CNX pinpoints cause of pressure spikes caused by Shaw 1G well in January
Monday, May 6, 2019
In January, CNX was fracking the Shaw 1G well when it lost pressure in the hole and subsequently discovered pressure spikes in nine conventional wells in Westmoreland County, Pa., according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The affected wells had to be flared for days, while CNX brought the Shaw 1G well under control.
After months of analysis, CNX has been able to pinpoint the cause of the Shaw 1G’s failure in January. The company discovered production pipe had cracked under the heat and pressure of the well, which pushed gas into the nearby shallow wells.
CNX has resolved to stop using the kind of pipe that failed where conditions mirror what was happening a mile under ground inside the Shaw 1G well. Instead, it will use pipe that’s more flexible under such conditions. Additionally, the company is in the process of permanently plugging its Shaw 1G well.
Learn more: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette > CNX reveals cause of well failure near Beaver Run Reservoir
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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.