Pennsylvania’s shale oil and gas industry since its first well
Saturday, March 19, 2016
Pennsylvania’s shale oil and gas industry has come a long way since the first well was drilled in 2004.
Then, the U.S. was importing much of its gas, but the growth in production has made the country a fuel exporter. By 2010, there were more than 3,000 wells in Pennsylvania
The Patriot-News reports that an influx of jobs and residents came along with the increase in drilling. Then, oil and gas prices fell in 2014 and companies struggled to manage debt. Today, some companies have filed for bankruptcy and cut workforce, but keep producing to stay afloat.
According to the source, the shale industry could rebound in two or three years, during which time pipeline projects will be built and will come online to move gas to markets.
Read more: The Patriot-News > The rise and fall — and rise? — of Pa’s oil and gas industry
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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.