Marcellus production can be hard for forecasters to predict
Thursday, March 10, 2016
The U.S. Energy Information Administration predicted that the Marcellus shale would produce 17.4 billion cubic feet of gas a day throughout the month of March. A month ago, the agency predicted it would produce almost 2 billion cubic feet a day less.
Bloomberg reports that it’s unusual for the EIA to amend gas production forecast, but shows that determining production is more difficult as producers are able to “choke” the flow of gas from wells, depending on the markets, and as production increases once pipeline infrastructure is online.
Read more: Bloomberg > Shale Gas Proves More Resilient Than U.S. Government Expected
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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.