Pennsylvania natural gas jobs going to out-of-state workers
Sunday, November 1, 2015
WTAE reports that ever since MarkWest, which operates a gas processing plant near Evans City, Pennsylvania, brought in a non-union contractor from North Dakota, many natural gas jobs in western Pennsylvania are going to out-of-state workers.
Previously, MarkWest had used a union contractor from Washington, Pennsylvania. That contractor employed local workers.
This workforce shift is hurting Pennsylvania residents, who are losing their jobs and being forced to find employment on the road.
Via: WTAE > More local gas industry jobs going to out-of-state workers
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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.