Satellite images have exposed that beneath the surface of perfect Pennsylvania, New York, and West Virginia lies more than just lush forests, silent streams, and fruitful farms. Beneath the surface, in an ordinary spot there is natural gas potential that has been locked in layers of rock. The Marcellus Shale is the geological formation that possibly contains the world’s richest sources of natural gas. According to captured satellite footage along with deep-drilling data , about 4,000 trillion liters of gas is waiting to be tapped into.
More about the Marcellus Shale rock formation
Buried thousands of feet beneath the Appalachian Basin is the Marcellus Shale. Expanding for about 90,000 square miles, it stretches under Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and New York, and is said to contain hundreds of trillions of cubic feet of natural gas. At this site, the gas gets stored within microscopic pores and cracks in the rock itself. The problem is that this natural gas has become far too difficult to extract.
The shale was created when organic material got compressed under layers of sediment 390 million years ago. Thereafter, it was the heat and pressure that had converted biological material into hydrocarbons. The gas has been out of reach for far too long as per technological limitations. However, finally a new age of drilling has surfaced.
The power of horizontal drilling and hydraullic fracturing
While the pontential found at Marcellus Shale has hardly been tapped into, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) will improve extraction. Horizontal wells are able to go to lengths of up to 10,000 feet, whilst the fracking pushes an amalgamation of water, sand, and chemicals into the rock under high pressure to crack it open so as to release the trapped gas.
The problem is that far too many gallons of water gets used up per frack. A frack uses more or less 3 to 5 million gallons of water. Thus far, 1,500 wells have dried out in Pennsylvania since more or less 20 million gallons of water per day is required for Marcellus operations. Although “flowback” water is generated through the process, it can be treated since it contains salts, minerals, and chemical additives. Nevertheless while most of the water gets locked underground, 10-30% of the water returns to the surface only.
The setback of intense water usage and environmental concerns has not detered energy giants who have chosen to contribute billions towards infrastructure, treatment facilities, and transportation.
Ensuring regulation and tighter control structures
The project is a high stakes project and hence overview is necessary. It is the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and regional commissions that controls the withdrawal, use, and treatment of water for fracking. Drilling companies ought to have revealed their water sources and share plans with permit applications. Nevertheless, enforcement of these rules have become questionable due to surface spills, water contamination complaints, and methane migration incidents.
Methane leaks have been mentioned in five counties and these leaks have led to fines and has caused the project to come under public scrutiny. All experts from Penn State and Bucknell University still investigate the environmental impacts and educate the public through initiatives like Exploreshale.org, which can surely expand the understanding of the public about this shale gas industry. While this may be America’s largest mine, another American mine will bring China down with 40 million metric tons underground.
Satelite footage unveils a mine filled with potential
Hidden beneath the Appalachian soil is the invisible mine that contains natural gas equivalent to 4,000 trillion liters that could very well shape America’s sustainable future. The Marcellus Shale, like any other mine, is filled with much potential, however, it does face risk along with its potential.
From drilling data, satelite images, and scientific studies that hidden beneath the Marcellus Shale is not just the potential, but one such natural resource that needs a responsible approach. Unfortunately, Americas largest mine is not the mine that has the whole world on edge. The mine that does have all on edge is the mine with 7,200,000 tons sealed away.
