Robinson Board Hears Gas Well Plan
Washington PA Observer-Reporter
4 February 2010
By Christie Campbell, Staff writer
chriscam@observer-reporter.com
McDONALD - Chesapeake Appalachia is looking to drill its first natural
gas wells in Robinson Township.
The company, with offices in Southpointe, has applied for a
conditional-use permit to drill three gas wells on one pad. The well
site would be on property owned by Champion Processing on Route 980,
about a mile south of Route 22.
The area is zoned industrial. There have been other gas wells drilled
in the township, but not by Chesapeake. All oil and gas drilling is a
conditional use in the township.
Stacey Brodak, corporate development manager, said pad construction
will take about a month. It takes about 21 days to drill a well, and
hydraulic fracturing would last an additional week. Drilling and
fracturing is an around-the-clock process.
Although the company has 24 wells in the Marcellus Shale, its
operations in Southwestern Pennsylvania are fairly new.
According to Chesapeake senior field specialist David McDougal, the
site could have up to six wells. The company fences all of its frack
ponds, he said, and samples water up to 2,500 feet from the site, more
than what is required by the state Department of Environmental
Protection.
The company is working out an agreement with Pennsylvania American
Water to bring water to the site. Chesapeake will reuse the water in
its fracturing process.
Supervisors indicated there have been speeding-related accidents in the
area and they fear trucks slowing to make a turn in to the site could
create a traffic hazard. Supervisors also expressed concern that trucks
will carry mud and dirt on their wheels into the road. Chesapeake
representatives said it will stone the access road and pad to lessen
that possibility.
Because the Robinson planning commission, which had recommended
approval by the board of supervisors, had suggested a number of
conditions, Chesapeake first wants to review those conditions. They
included setting up an escrow account, something Brodak said the
company has not been asked to do in other areas.
The hearing was continued to Monday's board meeting at 7 p.m.