Seven new Utica permits issued in Ohio last week
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
The Business Journal reports that seven new horizontal drilling permits were issued in Ohio’s Utica shale during the week ended July 23. Sixteen rigs were in operation in the Utica last week, up four from the previous week.
The new Utica permits were issued in Carroll County (three), Monroe County (two), Jefferson County (one) and Belmont County (one).
In Pennsylvania, Hilcorp Energy Co. was issued a permit to drill in the Utica shale in Lawrence County, according to the source.
Read more: The Business Journal > Ohio’s Utica Rig Count Rises to 16
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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.