Pa., W. Va. see strong permitting activity for second consecutive week
Friday, August 27, 2021
Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio had another strong week for oil and gas shale permitting, issuing a combined 29 new permits during the week ended Aug. 22, according to Marcellus Drilling News.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental protection issued 18 new drilling permits, mostly in the western part of the state. West Virginia issued seven new permits for an EQT well pad in Wetzel County.
Ohio issued four new drilling permits.
Learn more: Marcellus Drilling News > Weekly Shale Drilling Permits for PA, OH, WV: Aug. 16-22
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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.