Pa. shale gas permitting activity drops 28% from August to September
Thursday, October 14, 2021
Shale gas permitting activity dropped 28% from August to September in Pennsylvania, driven by the subdued activity of the state’s top five producers, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence.
EQT Corp., Chesapeake Energy Corp., Range Resources Corp. and Southwestern Energy Co. accounted for only 51% of the permits pulled in September, down from 53% in August. Those producers normally account for roughly two-thirds of new drilling permits each month.
Although September permitting decreased from August, it saw a 7% uptick from September 2020.
Learn more: S&P Global Market Intelligence > Pa. shale gas permits drop 28% month over month despite spiking prices
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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.