Pittsburgh International Airport projected to reap benefits from shale drilling
Tuesday, August 26, 2014
A press conference on August 25 drew people to land near Pittsburgh International Airport, where shale gas drilling has begun, according to The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PowerSource.
Consol Energy’s project near the airport will cost about $1 billion and will consist of six well pads and 45 wells on the 9,000 acre piece of land. It is one of the largest airport drilling sites in the United States. Eventually, the company would like to drill in the Utica and Devonian shale plays.
So far, drilling has helped defray costs at the airport, and the bonuses will increase in the years to come.
From The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PowerSource:
“In early 2013, Consol gave a bonus of more than $46 million to the airport authority. Of that, $4 million was allocated in 2013 to reduce landing, terminal and ramp fees charged to airlines, said authority spokeswoman JoAnn Jenny.”
Related story: Pittsburgh International Airport to explore fracking opportunities
Via: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PowerSource > Consol Energy eyes more from airport drilling
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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.