Oil prices force gas division worker layoffs at Consol
Consol Energy Inc. apparently is laying off some of its employees in its CNX Gas division as a result of low oil prices.
The Southpointe-based company issued a statement Friday referring to a “workforce realignment” but provided no information on numbers of reductions or locations.
However, the online oil and gas industry website Marcellus Drilling News cited “a highly placed source” that said the number of total layoffs in the gas division was 170, with many of the notifications being given Friday.
Consol spokeswoman Kate O’Donovan issued a statement, adding the number of people affected was less than 5 percent of the division’s workforce.
“Like many of our peers operating in the Marcellus play, we are evaluating our workforce and taking steps to streamline our organization as the industry is confronted by a potentially sustained period of low commodity prices,” the statement said. “This workforce realignment is intended to ensure that the company remains strong through this challenging environment and is best positioned to emerge even stronger when the market turns.”
According to MDN, cuts were being made at some of the company’s West Virginia and Pennsylvania operations.
Consol is fracking the first of its Marcellus Shale wells at Pittsburgh International Airport, under lease from the Allegheny County Airport Authority.