Marcellus Shale info.

1. Investigating Energy Alternatives:
The Marcellus Shale
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2. Overview of the Marcellus Shale
What is the Marcellus Shale?
The Marcellus Shale is a layer of deep
sedimentary rock, deposited by an ancient
river delta, with the remains of it now
forming the Catskill Mountains. The
Marcellus Shale extends deep
underground from Ohio and West Virginia
northeast into Pennsylvania and southern
New York., including the Catskills and the
West-of-Hudson portion of the New York
City Watershed.
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3. Map of the Marcellus Shale
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dep/images/featu
res_centercolumn_lg/feature_marcellus_sh
ale_lg.gif
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4. Images of the Marcellus Shale
http://search.aol.com/aol/image?
q=images+of+marcellus+shale+gas&v_t
=customfirefoxright-ff&s_it=searchtabs
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5. How Will Natural Gas Be Harnessed?
Drilling companies drill vertically down to the
desired distance, and drill horizontally into the shale.
They then use hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, to
loosen up the rock enough to get the gas out.
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6. Impact on the Environment
 There are many environmental impacts associated with hydraulic
fracturing.
 water consumption, wastewater disposal, use of toxic chemicals,
substantial truck traffic, air pollution, noise from the loud, twenty-four
hour hydrofracking operations, potential groundwater and well water
contamination, deforestation, roadbuilding and surface water runoff
from these large industrial sites.
 The cumulative effect of these impacts may indeed transform entire
communities – turning previously rural, agrarian areas into “fractured
communities.”
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7. Effects on the Local Economy
 The economic development potential of Marcellus shale has been much debated in a variety of papers.
These studies mainly looked at the overall potential for the Commonwealth.
 It is important to know how much of the economic benefits stay local since that is where most of the
direct costs of development are going to be found such as an influx of new workers, increases in traffic,
increasing demands for services, greater demand for water and other natural resources, and more
wear and tear on the infrastructure.
 Due to the high specialization of the business, it is clear that many of the economic benefits of gas
development occur outside of the counties where drilling is occurring. For instance, drilling rigs are
brought in rather than leased from local, county-based businesses. However, from anecdotes, surveys
and data reviewed, the money spent in these communities plays a significant role in the local
economic impact. Much of this is seen in the secondary businesses such as local construction,
trucking, hotels, food service and other non-specialized services not unique to the industry.
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8. How Are Residents Responding?
They have been rallying, posting posters about it,
going to meeting to talk against it etc.
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9. Pros and Cons of the Issue
Pros Cons
 Natural gas is a “clean” energy source. When
natural gas is burned, it emits only half the
amount of CO2 (carbon dioxide) compared to
coal. If natural gas from the Marcellus Shale
replaces some of the coal and oil used for
energy in the U.S., emissions of greenhouse
gases (CO2) and some of the chemicals that
contribute to acid rain when coal is burned
(SO2) can be reduced.
 In areas where energy development occurs,
towns usually experience an increase in
economic activity. Landowners receiving
payments from natural gas royalties and gas
company employees may spend their money
at local stores, restaurants, and hotels. This
can help local shop owners and also increase
state and local tax revenue which is used to
pay for things like better schools and roads.
 During the drilling process, wells for drinking
water may become polluted with a variety of
contaminants, such as methane gas. Gas
wells require miles of roads and pipelines to
move the natural gas from the drilling site to
the market. Construction of these
transportation corridors can break up the
natural landscape and impact wildlife
habitat.
 Biodiversity may be lost if aquatic plants and
animals cannot tolerate changing water
conditions. When large volumes of water are
pumped from a stream or river, water
chemistry can change significantly with a
drop in water level. Temperatures may rise
and oxygen levels may drop, affecting aquatic
species that don't have a wide tolerance.
Biodiversity may also be reduced if invasive
species, such as the zebra mussel or golden
algae, are introduced into a water body
during the drilling process.
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10. Issue Analysis
 The greatest numbers of environmental violations were related to improper erosion and
sedimentation plans: 625 (26% of all violations likely to impact the environment). The second greatest
number involved faulty pollution prevention techniques: 550 (23% of violations likely to impact the
environment).
 The top five operators for total number of violations were, in order, Cabot Oil and Gas Corp. with 412;
Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC with 393; Chief Oil and Gas, LLC with 313; Talisman Energy USA, Inc.
with 303; and East Resources, Inc. with 170. The top five operators for average number of violations
per well drilled were, in order, Guardian Exploration, LLC with an average of 11 violations per well
drilled; AB Resources PA, LLC with 9; JW Operating Co. with 5.3; Flatirons Development, LLC with
4.67 and Novus Operating, LLC with 4.63.
 Between 2008 and 2011, on average, Pennsylvania saw more than two violations per day uncovered by
PADEP, roughly 1.5 of which had the greatest potential to impact the environment. Increase
mandatory minimum penalties for polluters that violate our environmental laws. There must be
stronger incentives to protect our environment and the public’s health. Update and increase the
bonding requirements for gas drilling companies in order to cover the full cost of completing a gas
well. This must include preparing for worst case scenarios and accidents as well as the potential long-term
environmental effects from Marcellus Shale gas drilling. Pennsylvania’s taxpayers should not be
left footing the bill for an expensive BP-like disaster related to gas drilling in the Commonwealth, or
an expensive legacy of pollution similar to that left by coal mining. Put areas that supply our drinking
water, critical wildlife habitat and ecosystems, and our state forests and other public lands completely
off limits to drilling.
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11. Works Cited
 http://pennenvironmentcenter.org/reports/pac/risky-business-analysis-marcellus-shale-gas-drilling-violations-
pennsylvania-2008-2011
 http://easternpaseagrant.org/marcellus/linkpage.php?
content=prosncons&classname=intromanag&titlename=Pros%20and%20Cons
 http://news.psu.edu/story/161842/2011/01/07/analysis-marcellus-shale-natural-gas-legislation-offered-
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