ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF DRILLING FOR OIL INSIDE OF MARCELLUS SHALE

Environmental effects of drilling for oil inside of Marcellus shale

Environmental effects of drilling for oil inside of Marcellus shale

DEP's Bureau of Oil and Gas Management regulates the protected investigation, development, and recovery of Marcellus Shale natural gas reservoirs in a manner that will defend the commonwealth's natural assets and the environment.

To drill a new Marcellus Shale natural gas well in Pennsylvania, the operator should get a well allow from the Department of Environmental Protection and mail a bond. The bond is a economic inducement to double-check that the operator will amply present the drilling procedures, address any water provide difficulties the drilling undertaking may origin, reclaim the well location, and correctly close the well upon abandonment. The bond allowance for a lone well is $2,500; a bedding bond to cover any number of wells is $25,000. (www.catskillmountainkeeper.org)

In the Marcellus Shale natural gas well allow submission, the applicant should display the position of the well, proximity to coal seams, and distances from exterior waters and water supplies. Technical employees in DEP's local agencies reconsider the allow submission to work out if the suggested well would origin environmental influences, confrontation with coal mine procedures, or pass well positioning requirements. Operators should submit accounts on well culmination, waste administration, yearly output and well plugging.

Pennsylvania regulation needs drillers to case and cement Marcellus Shale natural gas wells through all new water aquifers before drilling through deeper zones renowned to comprise oil or gas. This casing and cement defends groundwater from the fluids and natural gas that will be comprised interior the well, and holds water from the exterior and other geologic strata from blending with and contaminating groundwater.

Disruption of water value or flow in water wells from drilling undertakings is often ...