15 drilling permits issued in Utica/Point Pleasant shale
Friday, September 6, 2019
Last week the Ohio Department of Natural Resources issued 15 permits for horizontal well drilling in the Utica-Point Pleasant shale, according to The Youngstown Business Journal.
Ascent Resources Utica LLC received nine of the 15 permits — four in Belmont County, two in Harrison County and three in Jefferson County. EAP Ohio LLC received five permits — two in Carroll County and three in Harrison County. The final permit was awarded to Triad Hunter LLC for activity in Monroe County.
The ODNR also reported 12 active rigs in the state. As of Aug. 31, the agency reported 2,684 wells had been drilled in the state, with 2,266 active.
Learn more: The Youngstown Business Journal > ODNR issues 15 permits in Utica-Point Pleasant Shale
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.