Pennsylvania PUC approves restart of Mariner East 1 pipeline
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission recently voted to approve the restart of the Mariner East 1 pipeline that had been shut down for nearly two months after sinkholes appeared near it, according to the Pittsburgh Business Times.
The corrective actions were completed to PUC’s satisfaction last week. The Mariner East 1 pipeline will begin its restart service immediately.
The PUC’s Bureau of Investigations and Enforcement issued an emergency order on March 7 to stop service on the Mariner East 1, while its owners, Sunoco Pipeline, took corrective action to address PUC concerns in Chester County.
Learn more: Pittsburgh Business Times > PUC votes to approve restart of Mariner East 1 pipeline
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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.