Top Shale Gas Stories for the Week of 3/17
Friday, March 22, 2013
Here’s this week’s top shale gas stories:
Drilling Fees Generate $5M, Ease Housing Shortage
According to Triblive.com, Pennsylvania is looking to spend $5 million in fees generated from Marcellus shale drillers to ease housing shortages in areas that are flooded with shale drilling workers. The money is administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
Robbie Matesic, executive director of economic development for Green County, said rents have doubled or tripled for single-family units because of the demand for housing. Rising rents are tougher on the poorest residents in shale country. At least a third of the funds will go to help the poorest residents.
» Via: Triblive.com › Marcellus gas drilling fees generate $5M to ease housing shortages
Show me the Money
Cleveland State University released its study on the economic impact of the shale gas movement in Ohio. The study, by Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs, analyzed local sales receipts and total employment in areas with the greatest amount of shale gas activity.
Though employment growth in shale gas counties is not yet evident, total retail sales in shale gas counties increased 21.1 percent.
» Via: The Akron Beacon Journal› Economic activity climbing in Ohio shale counties, study says
Judge wants Records Unsealed
According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, a Washington County judge ordered unsealed a settlement between Marcellus shale development companies and family that claimed shale development damaged their health.
The family, Stephanie and Chris Hallowich, filed a suit against Range Resources, MarkWest Energy and Williams Gas/Laurel Mountain Midstream in 2010. Before the complaint made it to court, the case was settled.
» Via: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette› Washington County judge orders Marcellus Shale development settlement records unsealed
A $750,000 Settlement
The documents, ordered unsealed by President Judge Debbie O’Dell-Senece, revealed that Range Resources, MarkWest Energy and Williams Gas/Laurel Mountain Midstream, settled the high-profile contamination case in Washington, County for $750,000.
StateImpact Pennsylvania obtained the documents and posted all 971 pages online.
» Via: StateImpact Pennsylvania› Drilling Companies Agree to Settle Fracking Contamination Cast for $750,000
Leave a Comment
Marcellus & Utica Shale Well Map
Additional Shale Maps
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.