Can you believe it’s October already?
The leaves are changing, the mornings have that little chill in the air, and we’re starting to think about all the things that come with fall – football, hunting season, bonfires, jackets and, before too long, turning the heat back on.
But around the Ohio Valley, October also means something else.
We’re heading into the time of year when natural gas becomes even more important.
So, What Happens to Oil & Gas When the Weather Gets Cooler?
You might wonder if those cooler October temperatures change what’s happening in the oil and gas industry.
Well, they can.
As temperatures drop, homes and businesses start using more natural gas for heating. October is really a transition month – we’re moving away from the warmer months and getting closer to the winter heating season.
And we all know how quickly that can happen around here!
One day you’re still wearing short sleeves, and the next you’re digging through the closet looking for that heavy coat.
The colder it gets, the more people turn on their furnaces, which means the demand for natural gas generally increases. Natural gas storage, production, pipelines and the overall energy market all become important pieces of the picture as we head toward winter.
Getting Ready for Winter
October is a little bit like the oil and gas industry’s “get ready” month.
Companies continue maintaining equipment and infrastructure, crews keep working and the industry is preparing for the increased demand that comes with colder weather.
And here in the Ohio Valley, we’re lucky enough to live in an area that plays a BIG role in natural gas production.
The Marcellus and Utica formations beneath parts of Ohio, West Virginia and Pennsylvania have made our region an important part of America’s natural gas supply.
So, while we’re watching the leaves change, there’s a whole lot happening in our area that most of us don’t even see.
There’s More to It Than the Wells
One thing that’s easy to forget is just how many people and businesses are connected to the oil and gas industry. Like us at the Marshall County Co-op.
It’s not just the people working at the well site.
It’s truck drivers, equipment operators, welders, mechanics, electricians, engineers, contractors, suppliers, restaurants, hotels and countless other local businesses that benefit from the activity.
It’s an industry that reaches far beyond the well pad.
And that’s something we’ve seen firsthand here in the Ohio Valley.
October Is a Transition
For most of us, October is simply the month when we start getting ready for winter.
- We put away the patio furniture.
- We clean up the yard.
- We check the furnace.
- We buy a little extra firewood.
- We start thinking about snow and ice.
And the oil and gas industry is doing its own version of getting ready.
Because once those really cold temperatures arrive, people aren’t thinking about where their natural gas comes from.
They’re thinking about one thing:
“I’m cold. Turn up the heat!”
That’s when having the energy supply, storage and infrastructure in place really matters.
So, enjoy October. Take a drive and enjoy the fall colors. Go hunting. Watch some football. Sit around a fire on a cool evening. Stop in at the Marshall County Co-op and browse through our unique inventory…
And the next time you turn on the heat on one of those chilly mornings, remember that right here in the Ohio Valley, there’s an entire industry working behind the scenes to help keep energy moving.
Fall is here. Winter isn’t far behind. And the oil and gas industry is getting ready for it.
The Marshall County Co-op is also ready for it… Contact us at 304-845-2375 to find out more about our Propane and how we will be there for you!