Shale drilling remains strong in Ohio, Pa.
Friday, December 7, 2018
In October and November, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection issued 269 permits for unconventional wells, according to Farm and Dairy.
The breakdown in western Pennsylvania includes 58 permits issued in Washington County; 31 permits issued in Greene County; 21 permits in Westmoreland County; 15 permits issued in Allegheny and Butler counties; and two permits issued in Beaver County.
In Ohio, there were 2,081 deep horizontal wells producing in the Utica or Point Pleasant shale plays with another 376 drilled, but are not producing as of Nov. 17, according to Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Learn more: Farm and Dairy > Shale well drilling still strong in Ohio and Pa.
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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.