Westmoreland County pipeline explosion and fire injures one, evacuates area
Friday, April 29, 2016
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that a natural gas line explosion and fire in Salem Township in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, sent one man to the hospital with burns and prompted the evacuation of homes and businesses in the area Friday morning.
According to the source, the explosion and fire occurred near the intersection of routes 22 and 819.
Gas was shut off to the pipeline. The pipeline is operated by Texas Eastern Transmission.
Read more: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review > Man burned in Salem Twp. gas line explosion; homes, businesses evacuated
Related: Corrosion found on exploded Westmoreland County gas pipeline – May 5, 2016
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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.