Since 1972 the “Roadside Geology” series has provided introductory information on the geology of states and small regions of the United States. The books provide a combination of maps, travel logs, photos and commentary for the geology that can be seen along highways or visited at parks and public viewing areas. They are popular with geologists and others who are interested in the Earth.
Abandoned mines and quarries are dangerous places! Every year about 20 to 30 people die in accidents that occur in abandoned mines across the United States. The victims range in age from preschool children to an 85 year-old mining veteran.
An AP article reports that drillers produced about $4.7 billion worth of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania and West Virginia during 2011.
Several major natural gas drillers have developed a set of standards for hydraulic fracturing in the Appalachian Basin. The standards recommend practices for drilling, well design, water use, equipment use and public outreach.
“The chances of rogue fractures due to shale gas fracking operations extending beyond 0.6 kilometres from the injection source is a fraction of one percent, according to new research led by Durham University. The analysis is based on data from thousands of fracking operations in the USA and natural rock fractures in Europe and Africa.” Quoted from the Durham University press release.
“The law provides for the imposition of a drilling impact fee and the expenditure of the funds generated by that impact fee to local and state purposes specifically outlined in the law. The law also contains a mechanism as to how the fees shall be distributed. A significant portion of the fees generated will be used to cover the local impacts of drilling while several of state agencies will also receive funding for a variety of other purposes.” Quote from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
Seven communities in southwestern Pennsylvania are suing the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania because they want to control natural gas drilling in their zoning districts.
“Spectra Energy has received conditional environmental approval from Federal Energy Regulatory Commission staff on its proposed New Jersey-New York Expansion project. [...] The system, which would be the first major natural gaspipeline to reach New York City in 40 years.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration.
An article titled “Marcellus Shale Parallel Universe” explores the impact of different approaches to natural gas development experienced in Pennsylvania and New York.
A $1 billion pipeline has been proposed that will deliver Marcellus Shale gas from northern Pennsylvania to markets in Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, DC.
This video and article feature some of the positive impacts that natural gas drilling in the Marcellus Shale has brought to the economy of Washington County, Pennsylvania and neighboring areas.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has created interactive reports that allow citizens create reports that summarize oil and gas production information, permits issued, drilling commence date, county data, operator specific data, as well as inspections, violations and enforcement actions.
An article on the ABC News website reports on how eminent domain is being used in Pennsylvania by a natural gaspipeline company to acquire missing pieces of a pipeline right-of-way.
National Public Radio has a podcast titled: “Is The Booming Natural Gas Industry Overproducing?”. It explores how natural gas companies are cutting back on production, filling underground storage and moving their rigs out of the dry gas areas.
Pittsburgh is located in an area with a very high incidence of landslides. People there regularly learn that homeowners insurance does not cover landslides and special landslide insurance – if it is available – can be extremely expensive.
Sinkholes are a common geological hazard in many parts of Pennsylvania. The state geological survey has an educational publication and small website to inform the public about sinkholes.
An article published by the Oil and Gas Journal shows that methane was ubiquitous in shallow groundwater prior to oil and gas drilling in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.
The-Vug.com has an impressive listing of mineral clubs organized by state. You might be surprised at how many clubs are listed and there is probably one that meets within a short drive of your home.
Lots of factors contribute to the natural gas prices paid by residential customers. Long term contracts and distant supply sources can hold residential prices high even though natural gas is locally in abundance. Residential customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Texas are paying above average rates for their natural gas.
As environmental regulations hasten the closure of coal-fired power plants American Electric Power plans to build a 1bcf/day pipeline to deliver gas from wells in the Marcellus and Utica Shales.
“This study examines how several key unexplored aspects of Marcellus Shale natural gas development in Pennsylvania will affect the overall economic impact occurring in the Commonwealth. Where leasing
and royalty dollars are actually going, and how they are being spent, has not been examined in previous economic studies.” Quoted from the report’s abstract.
An article on the Boston.com website explores possible developments related to the Marcellus Shale in 2012. A new lease environment, geographic shifts in activity, price directions and more.
The Energy Information Administration has a brief article on the rapid increase in natural gas production that has occurred in the northeastern United States since 2004. The largest gains were in northeastern Pennsylvania, southwestern Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
The Pennsylvania Geological Survey has released: Open-File Report OFGG 11–01.0: Folds of Pennsylvania—GIS Data and Map. It consists of a GIS personal geodatabase and a 1:500,000-scale map showing fold axial traces and structural fronts in Pennsylvania.
Marathon Petroleum is preparing to refine oil produced from the Utica Shale of eastern Ohio and western Pennslyvania. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimates that the Utica Shale could yield between 1.3 and 5.5 billion barrels of crude.
Many utilities that supply natural gas to consumers in Pennsylvania are using gas from as far away as Canada, the Gulf of Mexico or west of the Mississippi River while gas from the Marcellus Shale is just a little over a mile down. They are locked into long-term contracts. UGI Central Penn Gas is making their first direct connection to Marcellus Shale gas, cutting long distance transportation fees.
An article on the PennLive.com website explores the diversity of jobs associated with development of the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania. Sue Mukherjee a directory with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry says: “The fastest 12 growing occupations in Pennsylvania are all directly related to Marcellus Shale.”
In many parts of the Marcellus Shale gas play local residents are disappointed to see so many workers from over a thousand miles away getting high-paying jobs while local unemployment rates are very high. Letters similar to this one have been published in newspapers across the area underlain by the Marcellus Shale and other shales that produce natural gas..
The folks at MyTopo.com are now printing supersized topo maps – large enough make a huge 5′ x 8′ (or 8′ x 5′) map that will look fantastic on the wall of your office, conference room, lobby, cabin or den. These maps are custom-centered on any location that you pick using their online map-making tool. Lots of smaller sizes are also available.
We are affiliates of MyTopo.com and receive a commission on sales.
Some local governments would like to have greater control over where, when and how natural gas drilling can be done in their areas of jurisdiction. This podcast explores the division of regulation between state and local governments in Pennsylvania.
The Energy Information Administration has an article that reports on the rapid increase in the amount of gas being used in Pennsylvania for the generation of electricty. Gains in the use of natural gas offset the use of coal.
The Marcellus Shale Coalition website has an article that provides safety advice for people who will be hunting in areas where natural gas drilling is taking place.
An article on the PittsburghLive.com website explains how regulations and costs of doing business in neighboring states can stimulate or deter the development of a resource such as natural gas. Not mentioned in the article is how a moratorium on Marcellus Shale drilling moved drilling out of New York and into Pennsylvania.
The Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan conducted a public opinion poll on “Fracking for Natural Gas”. One of their key findings:
“While fairly divided on this matter, more Pennsylvanians believe that natural gas drilling has thus far provided more benefits than problems for Pennsylvania. A larger number anticipate greater future benefits than problems for the state.”
A Post-Gazette article summarizes the findings and links to a PDF copy of the study.
Raven Maps are beautiful examples of shaded-relief wall maps that display the elevation of a state in vibrant colors. These large maps look great in a classroom, den or office. Use one to mark the locations of your work or company.
Natural gas companies have drilled a number of highly successful wells into the Utica Shale of eastern Ohio. Now, drilling, permitting, and acquisition activity is starting to boom.
The Delaware River Basin Commission will vote on a new set of rules for natural gas drilling within the basin. If they are approved a moratorium on drilling in the basin will be lifted.
An article on the Pittsburgh Live website explains how about half of the community of Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania is undermined and has a subsidence risk.
The Citizens Marcellus Shale Commission published a report titled: Marcellus Shale: A Citizens View. It contains numerous recommendations that include: creating state revenue from natural gas drilling activity, preserving citizen property rights, protecting natural resources and more.
Local governments in Pennsylvania have passed zoning ordinances that limit where drilling can occur. Range Resources, a leading shale gas drilling company is making one of the first challenges to these ordinances.
The Marshall University Center for Business and Economic Research has prepared: Taxation of Natural Gas: A Comparative Analysis. This publication reviews the many methods of taxing natural gas 19 different states. You might be surprised at how many ways natural gas is being taxed.
Thousands of people across the United States have signed leases that give energy companies the right to drill on their land. However, many of these properties have mortgages that prohibit the property owner from entering into a mineral lease.
State and local governments have either been collecting revenues from Marcellus Shale activities or wishing that they were collecting revenues. An article on Platts.com explores some of the ways that state and local governments are generating revenues.
Parts of the Marcellus Shale and Utica Shale contain worthy amounts of ethane which is a valuable feedstock for the plastics industry. Will it be shipped by pipeline to distant manufacturers or will local manufacturing industries develop?
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is considering a case on how mineral rights are defined that could overturn lots of natural gas leases that have been signed over the past century.
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