Archive for the ‘Pennsylvania Natural Gas Drilling’ Category

Five areas report fails to provide proper context, information on Pa.’s regulatory oversight

Canonsburg, PA – Yesterday’s New York Times included a story highly critical of the regulatory framework governing waste water treatment and disposal from natural gas exploration in Pennsylvania. While raising some valid questions about water monitoring, this article – seven months in the making – lacks context, offers misleading comparisons and in some cases put forth information that is not supported by the facts.

Following we offer up that context and provide interested parties additional background – all available in the public domain – that paints an entirely different picture than what was laid out by the Times yesterday morning. We hope you find this additional information helpful and informative.

Additional background and context on claims outlined in New York Times story:

NY Times Myth: “[Pennsylvania] is the only state that has allowed drillers to discharge much of their waste through sewage treatment plants into rivers.”

• Pennsylvania leads the nation in waste water recycling; vast majority of produced water reused in drilling operations: “State environmental regulators say that nearly 70 percent of the wastewater produced by Marcellus Shale wells is being reused or recycled. The Marcellus Shale Coalition, an industry group, puts the number higher, saying that on average 90 percent of the water that returns to the surface is recycled.” (Scranton Times-Tribune, 2/27/11)

• Industry moving towards 100 percent recycling, zero discharge: “It makes sense to reuse this water,” said Ron Schlicher, an engineer consulting for the treatment company. “The goal here is to strive for 100-percent reuse, so we don’t have to discharge.” (Wilkes-Barre Times Leader, 10/28/10)

• Marcellus operators recycling majority of waste water: “…all of the state’s biggest drillers say they are now recycling a majority of the wastewater produced by their wells in new fracturing jobs, rather than sending it to treatment plants. Hanger said about 70 percent of the wastewater is now being recycled …” (Associated Press, 1/4/11)

• Recycling of waste water to be norm for Marcellus Shale gas wells (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, 10/20/09)

NY Times Myth: “Gas producers are generally left to police themselves when it comes to spills. In Pennsylvania, regulators do not perform unannounced inspections to check for signs of spills. Gas producers report their own spills, write their own spill response plans and lead their own cleanup efforts.”

• Flashback — DEP Inspector visits drilling site, unannounced, finds leaky valve on storage tank: “A DEP inspector discovered the spill while inspecting the well pad. The inspector found that the bottom valve on a 21,000-gallon fracking fluid tank was open and discharging fluid off the well pad. No one else was present at the pad, which has one producing Marcellus well.” (DEP press release, 11/22/10)

• In 2010 alone, DEP oversight staff performed nearly 5,000 inspections at Marcellus Shale drilling locations, a more than 100 percent increase over the previous year. (DEP Year End Workload Report, accessed 2/27/11)

• Pennsylvania recognized for having “well managed” hydraulic fracturing regulatory program: “A targeted review of the Pennsylvania program regulating the hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells has been completed by a multi-stakeholder group, which has concluded that the program is, over all, well-managed, professional and meeting its program objectives.” (STRONGER press release, 9/24/10)

• Pennsylvania hired more than 110 new inspectors, oversight personnel in last two years: “DEP was hit with layoffs after the overdue state budget was enacted in October, but the agency’s oil and gas division is considered exempt from layoffs or hiring freezes, added Mr. Hanger. All told, 193 agency employees work full time on oil and gas regulatory issues.” (Scranton Times-Tribune,1/29/11)

• Former PA Sec. of Environmental Protection details strong regulatory oversight and enforcement: “[The DEP] hired in 2009 and twice in 2010. We opened a new drilling staff office in Williamsport in 2009 and another in Scranton during 2010. Pennsylvania is the only state that has hired substantial or any staff for its drilling operation. The NYT does not say that, because it does not fit its narrative of lax Pennsylvania regulation. Indeed, the reporter deliberately did not include a long list of actions by DEP that represented strong enforcement.” (John Hanger blog, 2/27/11)

NY Times Myth: “But the relatively new drilling method — known as high-volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing, or hydrofracking — carries significant environmental risks. It involves injecting huge amounts of water, mixed with sand and chemicals, at high pressures to break up rock formations and release the gas.

• Does The Times Read The Times? According to an NY Times fact-check, from last week: “The method of drilling is not called ‘hydraulic fracturing.’ Fracturing, or ‘fracking’ is a process that is one part of drilling a well and producing oil or gas. Fracturing has been used by drillers for around 60 years.” (New York Times, 2/24/11)

NY Times fails to provide proper context: “Drilling companies were issued roughly 3,300 Marcellus gas-well permits in Pennsylvania last year, up from just 117 in 2007.”

• Like most information, without context, readers can and will be lead to think something that is not entirely accurate. While the reporter is correct in stating 3,300 Marcellus permits were issued, he fails to state that less than half that number of wells were actually drilled. According to state data, between January 1 and December 31, 2010, 1,446 Marcellus wells were drilled. (DEP Year End Workload Report, accessed 2/27/11)

NY Times fails to provide proper context, again: “The risks are particularly severe in Pennsylvania, which has seen a sharp increase in drilling, with roughly 71,000 active gas wells, up from about 36,000 in 2000.”

• Of those 71,000 active natural gas wells in Pennsylvania wells, only 2,498 are horizontal Marcellus wells – or 3.5 percent of all wells in Pennsylvania.  (DEP Year End Workload Report, accessed 2/27/11)

Bonus Fact Check

NY Times quotes former Pa. DEP secretary…

… But the reporter never actually interviewed top environmental regulator for story about environmental regulations in Pennsylvania: “[T]hough I am quoted in the piece, this reporter never interviewed me prior to the publication of the Sunday article… As Secretary, I was interviewed hundreds and probably thousands of times.  I made myself totally accessible to reporters.  My staff knew that I was available to reporters. This reporter today says he asked Governor Corbett’s administration at DEP on January 21st, three days after Governor Rendell and I left office, to confirm the quotation that the reporter strung together (sic) from some other source.” (John Hanger blog, 2/27/11)

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – Environmental Resources Management (ERM), a leading global provider of environmental, health and safety, risk, and sustainability consulting services, announced today that it has expanded its operations in Pennsylvania and has opened a new office in Williamsport, PA.

The new office, located at Penn Tower in Williamsport, builds on ERM’s presence in the region and is part of an initiative to expand business with companies working in the Marcellus Shale.  ERM will temporarily staff the office with engineers and scientists from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, PA; Syracuse and Rochester, NY.  ERM has been is a leading provider of environmental services Exploration and Production (E&P) companies and service providers throughout the Marcellus Shale region since early 2008. Projects include well and pipeline multimedia permitting; regulatory compliance; health and safety training; auditing water sourcing studies; permitting analysis of wastewater and solid waste treatment and disposal options; field sampling; spill investigation and remediation, baseline and migration studies; construction oversight; and coordination with state, regional, and federal agencies.

“Williamsport is the prime location for development of an ERM Marcellus office based upon a number of factors, including proximity to activity in the Marcellus, proximity to other ERM offices, availability of resources and infrastructure to support staff and clients, and proximity to existing and potential client office locations,” said Ed Hinchey, Associate Partner and Marcellus Program Director at ERM.  “Opening an office in Williamsport allows ERM to better serve both existing and new unconventional shale gas clients and provides additional resources to the region to assist those clients with their important environmental issues,” added Mike Gansner, Senior Associate Partner at ERM.

ERM delivers innovative solutions for oil and gas, power sector, chemical, pharmaceutical and manufacturing industry clients, helping them understand and manage their impacts on the world around them.  We have 130 offices in 40 countries and employ approximately 3,600 staff.  Our benefits are truly outstanding; our workplace is energized and we strive to become the preferred place for environmental and other professionals to build meaningful and rewarding careers.  For more information, visit ERM’s website at www.erm.com.

This course presented by Penn College of Technology, will allow the entrant, attendant, or supervisor to safely and confidently understand and evaluate the hazards and procedures associated with confined spaces. This training will help you to differentiate between a Permit- Required confined space and a Non-Permit-Required confined space. The course will address the hazards associated with confined spaces and it will ouline the duties and responsibilities of all members of a confined space entry team, emergency rescue procedures, and plan development. This course will also discuss the need for appropriate personal protective equipment and the selection characteristics for each level of protection. Because the use of instrumentation for monitoring is also essential to any confined space operation, the instruction will address numerous tupes of direct-reading instruments, including their mode of operation and limitations of each tupe. This course will effectively fulfill the requirements of 29 CFR 1910.146 for confined space entry.

This H2S Train-the-Trainer course is designed to train the participant to deliver the safety and protective measures necessary for worker safety in areas that may contain a risk for Hydrogen Sulfide. The course will focus on both the precautionary measures, as well as mitigation strategies necessary in case of workforce exposure to Hydrogen Sulfide (also known as Sour Gas). This is not an awareness course. The students will be able to issure H2S certification cards. The course will be offered on the campus of Penn College in Williamsport, PA and is sponsored by the Marcellus Shale Education and Training Center and Range Resources Appalachia, LLC. The course will be taught by Ralph Tijerina, CSP. Ralph is the Director of Health, Safety, Environmental, and Security at Range Resources Appalachia and is a Certified Master Trainer in H2S qualified through CHSI in Austin, TX. PARTICIPANTS MUST HAVE AN HSE BACKGROUND AND DOCUMENTED TRAINING EXPERIENCE. RESUMES WILL NEED TO BE SUBMITTED PRIOR TO THE START OF CLASS TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF PARTICIPANTS. SEATING IS LIMITED SO EMAIL YOUR RESUME AND QUESTIONS TO msetc@pct.edu OR CALL 570-327-4775 AND ASK FOR THE MSETC DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE TRAINING.

Canonsburg, PA – At the 23^rd Annual Junior Achievement (JA) of Western Pennsylvania Spirit of Enterprise Dinner and Awards Ceremony this week, the Marcellus Shale Coalition (MSC) received the prestigious “Impact Industry of the Year” award for its commitment to furthering the ideals and principles of the education-focused, non-profit organization. Past award recipients include CONSOL Energy, UPMC, Giant Eagle, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Eat’n Park.

“It’s a tremendous honor to receive this award on behalf of our industry,” said Kathryn Klaber, president and executive director of the MSC. “Our members recognize the positive impact Junior Achievement has on the young people of Western Pennsylvania, and we share a commitment to develop and retain a skilled local workforce. As responsible Marcellus development expands, our industry is eager to work alongside organizations like JA to help ensure that our school-age children and young adults are equipped with the necessary skills to be the next generation’s business and community leaders.”

Junior Achievement of Western Pennsylvania, America’s first JA chapter, recognizes and honors individuals and/or organizations from western Pennsylvania who have made, or are positioned to make, outstanding contributions to the business, social and cultural assets of this area. Honorees must exhibit strong leadership, an entrepreneurial spirit and adhere to a high level of ethical principles.

“Junior Achievement is proud to recognize the members of the Marcellus Shale Coalition with the Impact Industry of the Year Award at our 23rd Annual Spirit of Enterprise Dinner,” said Dennis Gilfoyle, President of Junior Achievement of Western PA.  “Since 1939, JA has been preparing young people for the world of work, and our partnership with the Marcellus Sale Coalition will provide practical, useful information to thousands of school children across Western PA.  It is our hope to prepare these students for future career opportunities within the industry.”

MSC member companies who attended or supported the Spirit of Enterprise Dinner and Awards Ceremony include: Atlas Energy, Cabot Oil & Gas, Chesapeake Energy, CONSOL Energy, Eckert Seamans, EQT Corporation, J-W Operating, Mine Safety Appliances, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Range Resources, Talisman Energy USA, U. S. Steel Corporation and Universal Well Services. Click HERE to view a photo of the MSC at the JA event.

About JA: JA Worldwide is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy through experiential, hands-on programs. Junior Achievement programs help prepare young people for the real world by showing them how to generate wealth and effectively manage it, how to create jobs which make their communities more robust, and how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to the workplace. Students put these lessons into action and learn the value of contributing to their communities.

WJAC-TV

February 9, 2011

·         “Just where are the blue collar jobs? A shred of hope for people out of work is directly linked to Marcellus Shale drilling.”

·         County officials say Marcellus Shale will “usher in a new era of economic prosperity for years.”

CLEARFIELD, Pa. — It’s an area that has faced big job losses over the last few years.
Job cuts in industries like lumber and powdered metal helped drive unemployment into the double digits in several Northern Alleghenies counties.

But now, officials claim there is new hope for people looking for a blue-collar job.

Marcellus Shale gas wells continue to appear in places like Clearfield County.

Officials said those wells have the potential to put a lot of people to work and each well depends on the work of around 150 companies.

Local technical schools are looking to capitalize on the drilling boom with classes aimed at people interested in the field.

Clearfield County Technical Center is offering commercial drivers license classes, tailored to driving trucks in the Marcellus Shale drilling industry.

They’ve even bought a water truck to help students train.

“Almost immediately we realized this is something that could be boom,” said instructor Bruce Yeckley. “So we needed to get onboard with training and relationships with these companies.”

The six-week program has drawn plenty of interest, from students right out of school to workers reeling from the effects of the recession.

“In the last eight years of my career, I worked for two businesses that went bankrupt,” said student Mark Georgek. “I can’t find a job, but I look at the want ads and there’s plenty of CDL jobs.”

But will the boom last? County officials claim it could last for years and usher in a new era of economic prosperity.

Workers told WJAC-TV they’re just looking for a decent paycheck, a steady career and a job that keeps them close to home.

“If I can get in on the ground floor I can hopefully work my way up,” said Georgek.
READ MORE

Visit the MSC’s “Jobs Portal” to learn more about Marcellus employment opportunities.
MSC’s Guiding Principles: Our Commitment to the Community

· “We strive to attract and retain a talented and engaged local workforce”

What They’re Saying: Responsible Shale Gas Development: MSC’s Guiding Principles In Action

What They’re Saying: Marcellus Shale Helping Small Businesses Reach “The American Dream”

Lock Haven Express

Saturday, Feb. 5, 2011

WATERVILLE – The event was billed as an industry-wide “best practices” commitment for the natural gas drilling companies- but only one company took center stage Friday in Waterville.

That would be Anadarko Petroleum Inc.

Former Gov. Tom Ridge, now a strategic advisor for the Marcellus Shale Coalition, led the discussion at the Tiadaghton State Forest Resource Management Center.

The round table gathering was used to unveil the coalition’s “Commitment to the Community” guiding principles, but served to provide an overview of Anadarko’s commitment to that common sense approach in dealing with area residents.

Ridge and others were invited by Anadarko to visit a number of natural gas drilling sites and related facilities north of Lock Haven in the Sproul State Forest, to see exactly how those guiding principles are put into play.

“Once a governor, always a governor,” Ridge said, as he explained how he was embracing his new duties as a consultant for the industry. “In my two terms, as Republicans, we embraced responsibilities for maintaining the environment and enhancing industry.”

Ridge said the focus in his administration was one of “partnership” that understands the need to protect.

“There are three ways things can go wrong,” he said. “Stuff happens … by accident, through willful action or inherited … We work with industry in a pro-active way so if it’s an accident, we work to fix it, if it’s willful, we punish the guilty and if it’s inherited, we all look for solutions … We want government to be a partner, but we tell industry don’t mess up the partnership. Mother Nature and science have given us an opportunity.”

Among the local dignitaries and officials who were present, were Clinton County Commissioner Adam Coleman; legislative aide for state Sen. John Wozniak, Julie Brennan; Clinton County Planning Director Tim Holladay; Clinton County Cooperative Extension Director James Ladlee; Matt Henderson, a business consultant with the Lock Haven University Small Business Development Center; Mike Hawbaker for the Glenn O. Hawbaker construction company; Tiadaghton State Forest District Manager Jeff Prowant; and Anadarko representatives Scott Chesebro and Matt Carmichael; along with a large contingent of representatives from Lycoming County.

Ridge and coalition members said the list is one the industry will live by “each and every day” and “embrace.”

The session was touted as the first-time-ever delivery of these standards.

But those who attended local gas task force meetings and community gatherings found the words familiar – The principles have already appeared on the banner of Anadarko’s frequently stated, if more informal, commitments to local citizens.

In the early absence of Gov. Ridge – who showed up late due to a scheduling glitch – Prowant offered opening remarks and introductions, then welcomed the group to the new center, which opened last September as a “hallmark facility” of the Bureau of Forestry.

Coalition representative Dave Callahan underlined the industry’s commitment to “top notch environmental practices” then turned matters over to Chesebro.

Chesebro said Anadarko arrives to Clinton and Lycoming counties as a worldwide company with a proven history of assets and abilities.

Anadarko is operating nine rigs in the state currently, and has many more under construction or in development on the 760,000 acres it has permitted in northcentral and northeastern Pennsylvania. Some 50 percent of those acres are on state forest land, he said.

While other areas are in different phases, central Pennsylvania is in “full development mode” with operations running from drilling to “fracking,” the process of pumping a slurry of sand, water and other materials into the ground to assist in fracturing shale layers to release the natural gas.

Chesebro’s biggest emphasis was on water quality and water use, a high concern among residents of Pennsylvania

He said putting those fears to rest was a major reason for this walk-through” of the water use process and said the coalition chose Anadarko to deliver that message because of its “record of environmental stewardship.”

Chesebro said he and his company are proud of the track record, and he outlined a process used locally to protect all of the groundwater “from day one.”

“We’ve taken a detailed look at the geology of this area and we understand where the fresh water zones are … To date, we’ve had no gas migration issues at any of our sites.”

Chesebro said Anadarko’s “closed loop” drilling process insured that no cuttings from drilling a well “would ever touch the commonwealth” beyond arrival at an approved and permitted landfill.

He said when frack jobs are conducted, the entire pad is covered with three layers to insure capture of any contaminates, and the five to 10 percent of liquid that returns to the surface is recaptured, treated and re-used in future fracturing processes,.

Water supply, he said, remains critical, and Anadarko has 4.2 million gallons of daily permitted withdrawal with the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, although it does not fully draw down that supply. By the end of this year, Chesebro said, the company will probably have doubled its available water by permit.

Chesebro also pointed to new efforts to remove the water supply from the region’s highways by piping the water directly from the Susquehanna River to impoundments. He said only fresh water will be contained in those earth encircled pits, and each of the pounds will serve approximately 30 wells, “taking 50,000 trucks off the road.”

“We have an unprecedented opportunity with the Marcellus Shale the second largest natural gas field in the entire world,” Ridge said. “There’s a lot of bad information out there, there’s still a lot of work to be done and a lot of Pennsylvanians are still skeptical … but I’m pretty excited about Pennsylvania’s future.

State Sen. Gene Yaw, Williamsport, said the primary thing needed right now is “facts, not fear” and mentioned the popular activist movie production “Gasland” as a way misinformation has occurred. The primary focus of that film, he said, was the shallow well industry, but the criticism spread to include deep well drillers, regardless of their practices and policies.

Coleman noted that Clinton County has seen some gradual growth in employment in the past year as a result of the industry, and Hawbaker said even as his construction company benefits from traditional business, he’s seen competition for qualified workers from the industry itself.

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Friday, Feb. 4, 2011

The shale gas industry is like the auto business — it might hurt some people, but the jobs it brings to a struggling economy make it worthwhile, gas industry pitchman and former Gov. Tom Ridge said Thursday.

“You don’t quit building automobiles because some people are going to crash and kill themselves,” said Ridge, who spoke at Carnegie Mellon University. “You have to manage the risk. Capitalism and entrepreneurialism is risk management.”

Ridge, whose Washington-based consulting company makes $75,000 a month from a coalition of gas drillers, led a presentation on Marcellus shale gas drilling to open the university’s 21st annual Distinguished Lecture Series in Environmental Science, Technology and Policy. It’s an industry that could improve life in long-struggling rural Pennsylvania towns, he said.

The former Republican governor got a warm reception and applause from a crowd of about 250. But several drilling opponents in the audience criticized him for his relationship with the industry and for not visiting residents near the 400 well sites in Washington County.

“We would like people to be informed of what Mr. Ridge is doing here so they can consider that what he’s going to say is possibly biased,” said Edith Wilson, 67, of Edgewood, one of several people who handed out leaflets about Ridge’s industry ties. “I’ve been treated for cancer, and I sure don’t want anything floating around in the air that could infect anyone else.”

The Marcellus shale is a mile-deep layer of rocks rich with natural gas. It stretches from Tennessee to New York, but the busiest sweet spots for drillers have been found in Washington County and northeastern Pennsylvania. Scientists predict there could be 50,000 or more wells drilled statewide.

The shale drilling explosion began in Texas a decade ago. Tales of spoiled water, chemicals spills and cancer — along with documented air pollution, damaged roads and clear-cut forest land — have followed. But scientists have drawn few conclusions about the full effects of the industry and the root causes of these problems.

“We have one chance to do it right, and I believe that chance is now,” Ridge said, pledging that cheap, domestic gas can help the country stay competitive and put money into poor rural towns where most of the drilling occurs. “Things will happen out there, folks. Remember you have to manage the risk.”

Mike Domach, a chemical engineering professor at CMU, asked Ridge about leases for drilling in state forests. He owns property in Clinton County and said he has seen roads and forests ruined in the state’s wilderness by truck traffic and well development. Ridge told him that drilling companies should restore the land when they leave.

“But this is going to be a protracted process. I guess we can look forward to all these places getting broke every year and then fixed every year,” Domach said later. “I’m not averse to development, but I just think the state is totally unprepared for what’s being unleashed here.”

On Wednesday, January 26^th, testimony was offered by numerous Northeast Pennsylvania officials at a Senate Republican Party Policy Committee hearing regarding the impact of Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling.

Among the issues discussed were the possibility of imposing an impact fee to drilling companies, environmental issues stemming from roadside ditches, and the effects of the increasing truck traffic.

To read more, click here.

Visit The Daily Review

As a hunter, you may be surprised by the level of drilling activity associated with Marcellus shale on public lands in Pennsylvania. This article provides information, resources, and advice to help you make your hunting plans.

Written by Margaret Brittingham, Penn State University

Hunters venturing out this hunting season may be surprised by the level of Marcellus activity on public land in the North central, Northeastern and Southwestern regions of the state where gas exploration and development associated with the Marcellus Shale formation have increased exponentially over the past year.  As of October 1 there were 4,510 active Marcellus permits.  Compare this with October 1, 2009 when there were 1,970 permits.  Associated with the drilling activity, hunters will find new or modified roads in many areas and may encounter large amounts of truck traffic in areas where active drilling is occurring.  To accommodate hunters and reduce conflicts, DCNR will be limiting heavy truck traffic associated with Marcellus activities on the three days of bear season (November 20,22,23) and other days when numbers of hunters are high (November 29 and 30, and December 4 and 11) in many areas.

Hunters may also come upon large open areas that are cleared or being cleared as well pad sites.  The well pad is considered to be a restricted area that is not open to the public.  The dividing line between the public forest and the restricted area is the native vegetation line.  Individuals standing in the native vegetation are considered to be on public ground.  Those standing on the well pad are in restricted areas and fall under the rules and regulations of the company doing the drilling and completion activities.  Most active drilling locations have a guard shack to identify all individuals accessing the pad.  This is mainly a safety feature should a major accident or event happen on the pad and to keep the general public from being injured.  Individuals hunting within the pad boundaries may be asked for their names and purpose for being there. The well pad locations where there are drilling and fracing activities occurring will be posted with Safety Zone signs 150 yards from the edge of the pad.  No hunting will be allowed within the safety zone.  With both drilling and fracing there are workers temporarily living on site 24 hours a day. Pads not subject to drilling or production activities will not be posted.

Hunters are advised to check out their favorite hunting sites ahead of time as access may be restricted in areas surrounding active drilling operations.

A number of websites have information on where drilling is occurring.  The Pennsylvania DCNR provides a map of current Marcellus permits and a list of what roads are open for hunting season on State Forest Land.

For the most up to date and accurate information, contact the appropriate DCNR district forest office.

Originally Published At: PSU.edu