20 shale drilling permits issued in Ohio, Pa., W. Va. for week ended May 7
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Twenty new permits were issued to drill shale wells in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia from May 1 to 7, according to Marcellus Drilling News.
Pennsylvania issued 15 new drilling permits during the time period. PennEnergy Resources received five of those permits to drill in Armstrong County. Chesapeake Energy received four permits to drill in Bradford County.
Ohio issued five new permits from May 1 to 7. West Virginia didn’t issue any new permits during the same time period.
A week prior, from April 24 to 30, 18 new permits were issued to drill shale wells in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Learn more: Marcellus Drilling News > 20 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV May 1-7
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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.