Pennsylvania Gov. rejects conventional regulations
Monday, June 27, 2016
Pennsylvania Gov. Wolf signed a bill this week that would move unconventional Marcellus shale drilling rules forward but would take conventional oil and gas regulations off the table, StateImpact Pennsylvania reports.
Wolf and his administration plan to redraft regulations for conventional wells soon.
According to the source, the state’s new Marcellus drilling regulations would not allow drillers to store waste in pits, and they would require drillers to identify public resources and old or abandoned wells near new well sites, as well as restore tainted water.
Read more: StateImpact Pennsylvania > Gov. Wolf signs bill that rejects conventional drilling regulations
Related:
- New shale drilling rules might be coming in Pennsylvania – June 13, 2016
- Pennsylvania oil and gas regulations approved by independent council – April 25, 2016
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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.