Belmont County clears Carroll County for most Utica drilling permits
Friday, December 8, 2017
Carroll County doesn’t have the most Utica well permits in Ohio for the first time in six years, according to the Canton Repository.
According to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources permit list, released Nov. 21, Belmont County surpassed Caroll by the slim margin of one drilling permit. Belmont recorded 526 permits for the week that ended Nov. 18. Carroll rang in 525 permits.
Although Belmont County has the most drilling permits, Carrol County still leads the state in the number of producing Utica wells with 453, compared to 319 producing wells in Belmont and 309 producing wells in Harrison.
Learn more: Canton Repository > Carroll County slips from top spot for well permits
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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.