Where is the Marcellus Shale and why is it important?
sedimentary rock formation deposited over 350 million years ago in a shallow inland sea located in the eastern United States where the present-day Appalachian Mountains now stand (de Witt and others, 1993). This shale contains significant quantities of natural gas.
What 3 PA counties have the most fracking wells in PA?
Top Counties
Washington | 1,146 wells |
---|---|
Susquehanna | 1,079 |
Greene | 870 |
Lycoming | 832 |
Tioga | 661 |
What is Marcellus Shale and why the sudden interest in Pennsylvania?
What is Marcellus Shale and why the sudden interest in it? The Marcellus Shale is a rock formation that underlies much of Pennsylvania and portions of New York and West Virginia at a depth of 5,000 to 8,000 feet and is believed to hold trillions of cubic feet of natural gas.
When was the Marcellus Shale discovered?
2004
Since the Marcellus shale unconventional shale gas reservoir discovery in 2004 until May 2015, more than 8600 horizontal Marcellus shale wells had been drilled in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and limited portions of eastern Ohio.
What are they drilling for in the Marcellus Shale?
About Marcellus Shale Low-yield natural gas wells have been drilled in the Marcellus Shale for more than 50 years, but recent technological advancements in deep horizontal drilling combined with hydraulic fracturing techniques have exposed the possibility of more profitably tapping the shale for gas.
Are they still fracking in Pennsylvania?
As of May 1, 2017, Pennsylvania had 129,587 active oil and gas wells of which 10,097 active wells—7.7 percent—were unconventional wells with hydraulic fracturing. Click to enlarge. Click to enlarge.
How deep are Marcellus Shale gas wells?
5,000 to 9,000 feet
Residential water wells reach an average depth of about 200 feet, but occasionally can reach depths of more than 500 feet. The direction of horizontal drilling follows the natural fractures of shale rock. A typical Marcellus Shale well is drilled 5,000 to 9,000 feet vertically and up to 10,000 feet horizontally.
How old is Marcellus Shale?
By geological timescale estimates, the Marcellus Shale aka the Marcellus formation was formed roughly 390 million years ago in the middle Devonian epoch in the Paleozoic era. The Marcellus Shale is named after the town of Marcellus, New York near where it outcrops at the surface.
How did Marcellus Shale get its name?
The Marcellus Shale is named after the town of Marcellus, New York near where it outcrops at the surface. It extends throughout the northern Appalachian Basin, including southern New York, Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and West Virginia and also includes slivers of Maryland and Virginia.
What is Marcellus Shale named after?
The Marcellus Formation or the Marcellus Shale is a Middle Devonian age unit of sedimentary rock found in eastern North America. Named for a distinctive outcrop near the village of Marcellus, New York, in the United States, it extends throughout much of the Appalachian Basin.
How long does a Marcellus Shale well produce?
30 to 50 years
Marcellus Shale gas wells are expected to produce for 30 to 50 years, and perhaps much longer.
How many Marcellus Shale wells are in PA?
Currently, there are 10,586 well locations with an active status, 9,218 of which have been drilled. There 19,617 unconventional well locations in Pennsylvania when considering all status types, 10,652 of which have been drilled.
Is there oil in Susquehanna County PA?
Susquehanna County, PA currently ranks #6 in the nation based on barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) production.
What is the average life of a shale oil well?
AFTER DRILLING After completion, a well can produce for as long as 20 to 40 years–providing energy and long-term revenue to governments and mineral owners and sustaining local jobs. The drilling rig and related equipment are only temporary and are removed when the well is finished.