A New York Times article looks at some of the recent large investments in the Marcellus Shale Gas Field and quotes an industry estimate of 30,000 new wells drilled in the next ten years.

In this video CONSOL Energy CEO, Brett Harvey, talks about the company’s purchase of natural gas assets from Dominion Resources. He seems to think highly of the potential for natural gas. A quote: “Natural Gas will be the chosen fuel.” (Consol already owns a lot of coal mines between the surface and the Marcellus Shale which create conflicting land use problems when drilling for natural gas.)

An article on the Oil and Gas Journal website gives a detailed presentation on the huge number of opportunities that still exist in the Marcellus Shale gas play.

A new USGS Fact Sheet: “Water Resources and Natural Gas Production from the Marcellus Shale” provides an overview of the Marcellus Shale gas play with an emphasis on the environmental impact on water resources.

The Maryland Geological Survey has a webpage of information related to the Marcellus Shale activity that is occurring in the western part of the state. Leasing and drilling activity in Garrett and Allegany Counties has seen increased levels of activity since mid-2006.

An article in the Baltimore Sun describes how landowners in western Maryland are joining together to share information and negotiate optimum deals when leasing their Marcellus Shale properties.

Most deep wells drilled to produce gas from the Marcellus Shale will require a technique known as hydraulic fracturing to increase the permeability of the gas reservoir. Hydraulic fracturing requires hundreds of thousands of gallons of water per well and that water often contains additives and saline solutions brought up from the deep rock formations. An article on the pressconnects.com website explores this issue.