Utica Shale Drilling Slows
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Is the Utica-shale drilling boom meeting expectations? Not really, according to a report by The Columbus Dispatch.
State records show that 165 wells have been completed in 2012 with 22 more being drilled. That number is much lower than the estimated 250 wells ODNR officials told state legislators to expect by the end of 2012.
What’s the deal?
Drilling and production has slowed because of low natural gas prices according to Tom Stewart, the vice president of the Ohio Oil and Gas Association.
Read it:
“That all has a throttle effect on development,” he said. Despite the delays, state officials said shale drilling is alive and well in Ohio.“We’re having new companies that continue to come in, and permitting remains steady,” said Heidi Hetzel-Evans, a Natural Resources Department spokeswoman.
Another reason for the slowdown is logistics, in other words, pipelines. A regional pipeline network is in the works to alleviate some of the logistical concerns.
The good news is that wells in Pennsylvania and other states have produced so much natural gas that prices have dropped. If Ohio wells produce at comparable levels, natural gas prices could stay very low for the foreseeable future.
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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.
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