The Marcellus Shale Resource Page
 

In the past several months there has been increased activity in Northeast Pennsylvania to extract natural gas from the Marcellus Shale formations.
This site is designed to give you some basic information on the Marcellus Shale and oil drilling including many useful and informative links below for families who own land on the Marcellus Shale. 
This site contains sections on:

1.  Latest News On the Marcellus Shale

2. Helpful Facts About Marcellus Shale 

3. A Resource Guide to Marcellus Shale Links

4. Unruh, Turner, Burke, and Frees Attorney's at Law Blogs On Marcellus Shale Issues 


Latest News On the Marcellus Shale:

Exxon Buys Land In Pennsylvania

https://www.paestateplanners.com/blog/marcellus-shale-news-update.cfm

Over the summer Exxon bought many acres in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania. Click on the above link to find out more. 

Chesapeake Energy Corporation Video On "Fracking"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73mv-W15cgg&feature=player_embedded

The Chesapeake Energy Corporation is the largest leasehold owner, most active driller and one of the largest producers of natural gas in the Marcellus Shale. Check out this video showing the hydraulic fracturing process in 3d animation. It gives an overview of the exact process that is involved in retrieving gas from the Marcellus shale.


Don't Smoke In Your Shower? And Other Silly Marcellus Shale Stories

 
http://www.politicspa.com/"don't-smoke-in-your-shower"-ridge-jokes-on-colbert-with-video/25222/

Is Former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Ridge under gas industry control or is he looking out for Pennsylvania's citizens? Is it both? Governor Ridge appeared a few nights ago on the Comedy Central news program The Colbert Report to discuss concerns about "fracking" in Pennsylvania.
Read this article and watch the video on Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale and Governor Ridge's views.

Marcellus Shale and the Pennsylvania Constitution

http://www.dailylocal.com/articles/2011/06/15/opinion/srv0000012044005.txt?viewmode=fullstory

Pennsylvania State Senator Andy Diniman speaks out about legislation on protecting the environment and remarks about other recent Marcellus Shale bills that call for a severance tax and for an impact fee.  He likens this Marcellus Shale revolution to the rise and fall of the Coal industry in Pennsylvania and its economic and environmental impacts.

For helpful facts and resources scroll down.

Facts:

 
• Marcellus Shale is a rock formation that underlies about two-thirds of Pennsylvania and parts of New York and West Virginia.
• The formation is located 5,000 to 8,000 feet underground and is believed to hold trillions of cubic feet of natural gas.Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale is one of the fastest growing shale gas producing regions in the country.
• Previously, it had been considered far too expensive to access the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania. But, recent advances in drilling technology and rising natural gas prices have changed that.
• The areas expected to produce the largest gas returns are the southwest, north central and northeastern regions of Pennsylvania. In 2007, less than 100 drilling permits were granted in the region. In 2010 in the first eight months 2,108 drilling permits were granted.
• "Hydraulic Fracturing" (also known as fracking) is the process where natural gas is extracted from the Marcellus Shale formation. Drillers pump large amounts of water mixed with sand and other chemicals into the shale at high pressure, which shatters the shale around the well releasing the gas.
• Approximately 3-5 million gallons of water is used to "frack" depending on if the well is vertical or horizontal.
• Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett is a drilling supporter and has said he wants Pennsylvania to become the "Texas of the Marcellus Shale Boom". In the Marcellus Shale region there are now high production rates being seen in the wells and its relatively low cost to develop this gas resource makes it a great resource for Pennsylvania and the  United States.
• Currently in Pennsylvania there is no severance tax on natural gas drillers but all other states in the United States do.
• After the recent blow out and subsequent home evacuations in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, new questions are arising about this type of oil drilling in the Marcellus Shale and its impacts on the environment, especially water.
• In the U.S. 35% of primary energy consumed comes from oil; 23% from coal, 20% from natural gas, and 8% from nuclear power. Changes in the price of gas and coal can have major effects on the cost to consumers.
• The U.S. oil and gas industry employs 1.4 million people and generates about 4% of U.S. economic activity. It is larger than the domestic auto industry and larger than education and social services, the computer industry, and the steel industry combined.

Marcellus Shale Resources:



Penn State Sciences Marcellus Shale Site

http://extension.psu.edu/water/marcellus-shale
This is a great site by Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences. The site offers many scientific articles and fact sheets discussing the Marcellus Shale gas well drilling and regulations protecting water supplies in Pennsylvania. The site also explains the process of "fracking" and how you can get your water tested. Check this site out.

WHYY Recent  Marcellus Shale Broadcasts

http://whyy.org/cms/radiotimes/2011/04/22/3-journalists-discuss-marcellus-shale-natural-gas/
A Radio Times broadcast from April 22, 2011 gives a great overview of the environmental impact of the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry on Pennsylvania while discussing the recent blow out causing home evacuations in Bradford County and what gas drilling means for Pennsylvania and our drinking water.

Department  of Environmental Protection Oil and Gas Programs

http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/minres/oilgas/new_forms/
marcellus/marcellus.htm

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection site on Marcellus Shale with many links to FAQ sites, maps of the permits issued and wells drilled in Pennsylvania, and an active Marcellus Shale operators list.

Oil and Gas Drilling in PA State Forests
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry/gaslease.aspx
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) shows where the state has lease offerings for oil and gas drilling in Pennsylvania state forests.

Environmental Protection Agency and Pennsylvania's Water

http://water.epa.gov/lawsregs/rulesregs/sdwa/index.cfm
Is your water Radioactive? This Environmental Protection Agency site gives you incite into the Safe Drinking Water Act, what it is and what it does for water safety regarding the Marcellus Shale and gas drilling.


Benefits of Oil and Gas in Pennsylvania
http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/oilgas/publications/environ_benefits/env
_benefits.pdf

This department of energy (DEP) of the United States site explains the environmental benefits of oil and gas exploration, production, and technology, our demand for oil and gas, and many other sources of information including operations in sensitive environments like the arctic, public lands, and offshore.



Unruh, Turner, Burke, and Frees Attorney's at Law Topics on Marcellus Shale:

Local Zoning vs. State Control of Oil Regulations in Pennsylvania

https://www.utbf.com/land-zoning/2011/06/the-marcellus-shale-debate-local-zoning-or-state-control/ 

A recent legislation proposal would provide for impact fees to be paid by Marcellus Shale drillers across the state but will limit local regulation over drilling. Who should control local land use in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania? Read on to find out the details of this legislation and track its progress.



Local Zoning Issues Involving Marcellus Shale 

https://www.utbf.com/land-zoning/2011/04/marcellus-shale-local-zoning/
Read about Marcellus Shale and Local Zoning in this informative blog about recent Pennsylvania Supreme Court and other court decisions regarding this evolving topic about drilling for oil and gas in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale.

Marcellus Shale and Your Land

https://www.utbf.com/trust-estate/2011/04/marcellus-shale-neutral-and-reliable-sources-of-information/
It is important to understand where your information is coming from. Here is a blog about many issues involving the effects of drilling on your land, restoring and water issues on your land, how to own the land and pass on gas revenues, and using trusts to limit taxes on these lands.

How Do You Protect Your Mineral Rights?

https://www.utbf.com/trust-estate/2010/10/protect-your-mineral-rights-oil-and-gas-leases/ 

Tremendous wealth can result from ownership of mineral rights in the Marcellus Shale region. Find out if and how to lease your land to a natural gas company or with the government and how to get the most out of your negotiations. 



Reporting Information:
The U.S. EPA set up a tip line for citizens to report nonemergency "dumping and other illegal or suspicious hauling and/or disposal activity" related to oil and natural gas development. You can call 1-877-919-4EPA (toll free) or e-mail to eyesondrilling@ epa.gov (you will remain anonymous).
In case of an emergency, regarding a spill or a release of hazardous material, including oil, to the environment, you should call the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802.
David M. Frees, III
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