A year in the Marcellus gas industry saw its highs and lows
Monday, December 28, 2015
This year has had its highs and lows in the Marcellus shale gas industry. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PowerSource reports that companies cut production as prices slid downward.
In March 2015, unconventional gas production hit its peak in Pennsylvania. June saw the lowest production for the year so far. According to Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, production numbers rose each of the three months in the third quarter but fell in October.
The numbers indicate that fewer wells were drilled and completed, and that production for completed wells was cut, according to the newspaper.
Via: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette PowerSource > Shale gas hit a few peaks in 2015, but drillers mostly pulled back
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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.