occurred in Morgan Township, Greene County, Pennsylvania (the Pratt Incident), close in proximity to Equitrans, L.P.'s (one of our subsidiaries) Pratt Storage Field assets. Following the explosion, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP), the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission and the PHMSA began investigating the Pratt Incident. The PADEP issued a final report and closed its investigation in August 2022, and we do not expect further inquiry from the PADEP on this matter; however, the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission and PHMSA investigations are still pending.
On October 23, 2023, Equitrans, L.P. received permission from the FERC to plug and abandon the AH Hupp 3660 storage well (Hupp Well) in the Pratt Storage Field that was the subject of the PADEP's investigation of the Pratt Incident. On October 22, 2024, Equitrans, L.P. received from the FERC an extension until January 31, 2025 to complete plugging and abandonment of the Hupp Well. On January 24, 2025, Equitrans, L.P. requested an additional extension of time, until July 31, 2025, to complete the plugging and abandonment of the Hupp Well.
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On October 30, 2023, Equitrans, L.P. received a criminal complaint from the State Attorney General's Office charging Equitrans, L.P. with violations of Pennsylvania's Clean Streams Law (the Pratt Complaint), and generally alleging that: (i) natural gas leaked from the Hupp Well and into a water well and (ii) Equitrans, L.P. failed to conduct a stray gas investigation of the Pratt Incident. The Pratt Complaint carries the possibility of a monetary sanction, that if imposed could result in a fine in excess of $300,000; however, we expect that the resolution of this matter will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Rager Mountain Storage Field Venting, Jackson Township, Pennsylvania. On November 6, 2022, Equitrans Midstream became aware of natural gas venting from one of the storage wells, well 2244, at Equitrans, L.P.'s Rager Mountain natural gas storage facility (the Rager Mountain Facility), located in Jackson Township, a remote section of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Venting at the Rager Mountain Facility was halted on November 19, 2022. Since the time of the incident, the PADEP has concluded its investigation and the PHMSA and other investigators are continuing to conduct civil and criminal investigations of the incident, and we are cooperating in such investigations.
On December 29, 2022, the PHMSA issued Equitrans Midstream a Notice of Proposed Safety Order that included proposed remedial requirements related to the Rager Mountain Facility incident, including, but not limited to, completing a root cause analysis, and subsequently, on May 26, 2023, the PHMSA issued a consent order to Equitrans Midstream requiring the completion of a root cause analysis and a remedial work plan and providing that Equitrans Midstream may not resume injection operations at the Rager Mountain Facility until authorized by the PHMSA. In August 2023, Equitrans Midstream submitted a root cause analysis to the PHMSA and later submitted a remedial work plan and injection plan seeking authority to resume injections at the Rager Mountain Facility using all wells in the facility except three, which remained disconnected from the storage field. On October 2, 2023, the PHMSA approved Equitrans Midstream's injection plan and Equitrans Midstream restarted injections at the Rager Mountain Facility on October 5, 2023, subject to certain pressure restrictions and other requirements in the PHMSA consent agreement. On November 16, 2023, the PHMSA issued a letter to Equitrans Midstream approving Equitrans Midstream's request to remove all pressure restrictions at the Rager Mountain Facility. On May 30, 2024, the PHMSA approved resuming operations for one of the three remaining wells excluded from the injection plan.
We plan to continue working with the PHMSA, pursuant to the consent order between PHSMA and Equitrans Midstream, regarding the remaining two disconnected wells at the Rager Mountain Facility. If additional penalties are pursued and ultimately imposed related to the Rager Mountain Facility incident, the penalties, individually and/or in the aggregate, may exceed $300,000; however, we expect that the resolution of this matter will not have a material adverse impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Plugging and Abandoning of Wells at the Holbrook Storage Reservoir, Center Township, Pennsylvania. One of our wholly owned subsidiaries, EQT Gathering, LLC, is the owner of fifteen inactive storage wells within the Holbrook storage reservoir located in Center Township, Pennsylvania. The wells have been inactive since 2021. On June 10, 2024, we were notified by the PADEP of alleged violations of the 2012 Oil and Gas Act, which requires wells located in Pennsylvania which are inactive for a period of twelve months to be reported to the PADEP as "inactive" and plugged. We are actively working with the PADEP to plug the inactive wells in accordance with the 2012 Oil and Gas Act and resolve this matter, and in connection therewith, we may be assessed a monetary penalty in excess of $300,000. W e expect that the resolution of this matter will not have a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not Applicable.
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Information about our Executive Officers (as of February 19, 2025)
Name and Age Current Title (Year Initially Elected an Executive Officer) Business Experience
J.E.B. Bolen (46) Executive Vice President Operations (2024) Mr. Bolen was appointed as Executive Vice President Operations of EQT Corporation in October 2024. Before moving to that role, he served as EQT’s Senior Vice President Operations Planning from February 2023 to October 2024, and Vice President Operations Planning from July 2019 to February 2023. Prior to joining EQT, Mr. Bolen was Director, Upstream Development for the Shalennial Group LLC (digital oilfield solutions company), from March 2018 to July 2019.
Tony Duran (46) Chief Information Officer (2019) Mr. Duran was appointed as Chief Information Officer of EQT Corporation in July 2019. Prior to joining EQT, Mr. Duran ran PH6 Labs, a technology incubator he founded, from December 2017 to July 2019. Prior to that, he served as Chief Information Officer of Rice Energy Inc. (independent natural gas and oil company acquired by EQT in November 2017) from January 2016 to November 2017; and as Interim Chief Information Officer of Express Energy Services (oilfield services company for well construction and well testing services) from September 2015 to December 2015.
Lesley Evancho (47) Chief Human Resources Officer (2019) Ms. Evancho was appointed as Chief Human Resources Officer of EQT Corporation in July 2019. Prior to joining EQT, Ms. Evancho served as Vice President, Global Talent Management at Westinghouse Electric Company, LLC (nuclear power, fuel and services company) from April 2019 to July 2019; Senior Director, Human Resources at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (biotechnology product development company) from August 2018 to March 2019; Vice President, Human Resources at Edward Marc Brands (food services company) from March 2018 to August 2018; and Vice President, Human Resources at Rice Energy Inc. from April 2017 to November 2017.
Sarah Fenton (46) Executive Vice President Upstream (2024) Ms. Fenton was appointed as Executive Vice President Upstream of EQT Corporation in October 2024. Previously, Ms. Fenton served as EQT’s Senior Vice President Asset Performance from February 2023 to October 2024, and Vice President Asset Performance from July 2019 to February 2023.
Todd M. James (42) Chief Accounting Officer (2019) Mr. James was appointed as Chief Accounting Officer of EQT Corporation in November 2019. Prior to joining EQT, Mr. James served as Corporate Controller and Chief Accounting Officer of L.B. Foster Company (manufacturer and distributor of products and services for transportation and energy infrastructure) from April 2018 to October 2019. Prior to that he served as Senior Director, Technical Accounting and Financial Reporting at Rice Energy Inc. from December 2014 through its acquisition by EQT in November 2017 and until February 2018. Prior to joining Rice Energy, Mr. James was a Senior Manager, Assurance at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (public accounting firm), where he worked from August 2005 to November 2014.
William E. Jordan (44) Chief Legal and Policy Officer and Corporate Secretary (2019) Mr. Jordan was appointed as Chief Legal and Policy Officer of EQT Corporation in October 2024 and assumed the role of Corporate Secretary in November 2020. Prior to his current role, Mr. Jordan served as EQT’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel from July 2019 through September 2024. Mr. Jordan served as an advisor to the Rice Investment Group (multi-strategy investment fund investing in all verticals of the oil and gas sector) from May 2018 to July 2019. Prior to that, he served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Rice Energy Inc. and Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Rice Midstream Partners LP (former midstream services affiliate of Rice Energy Inc.), in each case from January 2014 until their acquisition by EQT in November 2017. From September 2005 to December 2013, Mr. Jordan was an Associate at Vinson & Elkins LLP (international law firm) representing public and private companies in capital markets offerings and mergers and acquisitions, primarily in the oil and natural gas industry.
Jeremy T. Knop (36) Chief Financial Officer (2023) Mr. Knop was appointed as Chief Financial Officer of EQT Corporation in July 2023. Prior to becoming Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Knop was responsible for the development and execution of EQT’s mergers and acquisitions strategy, serving as Executive Vice President of Corporate Development beginning in March 2022 and as Senior Vice President of Corporate Development from January 2021 to March 2022. Prior to joining EQT, from August 2012 to January 2021, Mr. Knop was employed by The Blackstone Group (a global investment firm whose asset management business includes investment vehicles focused on real estate, private equity, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, credit, real assets and secondary funds), where he served in several capacities on the energy credit team, including as Principal from January 2019 to January 2021, Vice President from January 2017 to December 2018, Associate from January 2014 to December 2016, and Analyst from August 2012 to December 2013. Earlier in his career, Mr. Knop served as an Analyst in Global Natural Resources Investment Banking at Barclays Capital (a multinational investment bank) from June 2010 to August 2012.
Toby Z. Rice (43) President and Chief Executive Officer (2019) Mr. Rice was appointed as President and Chief Executive Officer of EQT Corporation in July 2019, when he also was elected to EQT's Board of Directors. Mr. Rice has served as a Partner at the Rice Investment Group, a multi-strategy fund investing in all verticals of the oil and gas sector, since May 2018. From October 2014 until its acquisition by EQT in November 2017, Mr. Rice was President and Chief Operating Officer of Rice Energy Inc. and served on the Board of Directors of Rice Energy from October 2013 to November 2017. Prior to that, he served in a number of positions with Rice Energy, its affiliates and predecessor entities beginning in February 2007, including as President and Chief Executive Officer of a predecessor entity from February 2008 through September 2013. Mr. Rice is the brother of Daniel J. Rice IV, a member of EQT's Board of Directors since November 2017.
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Name and Age Current Title (Year Initially Elected an Executive Officer) Business Experience
Robert R. Wingo (46) Executive Vice President Corporate Ventures & Midstream (2024) Mr. Wingo was appointed as Executive Vice President Corporate Ventures & Midstream of EQT Corporation in October 2024. Prior to his current role, Mr. Wingo was EQT’s Executive Vice President Corporate Ventures from September 2021 to October 2024. Prior to joining EQT, Mr. Wingo served as Managing Director at Encap Flatrock Midstream (venture capital and private equity investment fund) from March 2018 through August 2021. Prior to that he was Senior Vice President of Midstream and Marketing at Rice Energy Inc., as well as Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of Directors for Rice Midstream Partners LP, from June 2013 and December 2014, respectively, until their acquisition by EQT in November 2017.
All executive officers have either elected to participate in the EQT Corporation Executive Severance Plan, which includes confidentiality and non-compete provisions, or executed non-compete agreements with EQT Corporation, and each of the executive officers serve at the pleasure of our Board of Directors. Officers are appointed annually to serve during the ensuing year or until their successors are elected and qualified, or until death, resignation or removal.
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PART II