Pennsylvania drops conventional wells from new rule to limit methane emissions
Thursday, June 16, 2022
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection is moving forward with a new version of its rule to curb methane emissions from oil and gas well sites that doesn’t include conventional wells, according to State Impact Pennsylvania.
Facing a federal deadline, the DEP originally drafted the rule to limit emissions of volatile organic compounds and methane from both types of wells, but dropped conventional wells before presenting the final rule to the Environmental Quality Board Tuesday.
The DEP hopes to have a rule that addresses emissions from conventional wells for the EQB to consider before the end of the year.
Learn More: State Impact Pennsylvania > Pennsylvania drops a major source of methane from new rule to limit emissions
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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.