Rice Energy begins drilling in Pennsylvania’s Utica Shale
Monday, March 16, 2015
Rice Energy has begun drilling a Utica well in western Greene County, Pennsylvania, according to Pittsburgh Business Times.
In Ohio, Rice has explored the Utica Shale in Belmont County. The wells there average 15.5 million to 16 million cubic feet of natural gas per day. Rice believes that the Utica Shale in Greene County is similar to that of Belmont County.
Rice expects production at the Greene County well by the fourth quarter of this year.
Via: Pittsburgh Business Times > Encouraged by Ohio results, Rice Energy now exploring Pennsylvania Utica
Related:
- Rice Energy’s ‘Bigfoot’ records high production numbers Nov. 20, 2014
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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.