Hearing dates announced for Hilcorp application
Monday, March 31, 2014
HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Department of Environmental Protection announced that the hearing sessions on an application for gas well spacing units, or spacing order, received from Hilcorp Energy Co., have been scheduled for May 7 and May 8.
“We successfully secured a delay in order to ensure the public was properly informed on this important matter,” DEP Deputy Secretary Scott Perry said. “The postponed hearing sessions will give the department time to personally notify all potentially impacted royalty owners and operators well in advance of the hearing proceedings.”
Application
Hilcorp Energy Co. is applying for a well spacing order that establishes four gas well drilling units on 3,267 acres to drill into the Utica Shale Formation in Pulaski Township, Lawrence County and Shenango Township, Mercer County. Under the Oil and Gas Conservation Law of 1961, when a spacing order application is submitted, an administrative hearing must be held prior to entering an order establishing well spacing and drilling units.
Dates set
The first hearing session, originally scheduled to occur in March, has been rescheduled for May 7 and May 8. The hearing session will begin at 10 a.m. and 9 a.m. respectively and be held at the Albert P. Gettings Government Center Annex of the Lawrence County Government Center, Assembly Room, 349 Countyline St., New Castle.
The first, two-day hearing session will accept testimony, much like a trial, on the spacing order application from DEP, Hilcorp and all property owners and operators in the area subject to the order.
The first session will be open for the general public to attend and observe. The second hearing session will begin at 6 p.m. on May 8, at the same location. As requested previously by DEP, anyone from the general public will have the opportunity to provide input about the application at the second session.
Although it isn’t required by law, DEP also will directly notify all royalty owners and operators within the area subject to the requested order.
Delay requested
On March 21, DEP, along with Hilcorp, requested a delay in the hearing process in order to provide more complete notice to potentially affected people. The assigned hearing officer accepted this joint request, delaying the hearing process.
More Information
For more information about Hilcorp’s application, visit http://www.depweb.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/conservation_law/21703.
Pennsylvanians looking for more information should call 717-772-2199.
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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.