Aug. 25 webinar to examine effect of Marcellus gas activity on habitat
http://live.psu.edu/story/54504#nw69
Thursday, August 11, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — As the Marcellus natural-gas boom has reverberated around Pennsylvania, residents and scientists alike have expressed concern about the impact extensive drilling and associated infrastructure development is having on wildlife habitat.
Wildlife managers and protectors are worried about forest fragmentation, the advance of invasive plant species and the effect the Marcellus play is having on activities such as hunting, fishing, bird watching and wildlife viewing.
There have been more than 2,350 wells drilled into the deep Marcellus formation under Pennsylvania in the last few years, primarily in the southwest, northeast and northcentral regions.
A Web-based seminar presented by Penn State Extension will offer a look at the latest information on the subject. Titled, “A Research Update on the Effects of Marcellus Shale Drilling on Wildlife Habitat,” the one-hour session will take place at 1 p.m. on Aug. 25.
Margaret Brittingham, professor of wildlife resources in the College of Agricultural Sciences
“The webinar will cover landscape and habitat changes associated with Marcellus Shale exploration and development, and how that may affect Pennsylvania wildlife and wildlife-associated recreation,” said presenter Margaret Brittingham, professor of wildlife resources in the College of Agricultural Sciences.
“I will discuss research we recently have completed on shallow wells and give an overview of our current research project, which is looking at the effects of Marcellus Shale gas exploration and development on wildlife habitat in general and forest songbirds in particular.”
Pennsylvania contains internationally important breeding habitat for a number of neotropical migrant songbirds that — if degraded — would affect world populations, Brittingham noted. And much of the extensive gas development is occurring in the state’s northern tier, where some of the densest forests in North America provide ecologically vital bird habitat.
However, that new research is in its early phase, Brittingham explained. “We currently are collecting baseline data and determining whether there are any detectable changes at this stage of development,” she said.
“I will conclude the webinar by discussing habitat-restoration needs, guidelines and opportunities, both for minimizing potential problems and enhancing habitat quality.”
The webinar is part of a series of online workshops addressing opportunities and challenges related to the state’s Marcellus Shale gas boom. Information about how to register for the session is available on the webinar page of Penn State Extension’s natural-gas website at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/webinars.
A webinar at 1 p.m. on Sept. 15 will focus on current legal issues in shale-gas development.
Previous webinars, publications and information on topics such as air pollution from gas development; the gas boom’s effect on landfills; water use and quality; zoning; gas-leasing considerations for landowners; implications for local communities; and gas pipelines and right-of-way issues also are available on the Penn State Extension natural-gas website (http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas).
For more information about the webinar, contact John Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at 724-837-1402 or by email at jdt15@psu.edu.
July 21 webinar to focus on natural gas pipelines
http://live.psu.edu/story/54077#nw69
Friday, July 8, 2011
The type of pipeline -- whether it’s a gathering line or a much larger interstate transmission line -- determines how much surface disturbance takes place.
University Park, Pa. — A Web-based seminar to be presented by Penn State Extension July 21 will explore pipeline development and regulation in regions of the state being intensely affected by drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale formation.
Speaking in the webinar will be Wayne County extension educator Dave Messersmith, based in Honesdale, who is part of Penn State’s Marcellus Education Team and coordinates the university’s annual Marcellus Summit, and Paul Metro, chief of the Gas Safety Division of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
They will discuss pipeline construction, associated surface infrastructure (valves, compressor stations, etc.), pipeline impacts on the landscape and in communities, ways to reduce pipeline impacts, negotiating terms for a pipeline right-of-way and regulatory oversight of gas pipelines in Pennsylvania.
There have been more than 2,300 wells drilled into the deep Marcellus layer in Pennsylvania in the last few years, primarily in the southwest, northeast and northcentral regions. Many pipelines have been and are being built to get the large volume of gas they produce to consumers.
A pipeline right-of-way is a strip of land over and around natural gas pipelines where some of the property owner’s legal rights have been granted to a pipeline operator, Messersmith said. A right-of-way agreement between the pipeline company and the property owner is also called an easement, which is usually filed in the county Register and Recorders Office with property deeds.
“Many people are concerned about eminent domain as it relates to pipelines,” he said. “In reality the type of pipeline — whether it’s a gathering line or an interstate transmission line — will determine who provides regulatory oversight and whether eminent domain is possible.”
Penn State Extension offers a publication called “Negotiating Pipeline Rights-of-Way in Pennsylvania,” which Messersmith authored, for people interested in knowing more about pipeline issues. Part of the Marcellus Fact Sheet Series, single copies can be obtained free of charge by Pennsylvania residents through county Penn State Extension offices, or by contacting the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Distribution Center at 814-865-6713 or AgPubsDist@psu.edu. The publication also is available in digital format at http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/PDFs/ua465.pdf online.
The July 21 webinar is part of a series of online workshops addressing opportunities and challenges related to the state’s Marcellus Shale gas boom. Information about how to register for the webinar is available on the webinar page of Penn State Extension’s natural-gas website at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/webinars online.
Future webinars will focus on a research update on the effects of shale drilling on wildlife habitat and current legal issues in shale-gas development.
Previous webinars, publications and information on topics such as air pollution from gas development, the gas boom’s effect on landfills, water use and quality, zoning, gas-leasing considerations for landowners, and implications for local communities also are available on the Penn State Extension natural-gas website, at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas online.
For more information, contact John Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at 724-837-1402 or jdt15@psu.edu.
May 19 webinar explores impacts of natural gas industry on landfills
http://live.psu.edu/story/53255#nw69
Thursday, May 5, 2011
The Marcellus natural gas boom has generated business for landfills, but it has also presented challenges.
University Park, Pa. – Landfills in the region affected by the Marcellus Shale natural-gas boom have seen sharply higher revenues and felt more than a few headaches, according to solid waste experts.
“The Marcellus play has been good for the landfill business,” said Jay Alexander, general manager of the Wayne Township Landfill and a member of the Clinton County Solid Waste Authority. “But there is no question that it has brought pros and cons.”
Alexander and Larry Shilling, regional vice president of Casella Waste Systems, will be featured speakers during a Web-based seminar on May 19, presented by Penn State Extension. Titled, “The Impacts of the Natural Gas Industry on Landfill Operations,” the webinar will start at 1 p.m.
Shilling noted that Casella, which operates 10 landfills — including three in New York located in the Marcellus play and the McKean County landfill in Pennsylvania — is trying to come to grips with the challenges associated with solid wastes generated by the Marcellus Shale gas industry.
“Our company has commissioned two studies regarding oil and gas waste as it relates to landfills,” he said. “The first was an evaluation of the radiological characteristics of Marcellus drill cuttings; the second was a modeling effort to predict radiological impacts to leachate from a landfill that accepts drill cuttings.”
Shilling added that his presentation in the webinar will focus on the results of those two studies. “Our important role in the development of the Marcellus Shale natural-gas resource is to ensure we understand and manage the associated waste in the most appropriate manner,” he said.
The gas industry has brought new waste streams into the market, such as plant trash, drill cuttings and liquid wastes, Alexander said. “That has provided us with additional income, allowing us to move up landfill expansion plans, including updating $5 million worth of new equipment. And we were able to fund it all out of cash flow.”
Alexander noted that his company also has been able to purchase surrounding properties that were targeted for long-term growth of its landfill. “That’s all spending that puts money into local pockets by creating additional jobs,” he said.
“We have seen an increased workload for local hauling contractors, with six to eight of them working daily with our landfill, hauling waste for the gas industry. And with the increase in materials, we have seen the income for our recycling operations rise.”
But, Alexander said, with the added business and profit come a few negatives, which he will address during the webinar.
“We have to deal with and control greatly increased truck traffic, the added materials have reduced landfill gas production, we have increased leachate generation and we have additional odor concerns,” he said.
The May19 webinar is part of a series of online workshops addressing opportunities and challenges related to the state’s Marcellus Shale gas boom. Information about how to register for the webinar is available on the webinar page of Penn State Extension’s natural-gas website at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/webinars online.
Future webinars will include speakers on the following topics: air quality issues related to unconventional gas plays; pipeline development and regulation; a research update on the effects of shale drilling on wildlife habitat; and current legal issues in shale-gas development.
Previous webinars, publications and information on topics such as water use and quality, zoning, gas-leasing considerations for landowners, and implications for local communities also are available at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas online.
For more information, contact John Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at 724-837-1402 or jdt15@psu.edu
Webinar on Marcellus Shale natural-gas trends offered on April 21
The webinar on April 21 will cover the latest trends in Marcellus shale gas-drillig leases, royalties and production.
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The latest trends in Marcellus Shale natural-gas leases, royalties and production will be discussed by experts in a Web-based seminar April 21, sponsored by Penn State Extension.
Les Greevy, of Greevy and Associates in Williamsport, Pa., and Kris Vanderman, of Vanderman Law in Charleroi, Pa. — both firms that specialize in representing clients with Marcellus Shale natural-gas interests — will make presentations in the webinar.
“We started with Extension in 2005-06, doing educational programs for landowners, and we represent many people with gas-drilling leases,” Greevy said. “We have been dealing with issues such as going from the lease stage to the production stage, estate planning, protecting assets and tax issues.
“A lot of leases are starting to run out, so we are starting a whole new cycle of leases. We’ll be discussing that, as well as pipeline-property issues and trends in contract addenda, royalty payments and cash-bonus payments.”
Greevy noted that business dealings with gas-drilling companies have changed somewhat in northcentral Pennsylvania. “The trend that we are seeing now in leasing is less competition between companies,” he said. “Previously you had any number of companies competing for leases and there was rapid growth in leasing.
“Now, the gas companies have pretty much staked out geographic areas that they’re interested in and are not competing quite as much, and as a result, prices are down a little, and the ability to get protective addenda in leases is diminished.”
Vanderman, whose firm represents only individuals and groups with land to lease — and never the gas-drilling companies — has seen the same kind of consolidation in leasing by the companies in the state’s southwestern corner. And he also has witnessed a similar resulting drop in lease payments to and leverage for landowners.
“Right now, there is an active swapping of leases between companies, and they are carving out their territories,” he said. “You have companies that are more or less dominant in areas,and this consolidation of territory by lease swaps or farm-out agreements is ongoing.”
Regarding the trend towards landowners having less ability to insert protective addenda into leases, Vanderman indicated that companies from out-of-state now appear less flexible than they had been when the Marcellus play was newer in Pennsylvania. However, in the southwest there are two “home” companies, EQT and CNX — the third, Atlas, was just aquired by Chevron — that help keep competition in play, which is helpful for some landowners depending on geography.
“I can say unequivocally the hand of Texas is revealed,” he said. “Some of the newest ‘standard offer’ leases are extraordinarily — even dramatically — favorable to the interests of the lessee gas companies. The issue here is, what is a landowner willing to concede for money?”
Vanderman noted that, during the webinar, he intends to also talk about environmental progress that has been made voluntarily by operators in the southwest part of the state. “That includes on-site water-treatment systems that have been implemented, recycling of flowback water from fracking operations and installation of underground water-piping systems to remove truck traffic from the roads,” he said.
The webinar is part of a series of workshops and events addressing circumstances related to the state’s Marcellus Shale gas boom. Information about how to register for the webinar is available on the webinar page of Penn State Extension’s natural-gas website.
< http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas >
Future webinars will include speakers on the following topics: the impacts of the natural-gas industry on landfill operations; air quality issues related to unconventional gas plays; a research update on the effects of Marcellus Shale drilling on wildlife habitat; and current legal issues in Marcellus Shale development.
Previous webinars, publications and information on topics such as water use and quality, zoning, gas-leasing considerations for landowners and implications for local communities also are available on the Extension natural-gas website.
For more information, contact John Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at 724-837-1402 or jdt15@psu.edu.
Friday, April 8, 2011
http://live.psu.edu/story/52684#nw69
Webinar next Wednesday on Household Water Treatment Systems
The Water Resources Extension Webinar series will continue next week with a presentation on Household Water Treatment Systems on February 23 from noon to 1 PM by Dr. Tom McCarty. Tom is an Extension Educator with Penn State Cooperative Extension in Cumberland County.
Webinar Summary
If you have seen one of those fiberglass “missile” tanks in a basement and wondered “what is that for?” or have been curious about the extra sink spout that supplies “RO” water, please come and join the discussion at noon on February 23rd. The webinar will discuss the need for household water treatment and various approaches to treatment. We’ll discuss disinfection, softening, iron removal, rotten-egg odor (hydrogen sulfide) treatment, corrosion control, chlorine removal, and other devices to provide small amounts of high purity water for drinking and cooking. You won’t be an expert by the end of lunch but the tips we’ll provide will allow you to ask some pretty good questions of the next water treatment salesman. And for sure you will have some insight into whether or not there should be some treatment equipment on your drinking water supply.
How to Partcipate
The live webinar will occur from noon to 1 PM and is accessible at: https://breeze.psu.edu/water1
To participate in the live webinar you will need to have registered and received a “Friend of Penn State” ID and password. To learn more about registration and additional details about the webinar series, go to:
http://extension.psu.edu/water/webinar-series/schedule/registration
Taped versions of each webinar in the series are available to anyone. A link to the presentation video along with a PDF copy of the presentation slides, links to relevant publications, and a copy of the question/answer session are posted at:
http://extension.psu.edu/water/webinar-series/past-webinars
Addional Upcoming Webinars
March 30, 2011 – Management of Nuisance Aquatic Plants and Algae in Ponds and Lakes
April 27, 2011 – Using Rain Barrels and Rain Gardens to Manage Household Stormwater
Analysis of Marcellus Shale gas tax issues offered in Feb. 16 webinar
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — An online seminar offered by Penn State Cooperative Extension at 1 p.m. on Feb. 16 will cover what Pennsylvania residents who benefit financially from natural-gas wells on their properties need to know about tax implications.
In his presentation, “Dealing with Gas Tax Issues: What You Need to Know,” Associate Professor of Forest Resources Mike Jacobson will address primarily landowners who want to understand the basic issues. However, he also will provide financial advisers, accountants and tax preparers with some useful information.
“Landowners who lease gas rights will receive an up-front bonus payment and then receive royalty payments when production begins,” Jacobson said. “Dealing with this new-found wealth requires careful financial and tax planning.
“The tax law surrounding gas leases and royalties is complex with its own specific rules,” he said. “By understanding these rules, landowners possibly can save money by avoiding unnecessary taxes.”
The webinar will address mainly the tax consequences of gas income, Jacobson noted. It will cover issues such as types of income, how to report income, depletion and expensing opportunities, wealth and family planning, and property and severance taxes.
The tax-issues webinar is part of an ongoing series of workshops and events addressing circumstances related to the state’s Marcellus Shale gas boom. Information about how to register for the webinar is available on the webinar page of Penn State Extension’s natural gas impacts website at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/webinars.
Another one-hour webinar, “Natural Gas Well Development and Emergency Response and Management,” will be held at 1 p.m. on March 17.
Previous webinars, publications and information on topics such as water use and quality, zoning, gas-leasing considerations for landowners and implications for local communities also are available on the Extension natural-gas impacts website (http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas).
For more information, contact John Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at 724-837-1402 or jdt15@psu.edu.
http://live.psu.edu/story/51221#nw69
Friday, February 4, 2011
Analysis of Marcellus Shale natural-gas legislation offered in webinar
http://live.psu.edu/story/50593#nw69
Friday, January 7, 2011
Analysis of Marcellus Shale natural-gas legislation offered in webinar
University Park, Pa. — An online seminar offered by Penn State Cooperative Extension at 1 p.m. on Jan. 20 will provide expert analysis of state legislation enacted and considered related to the exploration and production of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale formation.
Although the General Assembly was active during the 2009-10 legislative session in discussing and considering legislation, many issues remain unresolved regarding development of the Marcellus Shale, according to Ross Pifer, clinical professor and director of the Agricultural Law Resource and Reference Center at Penn State. The center is a collaboration between the University’s Dickinson School of Law and College of Agricultural Sciences.
In the webinar, titled “Marcellus Shale Legislation: What Was Accomplished in the 2009-10 Session and What Issues Remain to be Addressed,” Pifer will review the legislative session that ended Dec. 31 and preview the current session.
“I will discuss the details of natural-gas legislation enacted during the most recent legislative session as well as the various topics that were the subject of legislation introduced in, but not enacted by, the General Assembly,” he said. “I will then look forward to the legislative session that has just begun and discuss issues that are likely to be the subject of further legislative debate.”
In the 2009-10 session, legislation was enacted to provide for greater public accessibility to production data from Marcellus Shale wells. Legislation also was enacted to address the impact of natural-gas development on land that is enrolled in the Clean and Green preferential tax-assessment program.
“Through this legislation, counties across the state will be addressing this issue in a uniform fashion,” Pifer said. “Prior to the enactment of this legislation, counties across the commonwealth were treating this issue in a disparate manner.”
The topic that received the most attention throughout the conclusion of the last legislative session was whether or not Pennsylvania would implement a severance tax on natural gas. Ultimately, the General Assembly did not enact legislation providing for this tax, but the subject may be revisited.
“One issue that likely will be discussed in the new session is compulsory pooling,” Pifer said. “This has been a controversial topic as many landowners are concerned about the impact that such a law would have on their property rights. On the other hand, the state has a legitimate policy interest in ensuring that development occurs as efficiently as possible.”
The webinar is part of an ongoing series of workshops and events addressing issues related to the state’s Marcellus Shale gas boom. Information about how to register for the webinar is available on the webinar page of Penn State Cooperative Extension’s natural-gas impacts website.
Additional one-hour webinars will be held at 1 p.m. on the following dates:
– Feb. 16: “Dealing with Gas Tax Issues: What You Need to Know.”
– March 17: “Natural Gas Well Development and Emergency Response and Management.”
Previous webinars, publications and other information on topics such as water use and quality, zoning, gas-leasing considerations for landowners and implications for local communities also are available on the Cooperative Extension natural-gas impacts website.
For more information, contact John Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at 724-837-1402 or jdt15@psu.edu.
A primer on Marcellus Shale geology and technology offered in webinar
http://live.psu.edu/story/50263#nw69
Monday, December 6, 2010
A primer on Marcellus Shale geology and technology offered in webinar
University Park, Pa. — By now, many are aware of the huge volume of natural gas held in the deeply buried Marcellus Shale formation and its enormous economic potential for Pennsylvania and neighboring states.
For those who want to learn more about the Marcellus “play,” Penn State Cooperative Extension is offering a free, Web-based seminar at 1 p.m. on Dec. 16, titled, “Plumbing the Depths in Pa.: A Primer on Marcellus Shale Geology and Technology.”
During the one-hour webinar, Michael Arthur, professor of geosciences, will focus on the geology of the Marcellus Shale and technology for extraction as they influence exploration and development of the natural-gas resource. Co-director of the Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research, Arthur will answer questions from online participants during the session.
“The middle Devonian Marcellus Formation in the Appalachian Basin of Pennsylvania and New York is estimated to contain in excess of 486 trillion cubic feet of extractable natural gas,” he said. “That is sufficient for more than 20 years supply at the United States’ current rate of consumption.”
Arthur pointed out that there also is the possibility of additional significant shale gas deposits that may be targeted within the same basin — Devonian black shale units above the Marcellus Shale and the Ordovician Utica Shale below.
“In my presentation, I will discuss the geologic characteristics of the Marcellus Shale formation, the estimated volume of gas deposits at various points, and the process and effect of hydraulic fracturing,” Arthur said. “I also will address the continuing concern that drilling operations could allow gas migration into shallow, fresh-water aquifers, which is now being studied intensively.”
The webinar, “Plumbing the Depths in Pa.: A Primer on Marcellus Shale Geology and Technology,” is part of an ongoing series of workshops and events addressing issues related to the state’s Marcellus Shale gas boom. Information about how to register for the webinar is available on the webinar page of Penn State Cooperative Extension’s “Natural Gas” website. .
Additional one-hour webinars will be held at 1 p.m. on the following dates:
– Jan. 20, 2011: “Marcellus Shale Legislation: What Was Accomplished in the 2009-10 Session and What Issues Remain to be Addressed.”
– Feb. 16, 2011: “Dealing with Gas Tax Issues: What You Need to Know.”
– March 17, 2011: “Natural Gas Well Development and Emergency Response and Management.”
Previous webinars, publications and other information on topics such as water use and quality, zoning, gas-leasing considerations for landowners and implications for local communities also are available on the “Natural Gas” website at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas.
For more information, contact John Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at 724-837-1402 or by e-mail at jdt15@psu.edu.
New state regulations to deal with gas drilling in Marcellus Shale
New state regulations to deal with gas drilling in Marcellus Shale
Friday, November 5, 2010
University Park, Pa. — As the natural-gas drilling boom into the deep Marcellus Shale formation has unfolded, state regulators have become increasingly aware of pollution risks to ground and surface water, and they have scrambled to develop regulations to protect valuable natural resources.
Two experts with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection will offer details about the current regulatory environment in a free, one-hour, Web-based seminar at 1 p.m. on Nov. 18.
Presented by Penn State Cooperative Extension, the webinar will feature Dana Aunkst, director of DEP’s bureau of water standards and facilities regulation, and Eugene Pine, professional geologist manager with the agency. Online participants will have the opportunity to ask the speakers questions during the session.
“In 2010, the Pennsylvania Environmental Quality Board amended the Pennsylvania Code to include new treatment requirements for total dissolved solids,” Aunkst said. “This final form rulemaking ensures the continued protection of the commonwealth’s water resources from new and expanded sources of total dissolved solids.”
Most importantly, Aunkst noted, the final rulemaking guarantees that state waters will not exceed a threshold of 500 milligrams per liter. “In doing so, the final rulemaking assures the continued use and protection of drinking water intakes on streams throughout the commonwealth,” he said. “That provides the required protection of aquatic life and maintains continued economic viability of the current water users.”
The final rulemaking adopts a combination of recommended approaches for addressing these larger loads of total dissolved solids, Aunkst pointed out. This combination of approaches includes an industrial-sector-based regulation along with a watershed-based analysis.
“The sector-based piece focuses on the natural-gas industry, mandating the treatment of gas-well wastewater,” he said. “This approach is based on available, proven treatment technologies for this industry and takes cost into consideration. In addition, this treatment must be performed at a centralized wastewater treatment facility to the standards in the proposed rulemaking.
“These requirements will assure that any threat of water pollution from this rapidly growing industry is prevented in accordance with the Pennsylvania Clean Streams Law.”
Aunkst’s presentation will provide background on the need for the new regulation, a history of the development of the regulation and an update on the implementation of the new requirements.
In addition, Pine’s presentation will explain how his department is making changes to the regulations and will detail the proposed and final rulemaking process, including timeframes, public-comment periods and so forth.
“I will generally explain where we are in this process and then highlight the more significant revisions to the existing regulations,” he said. “The regulatory revisions emphasize, and are intended to strengthen, proper well-drilling, construction and operational practices.”
A properly cased and cemented oil or gas well is critical to protecting groundwater, public health, safety and the environment, explained Pine. Many of the regulations governing well construction were promulgated in 1989 and remain largely unchanged.
“New well-drilling and completion practices used to develop Marcellus Shale wells, as well as recent impacts to drinking water supplies and the environment by both ‘traditional’ and Marcellus Shale wells, prompted the department to re-evaluate existing requirements,” he said.
With the continued development of the oil and gas industry, the potential exists for natural gas to migrate from the wellbore by either improperly constructed wells or older, deteriorated wells, Pine noted.
“This migration could adversely affect underground sources of drinking water and pose a threat to public safety and the environment,” he said. “Accordingly, DEP has revised its well-drilling and operation regulations.”
The webinar, “Pa. DEP Regulatory Update,” is part of an ongoing series of workshops and events addressing issues related to the state’s Marcellus Shale gas boom. Information about how to register for the webinar is available at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/webinars.
Additional one-hour webinars will be held at 1 p.m. on the following dates:
– Dec. 16: “Plumbing the Depths in Pa.: A Primer on Marcellus Shale Geology and Technology.”
– Jan. 20, 2011: “Marcellus Shale Legislation: What Was Accomplished in the 2009-10 Session and What Issues Remain to be Addressed.”
– Feb. 16, 2011: “Dealing with Gas Tax Issues: What You Need to Know.”
– March 17, 2011: “Natural Gas Well Development and Emergency Response and Management.”
Previous webinars, publications and other information on topics such as water use and quality, zoning, gas-leasing considerations for landowners and implications for local communities also are available online at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas.
For more information, contact John Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at 724-837-1402 or by e-mail at jdt15@psu.edu.
Webinars: Water management for Marcellus Shale gas production a growing issue
http://live.psu.edu/story/49365#nw69
Friday, October 22, 2010
Webinars: Water management for Marcellus Shale gas production a growing issue
University Park, Pa. — Billions of dollars already have been invested by natural-gas companies in Pennsylvania for Marcellus Shale gas exploration. Similarly, millions of gallons of water have been utilized to develop billions of cubic feet of natural gas.
The natural-gas industry is pursuing ways to minimize potential environmental impacts during development of the rich Marcellus formation, such as by treating and reusing wastewater produced during the process. However, according to one Penn State expert, as the Marcellus natural-gas play grows, the demand for water for hydraulic fracturing will directly increase, as will the need for infrastructure to treat flowback water for reuse or disposal.
“To minimize the environmental and financial costs of flowback treatment, many operators are now reusing flowback and other impaired waters such as acid mine drainage,” said David Yoxtheimer, hydrogeologist and extension associate with Penn State’s Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research. < http://www.marcellus.psu.edu/ >
Yoxtheimer was one of the featured speakers during an Oct. 21 Web-based seminar titled, “Water Use and Water Reuse/Recycling in Marcellus Shale Gas Exploration and Production.” Sponsored by Penn State Cooperative Extension < http://extension.psu.edu/ >, the webinar provided an overview of new strategies to conserve fresh water and reuse waters affected by the gas exploration process.
When shale gas drillers develop natural gas using the hydraulic-fracturing technique, they inject 3 million to 5 million gallons of water, along with sand and a relatively low concentration of additives into the Marcellus formation to release the natural gas. According to the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, about 10 percent (300,000 to 500,000 gallons) of the injected hydraulic-fracturing fluids return to the surface via the natural-gas well within about one month.
This wastewater, known as “flowback,” contains relatively high concentrations of salt as well as some metals that were dissolved out of the shale during the fracturing process. The flowback water requires treatment prior to release back into the environment, but many companies are now reusing the flowback for subsequent hydraulic-fracturing operations, which has environmental benefits and reduces truck traffic on roads.
“Simply reusing the water is only the first step, but the lack of processing back to the water-quality standards is a big challenge to conventional thinking,” said Tony Gaudlip of Range Resources. Gaudlip, a co-presenter in the webinar, joined Range Resources in January 2008 following various industry positions in south Texas, Wyoming, the Middle East, Europe and Asia.
“We do not need crystal clear water to use as a base fluid for fracturing,” he said. “We do not need to treat the water at all in order to get good production — no distillation, crystallization, reverse osmosis, nanofiltration, etc. That’s all unnecessary to meet new downhole requirements,” Gaudlip said.
“What Range is doing is different,” Yoxtheimer said. “The company is fairly progressive and basically is recycling 100 percent of its water, and other companies are now following that trend.”
Yoxtheimer added that reusing flowback — and using impaired waters such as acid mine drainage and effluent from municipal or industrial wastewater plants — greatly offsets the need to use fresh water drawn from local streams and rivers.
Yoxtheimer said that Marcellus development is “proceeding pretty much full steam ahead” in Pennsylvania despite some opposition. “There are a lot of economic opportunities there that are potentially good, but also some potential environmental consequences. Ideally, a fine balance can be struck by doing the exploration and extraction in an environmentally responsible way.”
The “Water Use and Water Reuse/Recycling in Marcellus Shale Gas Exploration and Production” program was part of an ongoing series of workshops addressing issues related to the state’s Marcellus Shale gas boom. One-hour webinars also will be held at 1 p.m. on the following dates:
–Nov. 18: “Pa. DEP Regulatory Update.” Presenters: Dana Aunkst and Scott Perry, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
–Dec. 16: “Plumbing the Depths in Pa.: A Primer on Marcellus Shale Geology and Technology.” Presenter: Mike Arthur, Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research.
–Jan. 20, 2011: “Marcellus Shale Legislation: What Was Accomplished in the 2009-10 Session and What Issues Remain to be Addressed.” Presenter: Ross Pifer, Dickinson School of Law, Penn State.
–Feb. 16, 2011: “Dealing with Gas Tax Issues: What You Need to Know.” Presenter: Mike Jacobson, Penn State School of Forest Resources.
–Mar. 17, 2011: “Natural Gas Well Development and Emergency Response and Management.” Presenter: Craig Konkle, Lycoming County Office of Emergency Management.
Previous webinars — which covered topics such as water use and quality, gas-leasing considerations for landowners and implications for local communities — can be viewed at Penn State Cooperative Extension’s natural-gas website. <http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/webinars >
For more information, contact John Turack, extension educator in Westmoreland County, at 724-837-1402 or by e-mail at jdt15@psu.edu.