Survey results show mixed reviews from eastern Ohioans in Utica shale
Friday, April 8, 2016
When shale gas drilling began to increase in eastern Ohio, residents were both skeptical and optimistic about what it would do for themselves and their communities. In 2014, the Ohio Shale Country Listening Project anonymously surveyed 773 people in the region to find out if perceptions changed about the long-term impact of natural gas drilling, according to Midwest Energy News.
A majority of survey respondents were from Carroll, Columbiana, Jefferson, Harrison and Belmont counties, but there were participants from as far north as Portage County and as far south as Monroe County, as well as respondents from West Virginia and Pennsylvania.
The survey found that 43 percent of respondents had a negative view of shale development, 28 percent had a positive view of shale development, 19 percent had a mixed view and 10 percent had a neutral stance or no opinion, the source reports.
Read more: Midwest Energy News > Groups call for more transparency in sharing Utica shale benefits and risks
Related: Residents voice concerns over fracking Sept. 30, 2014
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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.