The components that make up natural gas in Pennsylvania can vary based on the "thermal maturity" of the gas, which depends on how much temperature and pressure the geologic formation experienced over time. Natural gas is known as being dry or wet, with dry gas being more thermally mature and consisting primarily of methane, whereas wet gas is less thermally mature and may contain "natural gas liquids" including ethane, butane, propane, and pentane.
These natural gas liquids need to be separated from the methane to ensure the natural gas sent to consumers has a consistent BTU content. Wet gas is currently considered to be more valuable in the marketplace as the natural gas liquids have inherent value as a commodity. In the Marcellus Shale, the natural gas varies from wet in the western portion of the state and to dry in the northeast as shown on the map. This geologic cross section depicts the extent and depth of the Marcellus Shale near Clearfield, Pennsylvania.
Found as deep as 9, feet below the ground surface in northeastern and central Pennsylvania, the Marcellus Formation generally becomes shallower at depths of 2, feet toward northwest Pennsylvania.
The Marcellus Shale covers 6 states and underlies nearly 75 percent of Pennsylvania. Click image to see larger version. A network of natural gas pipelines transport methane from areas of active production to a variety of end users such as residences, industries, and power generation facilities. Some areas of Pennsylvania are used to store natural gas in deep sandstone formations during periods of surplus so it can be withdrawn later to meet peak demands.
The process involves starting with vertical drilling followed by horizontal drilling. Vertical drilling ranges from 5, feet to 9, feet below ground depending upon the depth and thickness of the gas reservoir.
When the Marcellus Shale is reached, the well is turned, and horizontal drilling occurs for another 3, feet to 10, feet or more. A stream-sampling study was conducted to estimate methane concentrations and loads in groundwater discharge to a small stream in an active shale-gas development area of northeastern Pennsylvania.
The Marcellus Shale and Point Pleasant-Utica Shale formations of the Appalachian Basin contain an estimated mean of trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable continuous resources of natural gas, according to new USGS assessments. A new USGS study reports that shale-gas production in northern Pennsylvania has not currently caused widespread hydrocarbon contamination in the upland aquifer zone used for domestic supply.
Tests of 75 private drinking water wells in Lycoming County, in north-central Pennsylvania, found water from most of the sampled wells contained concentrations of radon that exceeded a proposed, nonbinding health standard for drinking water.
Smaller percentages of the wells contained concentrations of arsenic or methane that exceed existing drinking water standards. Well-water tested in Wayne and Pike counties contains low-to-moderate concentrations of naturally occurring methane, according to new studies by the U. Geological Survey. Landscape change in Pennsylvania's Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, and Warren counties resulting from construction of well pads, new roads and pipelines for natural gas and coalbed methane development is being documented to help determine the potential consequences for ecosystems and wildlife, according to a new U.
Geological Survey report. Landscape change in Pennsylvania's Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Huntingdon, and Luzerne counties resulting from construction of well pads, new roads and pipelines for natural gas and coalbed methane development is being documented to help determine the potential consequences for ecosystems and wildlife, according to a new U. Landscape change in Pennsylvania's Fayette and Lycoming counties resulting from construction of well pads, new roads and pipelines for natural gas and coalbed methane exploration is being documented to help determine the potential consequences for ecosystems and wildlife, according to a U.
Geological Survey report released today. The Utica Shale contains about 38 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas at the mean estimate according to the first assessment of this continuous unconventional natural gas accumulation by the U. The Utica Shale has a mean of million barrels of unconventional oil resources and a mean of million barrels of unconventional The Marcellus Shale contains about 84 trillion cubic feet of undiscovered, technically recoverable natural gas and 3.
Skip to main content. Search Search. Pennsylvania Water Science Center. Shale Gas and Water Resources in Pennsylvania. Related USGS science. Filter Total Items: 7. Year Select Year Apply Filter. Date published: September 1, Date published: June 4, Date published: April 10, Date published: March 2, Attribution: Water Resources.
Date published: August 31, Project Period: ongoing Cooperator: U. Date published: April 4, Contacts: John Williams. Date published: June 7, Contacts: Zachary H Bowen, Ph. Related publications. Filter Total Items: Year Published: Utica shale play oil and gas brines: Geochemistry and factors influencing wastewater management The Utica and Marcellus Shale Plays in the Appalachian Basin are the fourth and first largest natural gas producing plays in the United States, respectively.
Blondes, Madalyn S. Year Published: Groundwater quality in relation to drinking water health standards and hydrogeologic and geochemical characteristics for 47 domestic wells in Potter County, Pennsylvania, As part of a regional effort to characterize groundwater in rural areas of Pennsylvania, water samples from 47 domestic wells in Potter County were collected from May through September Galeone, Daniel G.
View Citation. Galeone, D. DEP inspectors conduct routine and unannounced inspections of drilling sites and wells statewide. In addition to permitting and enforcement, DEP works to instruct and advise well drillers and operators on best management practices and procedures for environmental control and waste management.
Compliance assistance helps prevent incidents that may harm the environment. DEP holds workshops for industry and meets with applicants as needed to address environmental matters in advance of well site construction. Protect clean air, clean water, and public health and conserve working farms, forests, and natural lands. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page. An Official Pennsylvania Government Website.
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