Marcellus shale becomes top gas-producing field in country
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
In its 2010 report from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the Marcellus Shale didn’t even make the list of the top 100 natural gas fields in the U.S., according to Casper Star-Tribune. Now, it’s the top gas-producing field in the country.
Production has greatly increased in the Marcellus Shale, causing prices to tumble. There is also an abundance of natural gas in storage.
Marcellus Shale production and growth has contributed to the state of Wyoming’s coal-bed methane in the Powder River Basin. CBM production has fallen since operation costs have risen and as other shale plays have increased production.
Via: Casper Star-Tribune > >Natural gas 101: Rise of the Marcellus
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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.