Midwest consumers will see lower heating costs this winter
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
U.S. shale gas production has created some benefits for consumers.
According to Bloomberg, consumers in the Midwest won’t be affected by increased natural gas costs this winter when the weather turns cold. Information from the U.S. Energy Information Administration says that heating costs this winter will be down 14 percent in the heartland, compared to last year.
The addition of more pipelines has contributed to the price break, as well as the boom in production.
Via: Bloomberg > Midwest Gas Burners Are Shale’s Biggest Beneficiaries This Year
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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.