Area north of Pittsburgh prime for natural gas production
Friday, July 7, 2017
The core of the Marcellus shale play in southwestern Pennsylvania runs through the counties south of Pittsburgh. However, recent research has found it doesn’t stop there. It actually extends beneath the city and into counties to the north, according to Platts.
Data reported to state agencies by oil and gas producers shows that wells drilled north of Pittsburgh have had results as good as those in Greene and Washington counties, which sit to the south of the city.
“In the area just north of Pittsburgh, back in the rural areas where we’re operating, you can have very solid well results,” PennEnergy Resources chief operating officer Gregory Muse told Platts.
Learn more: Platts > Private Appalachian gas producer sees bright future for basin
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.