Several eastern Ohio counties see more well sites popping up
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
In Belmont, Monroe and Harrison counties, Utica shale well sites are popping up even though rig counts continue to fall.
The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register reports that Consol Energy has been able to reduce drilling costs for dry Utica wells. During the third quarter of 2015, the company lost 28 cents per unit of natural gas, oil, liquids and condensate sold, but during the fourth quarter, Consol earned 33 cents per unit after cutting costs.
In Belmont County, new well sites are being constructed in Glencoe and St. Clairsville. A rig is operating near New Athens in Harrison County. As of Feb. 8, there are 14 rigs operating in Ohio.
Via: The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register > Consol Sets Natural Gas Production Record
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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.