New Pa. methane emission rules to take effect in August
Wednesday, June 13, 2018
Two general permits regulating methane emissions at natural gas wells will take effect in Pennsylvania in August, according to the Pittsburgh Business Times.
The Department of Environmental Protection permits will go into effect on Aug. 8, 2018, applying to both Marcellus and Utica shale wells. They will require quarterly leak detection and repair surveys at new well sites before less frequent ones. They are also intended to reduce venting during cleaning and pigging during maintenance procedures for removing accumulated liquids from wells.
Exemptions will be considered for temporary operations.
Learn more: Pittsburgh Business Times > Pennsylvania debuts permits to control methane at well sites
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.