The Development of Marcellus Shale Within the Appalachia Region of Pennsylvania
Open Access
- Author:
- Stroup, Christopher Lane
- Area of Honors:
- Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Turgay Ertekin, Thesis Supervisor
Turgay Ertekin, Thesis Honors Advisor
Zuleima T. Karpyn, Faculty Reader - Keywords:
- Marcellus Shale
Natural Gas
Drilling
Shale Plays - Abstract:
- A look back at the technologies and methods utilized in the exploration and production of natural gas from the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania is detailed while revealing the entire process of natural gas production in the Marcellus Shale region of Pennsylvania. This report details numerous drilling and completions operations within the region, along side production operations and transportation of natural gas that is linked with regulation and political standards set forth in Pennsylvania. In order to produce at economic levels for these wells, horizontal drilling methods are used in tandem with various stimulation techniques. The stimulation techniques are dominated by hydraulic fracturing, which is predominately performed with water as the base liquid; however, other fluids are being tested to understand their effectiveness. In order to transport the natural gas in Pennsylvania, a network is set in place; however, additional gathering stations and other infrastructure will need to be constructed in order to handle projected volumes. The natural landscape found in Pennsylvania poses an obstacle to the transportation effort due to the Appalachian Mountains covering the entire Marcellus Shale region found in the state. A large portion of development within the Marcellus Shale is done on a local basis, with smaller operators leading the charge. Many of these operators have been able to successfully apply practices utilized in the Barnett Shale to their operations in the Marcellus Shale. This goes to show that valuable information can be passed along from one shale development to the next. Pennsylvania has a storied history when it comes to natural gas. The region has witnessed over one hundred years of production, which has allowed for experimentation and technological advances in regards to natural gas production. In addition to the production and subsequent transportation of natural gas, the strict regulations and policy set forth by the state of Pennsylvania also need to be considered. Coinciding with government regulation, it would be wise for companies within the Marcellus Shale region to development strong ties with local community leaders and residents due to the longevity that many of these operations will carry. Land restoration projects are now required, which adds an additional cost when planning for various gas development projects within the region. All in all, the report focuses on how natural gas is produced feasibly in the Marcellus Shale region while maintaining safe practices that focus on minimal disturbance to the environment.