Pa. natural gas drillers continue to produce more, despite new drilling slowing down
Friday, January 6, 2023
Pennsylvania natural gas drillers increased production year-over-year in 2021, despite the pace of new drilling slowing down in recent years, according to the Department of Environmental Protection’s most recent annual report.
Last year, operators drilled 648 new wells, which was an increase from 527 wells drilled in 2020. However, that total was below the number of wells drilled in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Despite the slowdown in new well drilling, drillers reported producing more than 7.6 Tcf in 2021, which was about half a billion cubic feet more than was produced in 2020.
Learn more: State Impact Pennsylvania > Pa. gas industry report shows production, inspections increased in 2021
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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.