Belmont County is the one to watch in Ohio’s Utica shale next year
Saturday, December 26, 2015
According to Energy In-Depth Ohio, Belmont County is the one to watch next year in the state’s Utica shale region.
Belmont County is considered to be the most diversified due to production results, new drilling permits, the possibility of an ethane cracker and the availability of roads, railways and barges to drilling sites. PTT Global is considering Belmont County as the home of its ethane cracker plant, but the decision is not final yet.
A year ago, EID said that Monroe, Belmont and Noble counties were going to be where the bulk of Utica activity would take place, and that prediction became true. The development in Belmont County — including new restaurants and businesses — has helped the economy in the region.
Via: Energy In-Depth Ohio > Ohio Utica Shale County to Watch in 2016: Belmont County
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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.