Business related to natural gas industry deemed essential in Pa.
Monday, March 23, 2020
Although Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf ordered all ‘non-life-sustaining’ businesses in the state to close last week, businesses related to oil and natural gas extraction and primary steel and metal production have been allowed to remain open, according to S&P Global Platts.
Among the business forced to halt under the governor’s decry were coal mining, metal ore mining and nonmetallic mineral mining and quarrying. Major companies operating coal mines include Consol Energy, Rosebud Mining and Corsa Coal.
Meanwhile, Chevron, Rice Energy, CNX Resources and others operate are still operating gas wells in the Marcellus Shale across the state.
Learn more: S&P Global Platts > Pennsylvania coal mines forced to shut due to COVID-19 risk, natural gas unaffected
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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.