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Marcellus Shale - Gas Wells
Monday, August 30, 2010
Background
More than a mile beneath parts of Pennsylvania lies a mostly untapped reservoir of natural gas.
Geologists and energy companies have known for decades about the gas in the Marcellus Shale, but only recently have figured out a way to extract it from the thick black rock about 6,000 feet underground.
Now gas drillers are leasing local land - more than 25,000 acres in Luzerne County alone - in an attempt to find and remove the gas, the value of which increases as energy prices soar.
In January 2008 leases were being signed for values near $100 per acre. By May that value had increased to over $2000 per acre.
With lease values changing so rapidly, landowners are unsure at what price to accept a lease offer.
Kenneth L. Balliet, a forestry and business management educator with the Penn State Cooperative Extension, recently took a trip to Fort Worth to see the economic impacts of those deposits. He said leases are being signed for $18,000 per acre in areas where production has proven strong.
There were 195 Marcellus Shale wells drilled in Pennsylvania in 2008 and another 768 in 2009, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. Another 364 have been drilled this year as of May 5. There were only about 20 wells in Pennsylvania when Balliet was first interviewed, and he expects local production to eventually rival Texas’ Barnett Shale. He said a gas company confided it planned to spend $1 billion in 2008 in leasing agreements in Pennsylvania.
That kind of investment could mean a big boost to the area's economy as a whole. But many people are concerned that the state doesn't have adequate safeguards in place to properly regulate the natural gas industry.
Finding a good balance between economic prosperity and environmental safety appears to be the state's greatest challenge in the Marcellus Shale play.
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Natural Gas Leases - Marcellus Shale
Latest Headlines
Testing the pre-drilling waters
A licensed geologist from Tunkhannock says people living near natural gas drilling operations should have their well water tested prior to drilling activities, but he warns that not everyone who offers testing services is qualified to take water samples.In Boback’s bill, local oversight would return to drilling process
State Rep. Karen Boback wants to see authority over erosion and sediment control...Governor candidates visit festival
PITTSTON – Gubernatorial candidates Tom Corbett and Dan Onorato are...Singing the blues about shale at Gas Stock concert
LEHMAN TWP. – The Northeast Pennsylvania Citizens in Action Group got a little help from their friends Saturday at their first ever Gas Stock concert and rally.PSU to start natural gas education, research center
Penn State will create the Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research, an education and research center to focus on the growing natural gas industry.Officials explain Marcellus challenges, opportunities
SCRANTON – U.S. Sen. Robert Casey returned to his hometown Thursday to extol...Low flow limits gas industry withdrawals, says river basin head
As the flow of the Susquehanna River and its tributaries...Gas driller ban in Pittsburgh proposed; legality questioned
PITTSBURGH — City Councilman Doug Shields will introduce a bill next month that would ban corporations from drilling for natural gas in the city.Wilkes to analyze drilling impact
With natural gas drilling beginning in Luzerne County...Pa. fines driller $97K for frack spill
HARRISBURG — The state’s Department of Environmental Protection has fined a natural gas drilling company nearly $100,000 for a wastewater spill that contaminated a southwestern Pennsylvania watershed.Lehman Twp. supervisors say they back gas drillers
LEHMAN TWP. -- Despite negative feedback in recent months from...Hess the likely first Wayne County driller
An energy company is on track...Legal point could open state park land to gas drills
SCRANTON — State conservation officials in Pennsylvania have...Mundy urges tough drilling rules
State Rep. Phyllis Mundy is seeking support from House members for more stringent ....Methane found in wells after lid blow-off
Casey, drilling association chief headline forum
SCRANTON – Two of the biggest names in the debate over regulation of gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale region are headlining an educational public forum at Marywood University next week.Activists pitching a message
Jerry Reisinger said his Iroquois ancestors were commissioned by the creator to protect...Emergency crews set for Pa. wells
Experts trained to deal with catastrophic events at natural gas wells now will be stationed 24 hours a day, seven days a week in Pennsylvania.Johnson hopes to build gas drilling workforce
SCRANTON – In order for Johnson College to keep up with the future of Pennsylvania’s industries, the technical school has gone back to its past.Getting at the gas below
WVSA wants treatment partner
Report: Firms commit 1,500 infractions in Pa. in 30 months
Baker voices opposition to ‘forced pooling’
Medico taps into gas boom
Countryside Conservancy branch hosting Marcellus Shale seminar
2 meetings to be held on shale
Casey seeks input on shale bill
2 killed in gas well explosion in western Pa.
Encana drill first to dig in
Gas drilling moratorium requested in Harveys Lake
EPA to again review drilling, fracking issues
Drill rig set to go at first gas well
Drilling spurs plans for 2 hotels
Natural gas fire in Susquehanna County probed
Pa. blowout report cites mistakes
Gas firm looks to hearing on 10 new well permits
DEP: Clearfield gas well blowout fault of operator
Gas driller eyes site in Plains Twp.
Gov. Rendell reaffirms shale tax commitment
Cattle may have drunk drill water
Onorato wants drilling to go on, but with care
Drilling hits the county next week
State releases list of drilling chemicals
Education is goal of energy expo
Mundy sees drilling moratorium unlikely
State police crack down on gas-drilling vehicles
Mundy proposes pause
Drilling wastewater rule gets vital Pa. approval
Forum set to discuss drilling opportunities
‘Gasland’ movie critical of drilling
Drilling benefits rec site
Severance-tax issue a big hurdle for drill laws
Panel to hold forum on drilling preparedness
Drillers told not to take shortcuts
Gas firm asks to lay pipeline in Dallas Twp.
Resident asks council to slow gas drilling activity
Proposed Lehman Twp. gas drill site contested
Gas well permit issuance contested
Some legislators think natural gas tax is best answer
Drilling in shale bringing little tax
For love of the land
Some urge suspension at forum on drilling
Sestak hosts shale meeting
Water co. requests say in permits
Pa. stops company’s drilling after accident
Gas-leased land borders dam
Pa. inspectors looking into gas well emergency
Drill results could hike land values
Experts urge caution with lease deal offers
PennDOT will discuss Marcellus Shale plans
Penfield well blowout under control
Extra protection in place for water amid drilling
Response to gas disaster in the works
Study boosts Shale’s fiscal pluses for Pa.
Baker proposes bills on gas drilling, drinking water
Natural-gas severance tax mulled
State has no active drill leases here
Drilling industry concerns anglers, hunters
Shale coalition president promotes drilling’s economic benefits
Lehman Twp. fields shale, road question
State tells how to protect water quality
State tells drillers to follow the rules
Area races seeing little gas money
Lake Twp. receives emergency update
Gas exploration of state forest land has some concerned
Drilling safety steps detailed
Rendell backs halt to gas leasing of Pa. forests
Worker dies after accident at drill site
Chesapeake aims to raise $5 billion
Worker killed in Dimock gas drilling incident
Rendell OKs leasing 32,896 acres of state forest for gas drilling
Drilling’s effect on ‘Clean and Green’ land uncertain
Company defends its environmental record
New gas entry alters picture
Boback introduces bill to study laws of gas drilling
Rally targets Moon Lake drilling
$299K grant to help with gas drilling training
Water to be tested because of drilling
Drilling under river is OK’d in Bradford Co.
Bill may halt gas leasing on forest land
Much of Back Mt. leased
Zoners OK gas drilling in Lake Township
Shale town mayor tells drilling woes
Gas firm seeking special land uses
Casey wants EPA to probe well contamination linked to gas drilling
Members told to pass ordinances regarding drilling
PUC foresees energy cost cut
Activists express fears on gas drilling
Residents worry about gas drillers contaminating water
Gas drillers called to Harrisburg
Debate rages over Delaware River watershed
Towns get legal advice on gas issues
Lake Twp. has drilling concerns
Lehman Township says yes to gas drilling
Sanitary Authority won’t treat Shale water
Energy co. says no to natural gas drilling at Moon Lake
Lawmaker delivers rebuttal
Shale compromise is goal of Sestak
State: Energy firm contaminated well, spring
Lawmakers dig in to drilling concerns
Pa. House panel to hear gas-drilling concerns
Test well water before Marcellus Shale gas drilling begins, experts advise
Forum airs citizens’ drilling concerns
Cleaner shale technology is being sought
Old Duryea railroad yard taking on new life
Potential leak at gas drilling site probed
Oil/natural gas rep touts environmental record
Shale's financial impact on area unknown
Some colleges add programs to train workers
Drilling likely to generate variety of labor positions
Law, engineering firms will be the first for jobs
Back Mt. group will work for gas drilling law
EPA set to study fracking impact
Pa. to disclose gas production results
Lehman Twp. postpones gas drill vote
Area gas drilling a danger, activist says
Marcellus shale drilling topic of meeting
Lake Twp. antsy about gas drilling
Landowners urged to seek deal
Shale interest paying off, firm says
Shale group thinks governor’s tax in proposed budget unfair
Gas drilling meeting draws lots of interest
Lease will pay for township drilling
Drilling prompts DEP to get Scranton office
Rep. backs state control of drilling
WVSA sees profit in treating drill water
Law on gas drilling still in flux, public told
Lawmakers seeking public input on gas drilling
Reps withdraw drill bill support over ‘forced pooling’
Drilling for gas raising issues
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