This formation contains a large amount of natural gas distributed throughout the shale in cracks and pores. Low-yield natural gas wells have been drilled in the Marcellus Shale for more than 50 years, but recent technological advancements in deep horizontal drilling combined with hydraulic fracturing techniques have exposed the possibility of more profitably tapping the shale for gas.
The lure of profits has drawn numerous large drilling firms to the Marcellus region and spurred the leasing of thousands of acres of mineral rights from private citizens. We develop and create public service media projects on a wide range of topics that stimulate dialogue around important social issues that impact people at both the local and national levels.
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. Each drill site requires between 3 and 5 million gallons of water per frack. It is mostly absorbed by the shale formation, which is isolated from the water table. A public service media project from Penn State Public Broadcasting, which is solely responsible for its content. Privacy and Legal Statements. Learn More about this Project. Stage 1 - Perforation An electric current is sent by wire to a perferating perf gun.
The direction of horizontal drilling follows the natural fractures of shale rock. Flowback may be treated through a variety of methods. Diluted with fresh water on site and used for another well. Treated on site and used for another well.
There are three ways water can become contaminated by Marcellus Shale drilling. Project Organizations Exploreshale. Laura Miller Marketing Communications. Expert Sources Margaret Brittingham, Ph. Tim Kelsey, Ph. Carl Kirby, Ph. David Yoxtheimer, P. Susquehanna River Basin Commission. Back to Top Explore Shale Why is water used in fracking? How much water is used? Where does the water come from?
Who regulates water usage? Sources may include rivers, streams, and lakes or municipalities and must be approved by the appropriate river basin commission Source: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Approved Source List for Natural Gas Development SRBC Who regulates water treatment and disposal?
How did the Marcellus Shale form? How much land in Pennsylvania has been affected by Marcellus Shale drilling? Drinking water wells reach an average depth of about feet, but occasionally can reach depths of more than feet. The direction of horizontal drills follows the natural fractures of shale rock. Content updated August Glossary Shale Shale is a dense, low permeability sedimentary rock.
Shale differs from rocks of similar composition by breaking along thin layers that are less than one centimeter thick. Water Table The water table is the depth below which all of the pore spaces and cracks in rocks and sediments are completely saturated with water.
Map shows location of the Marcellus Shale formation within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Lucidity Information Design. Donate Today. Volunteer Do you enjoy working with others to help clean the Chesapeake Bay? Orphan wells are a source of climate warming methane emissions, and have been known to contaminate air, water and soil. The patchwork of radiation protection laws for oil and gas waste in the U. Job growth in 22 counties with high gas production, including eight in Pennsylvania, averaged 1.
Three Pa. Now a professor emeritus of geosciences at Penn State, Terry Engelder acknowledged some mistakes by the state and by industry, but challenged parts of the grand jury report. Read their reports on this site, and hear them on public radio stations across Pennsylvania.
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