FracTracker lists 1.7 million U.S. wells
Friday, August 7, 2015
In 2014, there were 1.1 million oil and gas wells in the United States. So far this year, data shows that there are nearly 1.7 million recorded wells, but FracTracker Alliance explains that counting strategies contributed to that large difference in numbers.
FracTracker’s website includes a map of wells by state and a chart of wells by state. The map can be zoomed in to see how many wells are located in each county, according to the legend provided.
The nonprofit lists 1,916 wells in Ohio, 136,036 wells in Pennsylvania and 109,747 wells in West Virginia as of Aug. 4.
Via: FracTracker Alliance > 1.7 Million Wells in the U.S. — A 2015 Update
Related:
- Watchdog Group to Expand into Ohio Aug. 21, 2012
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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.