US oil, gas rig count rises by 10 during week ended Dec. 16
Thursday, December 24, 2020
The U.S. oil and gas rig count rose 10 rigs to 414 during the week ended Dec. 16, according to Enverus.
The week’s gains were split between oil and natural gas at five new rigs apiece. The number of oil rigs reached 300 and natural gas increased to 114.
The additions and subtractions were pretty evenly distributed among basins across the U.S.
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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.