When natural gas drilling resumes in the state of New York the counties most likely to see heavy activity are Broome, Tioga and Chemung. These areas are thought to have the best geological characteristics, which include organic content and thickness.
More in The Ithaca Journal.
A study on the economic, legal, regulatory, and environmental issues related to development of the Marcellus Shale has been published by the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics, Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
The Texas Railroad Commission’s Rule 37 is the subject of an editorial in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. The author explains how this rule that regulates the spacing of oil and gas wells seems to be used to as a way to avoid dealing with Barnett Shale holdout landowners.
This is a June, 2010 fact sheet that explains why EPA is studying hydraulic fracturing and the connection between natural ground waters and the fluids used in the hydraulic fracturing process.
“Public concerns have focused recently on the impacts of the hydraulic fracturing process used during natural gas production from shale and coalbed methane formations.” Quoted from the EPA fact sheet.
Concerned about the purity of their water supply, the Philadelphia City Council has called for a ban on Marcellus Shale gas drilling until the EPA says that it is safe. More at NewsWorks.org.
National Geographic has an interactive website that illustrates the construction of a natural gas well starting with the drilling pad, the vertical well, drilling horizontal and hydraulic fracturing. It is based upon a Marcellus Shale well in Pennsylvania.
Steve Kirchhoff, the ExxonMobil vice president for natural gas, reviewed a number of factors that will determine the long-term direction of the natural gas industry in the United States. More at PennEnergy.com.
The City of Pittsburgh recently banned Marcellus Shale drilling within their city limits and the West Virginia legislature has a bill to require performance bonds for each new well. An editorial on the Oil and Gas Journal website comments on additional levels of taxes and regulation on natural gas drilling.
The Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania city council has placed a ban on drilling for the Marcellus Shale within city limits. Some people view this as environmental protection others view it as a “taking”. More at BusinessWeek.com.
On September 15, 2010 new rules that require oil and gas companies to disclose the chemistry of their hydraulic fracturing fluids went into effect. The Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission reports that companies are providing the information as new wells are stimulated. More at Trib.com.
Who owns the mineral rights beneath your property? That can determine what drilling companies can do and what rights a landowner has when drilling begins. More in an article on the ArkTimes.com website.
In Pennsylvania the state Department of Environmental Protection is in charge of the regulations that govern natural gas drilling. However, some townships and counties are interested in regulating these activities at the local level. An article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette explores the ability of local government to regulate natural gas drilling.
