The Marcellus Shale is a layer of sedimentary (former marine) rock that is estimated to be 300+ million years old and located in the deep underground of the eastern United States – along and near the Appalachian Basin from upstate New York to western Virginia. Who cares about this little known layer of black rock? Well, energy companies for one. The shale is said to have the capacity to produce natural gas – with estimates range from 1.9 trillion to 500 trillion cubic feet of the same. As estimates of production capabilities have risen, so has the interest of energy companies looking for domestically produced sources of energy.
While we at GCR usually feel the hairs on the backs of our necks stand up when we hear Palin-esque chants of “drill baby drill,” the option of natual gas production does deserve some consideration. At first glance, it appears to be a better choice than “clean” coal, but there is, of course, a potential negative impact to the environment – drilling uses large amounts of surface water and may cause the release of radioactive material inherent in the shale into the water supply.
Nonetheless, both energy companies and landowners stand to make money from this drilling. So, we will likely here more about it in the days and months to come.
For more information, read more here.
2 responses so far ↓
Sean // 30/07/2009 at 20:28 |
I Just cannot believe that some how everybody always drags in Sarah Palin into every aspect of life. Secondly, prove to me that small amounts of surface water, which are retained by an on-site built retention pond built specifically for the drilling , are going to get into the water supply? Since many of the area which this drilling is taking place have advanced water treatment facilities. Also, many of the rural people have wells, which are hundreds to thousands of feet deep, which I have, so tell me how a minimal amount of water will, in the scale of the world, will make its way down layers of bedrock to my well? I am sure that if there actually were any REAL problems with this the conservatives and liberals would bring this up. So, since it is one side biased this is nothing more than liberal trying to do what they do best, which is polluting the minds of the unknowing America. Lastly how is shale or rock radioactive, last time I checked it wasn’t.
nexmillen // 31/07/2009 at 09:48 |
If you consider 3.5 million gallons of water for some sites a small amount, good for you. People in the southwestern U.S. would likely disagree. Also, most water wells for household use are 100 to 500 feet deep, with some over 1000 feet. If yours is 1000s of feet deep, again, great. That requires some significant work and/or technology. Finally, if you’d like to learn about the radioactive material associated with horizontal drilling and shale, do some research on the Barnett Shale in Texas. The facts might surprise you.
Thanks for your comment. Keep reading and learning. Wisdom is neither “conservative” nor “liberal.”