The search for Pennsylvania’s abandoned oil wells
Thursday, June 23, 2016
Pennsylvania’s landscape is littered with old, abandoned oil wells. Some of these old wells are close to newly fracked Marcellus shale wells.
Bloomberg reports that Pennsylvania’s attorney general is reviewing rules regarding these old wells, requiring shale drillers to document old wells near new drilling sites. It’s possible that new, fracked wells could interact with the old oil wells, which could cause methane to leak into homes, the air or water supplies.
Nationwide, 2.6 million of the 3.5 million total wells are no longer in use, but not all of those well locations are documented. Regulators are working to locate Pennsylvania’s lost wells.
Read more: Bloomberg > In the Birthplace of U.S. Oil, Methane Gas is Leaking Everywhere
Related: Ohio’s abandoned wells: 16 wells set to be plugged this year – July 15, 2015
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Shale FAQ
What are mineral rights?
Mineral rights are the rights of the owner of the property to mine or produce any resources below the surface of the property. Mineral rights are different from surface rights.
Will I get free natural gas if I allow fracking on my property?
Maybe. It depends on your particular lease agreement. Some companies allow property owners a yearly free gas allowance. But, the process of connecting your property to the gas source may be more complicated. Some companies will provide a hookup, others require the landowner to provide one.