The atrium of the Penn State Downtown Theatre Center was standing room only last Wednesday for the first Research Unplugged event of the fall semester, a conversation with Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research co-directors Michael Arthur and Tom Murphy on the economic and environmental impacts of Marcellus Shale drilling in Pennsylvania. Tom Murphy opened… Read more »
A few years ago every geologist involved in Appalachian Basin oil and gas knew about the Devonian black shale called the Marcellus. Its black color made it easy to spot in the field and its slightly radioactive signature made it a very easy pick on a geophysical well log. However, very few of these geologists… Read more »
As a result of the recent Pennsylvania state budget compromise, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently received bids for the leasing of state lands by gas drilling companies. The leases were for up to 32,000 acres of land in Cameron, Potter, Tioga, Clinton and Clearfield counties. The land is located in State… Read more »
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection recently announced new regulations for natural gas drillers in Pennsylvania. The new regulations are designed to improve safety and protect underground water supplies. Additionally, DEP will hire 68 new inspectors to police water supplies surrounding gas drilling sites. The new regulations will require quarterly inspections of drill sites, mandate… Read more »
Exploration for natural gas in Northeast Pennsylvania represents dangerous work for everyone involved. Injuries and death can occur without notice. Accidents can occur not only during drilling operations but also during truck transport, pumping, well servicing, well restoration, rig construction and rig dismantling. These accidents include falls, explosions, exposure to gas and toxins, equipment collapse,… Read more »
