Passing Motorists, Area Residents Startled by Gas Well Flarings
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
6 December 2009
By Kaitlynn Riely
For the past week, the sky above Chartiers in Washington County has
been glowing an orange tint, mostly at night, that could be seen from
miles away.
County emergency dispatch said the glow is due to the flaring of
natural gas wells.
The wells, owned by Range Resources in Cecil, are used to extract
natural gas from Marcellus shale in the area.
"It's part of the standard operating procedure, and it's during the
period that you initially test the well for production of natural gas,"
said Matt Pitzarella, a spokesman for Range Resources.
The flaring, an operation that is carried out 24 hours a day, will
continue until Monday morning, he said.
Mr. Pitzarella said the process does not cause any health or fire
danger. He said the company notifies the immediate landowners in the
area, as well as 911 and township officials.
The wells are located near Old Hickory Ridge Road and Welsh Road in
Chartiers.
This particular operation is taking place on top of a hill, so it is
probably more visible than most well flarings, which have taken place
in Washington County for the past five years, Mr. Pitzarella said.
Several companies operate similar natural gas wells in the area.
"It's not an uncommon thing," an emergency dispatcher said last night
about the well flarings. "[The wells] are throughout the whole county."