Natural gasA naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases beneath the earth’s surface – often in association with petroleum. drilling is increasing in areas where Marcellus and Utica ShaleA fine grained sedimentary rock composed mostly of consolidated clay or mud. Shale is the most frequently occurring sedimentary rock. are prominently located – mostly in southeast Ohio and southwest Pennsylvania. Recently, billions of dollars of investment in new petrochemical facilities were announced by major players in the energy industry.
The Marcellus ShaleA fine grained sedimentary rock composed mostly of consolidated clay or mud. Shale is the most frequently occurring sedimentary rock.ShaleA fine grained sedimentary rock composed mostly of consolidated clay or mud. Shale is the most frequently occurring sedimentary rock. is one of the most highly productive types of sedimentary rock whose density provides tight stores forhydrocarbon reserves below. Marcellus ShaleA fine grained sedimentary rock composed mostly of consolidated clay or mud. Shale is the most frequently occurring sedimentary rock. is a rock formationA body of earth material with distinctive and characteristic properties. running through about two-thirds of Pennsylvania, and areas of New York and West Virginia. Geologists estimate that there is a large enough natural gas reserve within the shaleA fine grained sedimentary rock composed mostly of consolidated clay or mud. Shale is the most frequently occurring sedimentary rock. to power the United States for one to eight years. wells are here to stay and many energy companies are excited about the opportunity to drill more than 50,000 to 100,000 new wells in the area.
Universal Well Services Incorporated is currently drilling and its 200 employees do hydraulic well fracturingRefers to a method used by producers to extract more natural gas from a well by opening up rock formations using hydraulic or explosive force. for many oil and natural gasA naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases beneath the earth’s surface – often in association with petroleum. exploration firms. Hydraulic fracturingRefers to a method used by producers to extract more natural gas from a well by opening up rock formations using hydraulic or explosive force.Refers to a method used by producers to extract more natural gas from a well by opening up rock formations using hydraulic or explosive force. uses high volumes of water mixed with chemicals and sand to fracture underground rock. Natural gasA naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases beneath the earth’s surface – often in association with petroleum. can then be extracted once it has been forced from the shaleA fine grained sedimentary rock composed mostly of consolidated clay or mud. Shale is the most frequently occurring sedimentary rock. rock. This can not only be used for energy, but can be converted into other hydrocarbons used in plastics.
“Those gases have quite a bit of value,” said Burt Waite, a geologist with Moody’s Inc., a Meadville-based geology firm.
This natural gasA naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases beneath the earth’s surface – often in association with petroleum. in the Marcellus and Utica is pushing major energy companies to invest – Shell Oil announced a $2 to $3 billion project for an ethane crackerStream cracking plant in the petrochemical industry. Hydrocarbons are transformed into unsaturated hydrocarbons by thermal cracking using steam. plant in Beaver County, PA. Chesapeake Energy is planning a $900 million natural gasA naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbon and non-hydrocarbon gases beneath the earth’s surface – often in association with petroleum. processing plant in eastern Ohio.
Companies like Shell, Chevron and Exxon are looking at the long term development and plans while positioning themselves for their future in the Marcellus and Utica.
