Most of Pa. Marcellus Gas Drilling in 11 Counties
Bradford, Tioga counties have the most wells
Valley News Dispatch
14 March 2012
Associated Press
By Kevin Begos
PITTSBURGH -- Data from the state show that many counties don't
have any gas drilling wells tapping into the gas-rich Marcellus
Shale formation and may never have any despite the proliferation
of them elsewhere.
U.S. Geological Survey maps indicate the Marcellus Shale -- a rock
formation thousands of feet underground in large parts of
Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia -- doesn't exist in
the heavily populated southeastern portion of Pennsylvania, but is
prevalent in the northeast part of the state.
Almost 90 percent of the 5,000 shale wells drilled in the last six
years are located in just 11 of the state's 67 counties, according
to state data compiled by the Powell Shale Digest, a specialty
trade newsletter. Bradford County has the most, at 1,008, followed
by Tioga, also in the northern region, with 693.
In the southwestern part of the state, Washington County has the
most wells, with 560.
Most of the wells were drilled in the last two years: 2,046 last
year, and 1,644 the year before. But the Shale Digest notes the
number may drop this year.
"Given that Marcellus drilling activity in Pennsylvania is slowing
in 2012 in response to depressed natural gas prices, it will be
most interesting to see how this year stacks up compared to the
others," the March 12 issue noted.
Travis Windle, a spokesman for the Marcellus Shale Coalition, an
industry group, said people all over the state and the region
benefit from the lower energy costs that have accompanied the
boom.
Over the last five years, advances in drilling technology have
made the shale accessible, leading to a boom in production, jobs
and profits and a drop in natural gas prices.
The drilling process, hydraulic fracturing, blasts a mix of sand,
water and chemicals deep underground to break open shale rocks and
stimulate oil and gas production in previously inaccessible areas.
That produces huge volumes of polluted wastewater, and
environmentalists say the process, also called fracking, can taint
groundwater. Energy companies deny that.