Why do we drill into Marcellus Shale?
Unconventional shale wells in Pennsylvania are drilled horizontally because it offers access to a larger quantity of natural gas, while disturbing a significantly smaller area on the surface. Both vertical and horizontal unconventional shale wells produce marketable quantities of natural gas.
What is the biggest problem with mining shale gas?
Air pollution and water contamination due to the toxic chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing are the greatest concerns within fracking sites, while the need for wastewater disposal and shrinking water supplies are also pressing issues directly related to the procedure.
Is shale gas the same as fracking?
Shale gas is natural gas stored deep underground in fine-grained sedimentary rocks. It can be extracted using a process known as hydraulic fracturing – or “fracking” – which involves drilling long horizontal wells in shale rocks more than a kilometre below the surface.
How long can the natural gas supply in the Marcellus Shale support the US?
Assuming the same annual rate of U.S. dry natural gas production in 2020 of about 30 Tcf, the United States has enough dry natural gas to last about 98 years.
How is Marcellus Shale drilled?
Part of the process of preparing a Marcellus gas well for production involves pumping millions of gallons of water, sand, and chemicals into the well under very high pressures to crack the shale apart and prop open the cracks—a process called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.”
Can you drill a well in shale?
For instance, if you drill a well into an area composed of shale where there are many voids between the layers and millions of fractures to hold water, the chances are that the well will be a good producer.
How do you extract shale gas?
Hydraulic fracturing – commonly known as fracking – is the process used to extract shale gas. Deep holes are drilled down into the shale rock, followed by horizontal drilling to access more of the gas, as shale reserves are typically distributed horizontally rather than vertically.
What is shale drilling?
Hydraulic fracturing (commonly called “fracking” or “hydrofracking”) is a technique in which water, chemicals, and sand are pumped into the well to unlock the hydrocarbons trapped in shale formations by opening cracks (fractures) in the rock and allowing natural gas to flow from the shale into the well.
How much natural gas is left in the Marcellus Shale?
According to the USGS assessment, the Marcellus Shale contains about 84 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas and 3.4 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas liquids.