The Marcellus and Utica Shales extend across many states including Ohio, New York,
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and West Virginia. 
Located between 7,000 and 12,000 feet deep, they are important geologically because they hold large quantities of natural gas in the United States.
The Shales are purported to contain enough natural gas to satisfy the demands of the United States for fourteen years[1]. The shale itself is a fine grained sedimentary rock which is formed when quartz and clay minerals get compacted by the pressure of the Earth’s surface.[2] Over the years, new drilling techniques have been developed that allow corporations to extract the gas at a greater retrieval rate.
The extraction process is a two step process in which the shale is penetrated thousands of feet horizontally and fractured hydraulically. Horizontal drilling considered less disturbing to the natural environment than the fracturing process.[3] The process involves drilling vertically to just above the shale, then the drill makes a 90 degree turn gradually and drills horizontally for up to 3000 feet.[4] This means the well begins to curve gradually and results with a well which runs sideways, away from the surface location.[5] A thick steel pipe is placed in the hole and sealed with cement on the outside of the pipe, a second string of steel pipe is run inside the first and more cement is added to provide a better seal.[6] Horizontal wells were originally used to intersect multiple natural fractures within the
rock which would be located in the horizontal section.[7] In Shale drilling the shale can be fractured hydraulically, creating large spaces in which gas can be withdrawn. This
maximizes the amount of gas which can be captured.
The hydraulic fracturing process is achieved by injecting water, sand, and chemical
additives to the well at high pressures, which fractures the shale and enables the extraction of the gas reserves. Problematic to the process is the fact that it takes up to four million gallons of fresh water to fracture a well. This water is taken from local streams, reservoirs, lakes, and water plants near the drilling site.[8] Fifteen to twenty percent of this water is forced back to the surface around seven to ten days after it is injected.[9] This water is known as “frac water” and it contains iron, bacteria, suspended solids, and other contaminants.[10] “Frac water” must be disposed in a solid waste landfill or reused in the fracturing process, and is subject to the EPA’s water quality certification
process.[11]
[1] “Drilling for Natural Gas in the Marcellus and Utica Shales: Environment Regulatory Basics.” (November 2011), Located at: http://www.epa.ohio.gov/shale.aspx,
[2] “The Facts About Natural Gas Exploration of the Marcellus Shale.” Located at: http://www.marcellusfacts.com/pdf/homegrownenergy.pdf.
[3] Id.
[4] Id.
[5] O’ Donohue, Kelvin. “The Advantages of Horizontal Drilling Technique Over Other Methods of Drilling.” Located at: www.ehow.com/print/info_8326784_advantages-over-ther-methods-drilling.html
[6] “The Facts About Natural Gas Exploration of the Marcellus Shale.” Located at: http://www.marcellusfacts.com/pdf/homegrownenergy.pdf.
[7] O’ Donohue, Kelvin. “The Advantages of Horizontal Drilling Technique Over Other Methods of Drilling.” Located at: www.ehow.com/print/info_8326784_advantages-over-ther-methods-drilling.html
[8] “Drilling for Natural Gas in the Marcellus and Utica Shales: Environmental Regulatory Basics.” (July 2011) Located at: www.epa.ohio.gov/portals/o/general%20pdfs/general/shale711.pdf.
[9] Id.
[10] Id.
[11] Id.
Very good article
It is completely innsae that PA requires pols to vote for reassessments. They should be automatic and mandatory, every 10 years. It would be even better and simpler if everyone moved to land value taxes instead of property taxes. I think land value would be a lot easier to estimate.
Great post, I think people should learn a lot from this blog its rattling user pleasant. So much excellent info on here
.
Good post.Never knew this, appreciate it for letting me know.
I think this is among the most important info for me. And i’m glad reading your article. However want to statement on some general things, The web site taste is wonderful, the articles is actually excellent
. Just right job, cheers.
Have there been any recommendations to pforerm water and ground tests pre- and post-production? Seems like the gas industry would proceed with caution (and implement greater quality measures) if they had to bear remediation costs should water supplies be contaminated: That is, marked differences between samples pre- and post-drilling. I think this general public concern could be somewhat allayed if there were some measures and guarantees in place for those living atop the shale structures.
Nice to read your blog
nice post. thanks.
I really like looking through and I conceive this website got some genuinely utilitarian stuff on it!
Cool blog,looking to communicate
I have been reading out a few of your posts and it’s pretty clever stuff. I will definitely bookmark your site.
Generally I gotta to agree with this. Last month while I was browsing at Brookstone I had a very similar arrangement. I decided to purchase it.
Enjoyed looking at this, very good stuff, regards . “Shared joys make a friend, not shared sufferings.” by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche.
Hello my friend! I wish to say that this post is awesome, great written and include almost all important infos. I’d like to look extra posts like this.
Thanks for helping out, superb information. “In case of dissension, never dare to judge till you’ve heard the other side.” by Euripides.
Great post, I believe blog owners should acquire a lot from this site its very user genial. So much fantastic information on here
.
Amazing things here. I’m very satisfied to peer your article. Thanks so much and I’m looking ahead to touch you. Will you kindly drop me a mail?
Good write-up, I’m regular visitor of one’s blog, maintain up the excellent operate, and It is going to be a regular visitor for a long time.
Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before but after browsing through some of the post I realized it’s new to me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I found it and I’ll be book-marking and checking back often!
Hello my loved one! I want to say that this post is amazing, nice written and include almost all important infos. I’d like to look more posts like this.
Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed! Very useful information specifically the last part
I care for such info much. I was seeking this particular information for a long time. Thank you and good luck.
There is evidently a bunch to know about this. I suppose you made certain nice points in features also.
I have been checking out many of your stories and it’s pretty nice stuff. I will definitely bookmark your website.
I precisely needed to appreciate you again. I’m not certain the things I would have undertaken in the absence of the basics revealed by you relating to such subject. Previously it was a very fearsome situation in my opinion, however , witnessing your professional avenue you handled the issue forced me to leap with happiness. I’m thankful for the help as well as trust you recognize what a great job your are putting in educating the others through the use of your website. I’m certain you haven’t encountered all of us.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I’ve truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. After all I will be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
It’s the best time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I have read this post and if I could I want to suggest you some interesting things or advice. Perhaps you can write next articles referring to this article. I desire to read even more things about it!
Well I definitely enjoyed studying it. This subject offered by you is very constructive for accurate planning.
I wanted to post you a bit of observation to help say thanks yet again for these pleasing secrets you have shown in this case. It has been certainly incredibly open-handed with people like you giving freely what a few individuals could have supplied as an e-book to help make some cash for themselves, notably since you could have done it in case you considered necessary. These secrets in addition worked to be a great way to fully grasp that someone else have the same keenness much like mine to figure out a whole lot more with regards to this problem. I believe there are numerous more pleasant periods up front for individuals who view your blog.
Excellent goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you’re just too excellent. I actually like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you’re stating and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still care for to keep it smart. I can not wait to read far more from you. This is actually a tremendous website.
Thats some nice informationDo you have any more info. computer repair computer repair computer repair it support it support it support computer desktop repair
Definitely, what a magnificent blog and revealing posts, I surely will bookmark your site.Have an awsome day!
Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for? you made blogging look easy. The overall look of your web site is great, let alone the content!
I keep listening to the news bulletin talk about receiving boundless online grant applications so I have been looking around for the most excellent site to get one. Could you advise me please, where could i get some?
I’m really impressed with your writing skills as well as with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Anyway keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a nice blog like this one today..
Heya i am for the first time here. I came across this board and I find It truly useful & it helped me out much. I hope to give something back and help others like you aided me.
I have been surfing online more than 3 hours today, yet I never found any interesting article like yours. It’s pretty worth enough for me. In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did, the web will be much more useful than ever before.
After reading your blog post I browsed your website a bit and noticed you aren’t ranking nearly as well in Google as you could be. I possess a handful of blogs myself and I think you should take a look here: http://dominateseowithwordpress.com You’ll find it’s a very nice tool that can bring you a lot more visitors. Keep up the quality posts
I needed to write you the very small word to help thank you the moment again about the superb concepts you have contributed at this time. It was quite wonderfully open-handed with people like you to supply easily what exactly many people would’ve offered for sale for an e-book to generate some bucks for their own end, most importantly considering that you might have tried it in case you decided. The tactics likewise acted as a great way to realize that some people have the same dreams similar to my personal own to learn good deal more around this condition. I think there are a lot more pleasant moments ahead for individuals that read through your site.
Hello.This post was extremely remarkable, especially because I was searching for thoughts on this issue last Sunday.
Great post. I was checking continuously this blog and I’m impressed! Very helpful information specially the last part
I care for such information much. I was seeking this certain info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.
You are a very capable individual!
As a Newbie, I am constantly searching online for articles that can be of assistance to me. Thank you
Hello.This article was really interesting, especially because I was browsing for thoughts on this matter last Tuesday.
We’re a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community. Your web site offered us with valuable info to work on. You’ve done a formidable job and our whole community will be grateful to you.
I think this is among the most significant information for me. And i’m glad reading your article. But wanna remark on few general things, The web site style is wonderful, the articles is really excellent : D. Good job, cheers
You completed some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most folks will consent with your blog.
Hello. Great job. I did not anticipate this. This is a impressive story. Thanks!