Documenting Landscape Disturbances from Pennsylvania’s Natural Gas Industry
Friday, September 20, 2013
The United State Geological Survey published two reports on Wednesday that aim to quantify Pennsylvania’s landscape disturbances from the state’s natural gas production, according to State Impact Pennsylvania.
The project has documented a reduction in Pennsylvania’s interior forests, a habitat for some sensitive plant and animal species.
The USGS-funded research project has examined 14 Pennsylvania counties where drilling occurs.
To read more about the study, read Shale Gas Reporter’s first mention of the project.
» Via: State Impact Pennsylvania › U.S. Geological Survey Documenting Land Distrubance From Natural Gas Drilling
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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.