Fracking

Fracking: Lycoming, PA

The Marcellus Shale is a large deposit of natural gas that can be found 5,000-7,000 feet beneath the surface. The Marcellus Shale deposit spreads through New York, Ohio, West Virginia and much of Pennsylvania (Drilling & Mining). Refer to image 1. In order to extract the gas so that it can be stored or used there is a process commonly known as fracking or hydraulic fracturing. In simple terms hydraulic fracturing is an extremely common and prominent process in which millions of gallons of chemicals, sand and water are placed under ground at high pressures to break up the rocks and release the gas (What is Hydraulic Fracturing?). Though drilling for oil and gas on US territory has its own benefits there have been many negative repercussions that affect both the humans and environment in the surrounding areas of several drill sites.

Hydraulic fracturing is a relatively new technique compared to regular drilling which has been around for over 100 years. In the past few years fracking has become an immensely popular process used more and more frequently, it has also been said that fracking is one of the quickest growing energy sources for the US (Howard). Statistics show that nine out of every ten natural gas drilling sites are using fracking (What is Hydraulic Fracturing?). Pennsylvania has now become a major producer of natural gas and many counties including Bradford, Tioga, Washington and Lycoming are some of the biggest contributors (figure 2). These counties are now all experiencing their own setbacks and can see the costly affects that fracking is having in their areas.

In Pennsylvania alone there have been just slightly fewer than 9,000 wells drilled using fracking. Of those 9,000 wells about 900 are located in Lycoming County. Since this is a relatively new process we are just now beginning to see how costly some of the repercussions of fracking can be. These consequences vary greatly in the size and level of seriousness. There are...