Energy Today - May 25, 2011
Mark Green
Posted May 25, 2011
The New American: Unleashing Our Energy Resources: [Using] the new technology we have, which is primarily called hydraulic fracturing, we've been able to develop these vast resources. Now, North Dakota is the fourth largest state in oil production. The estimates are in the billions and billions of barrels, so they could produce a lot more. In fact, it's wonderful for their economy. You're seeing new jobs, more revenue, a whole host of positive signs from that oil production. We would hope that we can see that in other parts of the country, too...The biggest surprise to me as a native Pennsylvanian is what's happening in Pennsylvania; developing the Marcellus Shale gas is such a wonderful opportunity for an area that desperately needs economic help. I grew up as a kid in north central Pennsylvania, and I remember the seismic trucks going up and down in the valleys there, and I wondered, what did they find. Now we know. They found this vast resource, and they just needed the technology to develop it. That area could be the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. ExxonMobil's Perspectives Blog: Backing "Fracking": U.K. Study Confirms Safety of Shale Gas Production: A new study from the U.K. backs up what industry experts and others have been saying for years: that the hydraulic fracturing (or "fracking") process used to produce shale gas and some other types of natural gas does not pose undue risks to the environment. The study was produced by the U.K. Parliament's House of Commons Energy and Climate Change Committee. The full report can be read here. But its conclusion was summed up by the committee's chairman, Tim Yeo MP, who said: "There has been a lot of hot air recently about the dangers of shale gas drilling, but our inquiry found no evidence to support the main concern - that U.K. water supplies would be put at risk. There appears to be nothing inherently dangerous about the process of 'fracking' itself and as long as the integrity of the well is maintained shale gas extraction should be safe." Of course, the debate over hydraulic fracturing has been prominent here in the States, too. And there's no doubt it is critical that consumers and governments alike are re-assured about the safety of the process, because the stakes are high for our nation. Why? In just the past few years, rising unconventional gas production already has created thousands of well-paying jobs and millions of dollars in revenue for states around the country.
The Washington Times: Locals Cash in on Natural Gas Boom in Pa.: Sunnyside's recent profits are through the roof, up more than 200 percent in the past three years. Mr. Battista's workforce has tripled since 2008, from five to 15 employees. Solar power wasn't the economic savior, however. Instead, the booming Marcellus Shale natural gas drilling industry gave the small-town businessman the means to build a bigger, better store and invest in new trucks to transport goods to gas companies drilling across western Pennsylvania. "We're modeling our business to what they need," Mr. Battista said of his approach, which often involves nighttime trips across the state to fetch rare parts. Sunnyside Supply's success is just one side effect of the gas industry's mad rush for Pennsylvania, one of the richest parts of the Marcellus Shale, a mammoth chunk of marine sedimentary rock stretching from New York as far south as Kentucky. Analysts say "the Shale" holds as much as 516 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, enough to supply America's demand for a century or more.
Additional Resources:
Reuters: Interior Department Looking to Simplify Oil and Gas Royalties
EnergyNOW: VIDEO: Offshore Drilling Safety
The Foundry: VIDEO: Victims of the Obama Drilling Moratorium
About The Author
Mark Green joined API after a career in newspaper journalism, including 16 years as national editorial writer for The Oklahoman in the paper’s Washington bureau. Previously, Mark was a reporter, copy editor and sports editor at an assortment of newspapers. He earned his journalism degree from the University of Oklahoma and master’s in journalism and public affairs from American University. He and his wife Pamela have two grown children and six grandchildren.