21 shale drilling permits issued in Ohio, Pa., W. Va. for week ended April 2
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Twenty-one new permits were issued to drill shale wells in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia from March 27 to April 2, according to Marcellus Drilling News.
Pennsylvania issued 15 new drilling permits during the time period. Chesapeake Energy received five of those permits to drill in Bradford County.
Ohio issued six new permits last week. Ascent Resources received six in Jefferson County and one in Harrison County.
West Virginia didn’t issue any new permits from March 27 to April 2.
A week prior, from March 20 to March 26, 32 new permits were issued to drill shale wells in Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Learn more: Marcellus Drilling News > 21 New Shale Well Permits Issued for PA-OH-WV Mar 27-Apr 2
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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.