 | Thursday May 22, 2008
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| New York, Pennsylvania, share common concern over gas drilling | ||
HONESDALE PA – Catskill Mountainkeeper is taking its latest environmental battle across the river. The rapidly growing concern over the rapid influx of natural gas prospectors threatens the Delaware River, from both sides, says Mountainkeeper Program Director Wes Gillingham. Speaking before a crowd of more than 500 in Honesdale, about 20 miles inside Pennsylvania from the Delaware River, Gillingham said there is little, now, that would stop gas wells from being drilled practically on the banks of the river. He adds there is little that restricts potentially devastating mining practices, anywhere the wells go. If wells are to be a part of the scene, the concern is to make sure it is done in the least invasive way. “They’re not going to do it if don’t make them do it that way. We have to … when I say ‘we’, I’m not just talking about Catskill Mountainkeeper, I’m talking about every individual landowner and resident of this region, really have to take control of this issue, and force best management practices. Landowners, too, can band together and choose not to sign leases, because it’s not worth the risk.” Attorney Harry Weiss, of Philadelphia, representing a group of Wayne County property owners, agreed the National Park Service authority is generally restricted to the river itself, not adjacent properties. That point also conceded by Upper Delaware Council Executive Director William Douglas. But Weiss does not see gas prospecting as all bad. “It has potential, if things are done right”, Weiss said. He urged partnerships between property owners contemplating signing leases with drilling companies. Many of the people attending the more than two-hour session wanted little to do with unchecked natural gas extraction. Among the concerns voiced during a question and answer session were what happens if one property owner is harmed by drilling on a neighbor’s property, what kind of chemicals are used in the extraction process and what recourses do anyone have, if there is damage by drilling companies. One well is already being drilled in Wayne County, just across the Delaware from Sullivan County. Several people on both sides of the river have been approached by drilling companies. The forum in Honesdale was organized by the Upper Delaware Council and National Park Service. Audio comments For more on gas leasing forum, visit PoconoNews.Net | ||
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Showing posts with label marcellus shale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marcellus shale. Show all posts
Thursday, May 22, 2008
New York, Pennsylvania, share common concern over gas drilling
Monday, April 7, 2008
The search for natural gas
The search for natural gas
Western Sullivan County might contain vast reserves
By Victor Whitman
Times Herald-Record
March 08, 2008 6:00 AM
LONG EDDY — Is Sullivan County sitting on a pot of gold?
Gas companies think so. Competing energy companies are exploring the possibility of drilling into long-suspected natural gas reserves in western Sullivan.
Several river towns, including Fremont, Delaware and Cochecton, are on the eastern edge of the Marcellus Shale, where a "supergiant" field of natural gas is believed to be locked in the rock nearly 8,000 feet below, but has been out of reach of technology.
With new drilling methods, companies have been tapping huge, and previously inaccessible, reserves in the Barnett Shale in Texas. And with the price of natural gas at a 10-year high, the Marcellus Shale is considered the next great opportunity.
Chesapeake Energy and Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., among other companies, have signed up homeowners in Wayne, Pa., and recently pushed into western Sullivan and southern Delaware counties.
Companies have drilled a few wells in Susquehanna, Pa., and also are interested in Lycoming, Pa., and Broome and Chenango in the Southern Tier.
"It is exploratory now, but I believe it is inevitable that they will get what they can," said Gary Lash, a professor of geoscience at SUNY Fredonia, who has studied the Marcellus Shale for two decades. "There's a lot of gas right there. I think it will end up being well worth the effort."
That could become controversial in Sullivan, where some drilling might take place near the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, where eagles soar and pristine forests border the Delaware River in one of the most beautiful areas of the state.
While the landsmen — the agents of about six competing energy companies interested in the Marcellus Shale — have been quietly knocking on doors to sign leases for drilling rights, environmentalists have been watching them.
"We are trying to get to the bottom of it, literally," said Ramsay Adams, executive director of the Catskill Mountainkeeper, a watchdog group based in Youngsville.
"From our perspective, we are not against natural gas, which is cleaner than coal. What we are concerned about is the environmental health — the roads to be developed, clear-cutting and the effects on ground water," Adams said.
"If it is environmentally sound, we would potentially support it. The key is, there are so many unanswered questions, but there is a real push by the energy companies to sign leases, especially in Sullivan and Delaware counties. To sum it up, one needs to be concerned."
Dozens of Sullivan landowners already have visions of striking it rich, with companies now offering leases at about $750 an acre and a royalty.
"The smart money is not signing," said Noel van Swol, whose family owns land around Long Eddy and is organizing property owners to negotiate directly with the energy companies.
"What they haven't been telling people is that they (the landowners) are sitting on the greatest unconventional gas reserves in the history of the United States."
vwhitman@th-record.com
Unconventional natural gas
The Marcellus Shale is thought to contain at least 168 trillion cubic feet, and up to 516 trillion cubic feet, of natural gas. A supergiant field contains 30 or more trillion cubic feet. The Marcellus Shale extends all the way to the eastern half of Ohio and through West Virginia, but exploration efforts have been focused in Pennsylvania and New York.
Sources: Gary Lash, SUNY Fredonia; Terry Engelder, Penn State University.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080308/NEWS/803080323/-1/rss01/gnews
Western Sullivan County might contain vast reserves
By Victor Whitman
Times Herald-Record
March 08, 2008 6:00 AM
LONG EDDY — Is Sullivan County sitting on a pot of gold?
Gas companies think so. Competing energy companies are exploring the possibility of drilling into long-suspected natural gas reserves in western Sullivan.
Several river towns, including Fremont, Delaware and Cochecton, are on the eastern edge of the Marcellus Shale, where a "supergiant" field of natural gas is believed to be locked in the rock nearly 8,000 feet below, but has been out of reach of technology.
With new drilling methods, companies have been tapping huge, and previously inaccessible, reserves in the Barnett Shale in Texas. And with the price of natural gas at a 10-year high, the Marcellus Shale is considered the next great opportunity.
Chesapeake Energy and Cabot Oil & Gas Corp., among other companies, have signed up homeowners in Wayne, Pa., and recently pushed into western Sullivan and southern Delaware counties.
Companies have drilled a few wells in Susquehanna, Pa., and also are interested in Lycoming, Pa., and Broome and Chenango in the Southern Tier.
"It is exploratory now, but I believe it is inevitable that they will get what they can," said Gary Lash, a professor of geoscience at SUNY Fredonia, who has studied the Marcellus Shale for two decades. "There's a lot of gas right there. I think it will end up being well worth the effort."
That could become controversial in Sullivan, where some drilling might take place near the Upper Delaware Scenic Byway, where eagles soar and pristine forests border the Delaware River in one of the most beautiful areas of the state.
While the landsmen — the agents of about six competing energy companies interested in the Marcellus Shale — have been quietly knocking on doors to sign leases for drilling rights, environmentalists have been watching them.
"We are trying to get to the bottom of it, literally," said Ramsay Adams, executive director of the Catskill Mountainkeeper, a watchdog group based in Youngsville.
"From our perspective, we are not against natural gas, which is cleaner than coal. What we are concerned about is the environmental health — the roads to be developed, clear-cutting and the effects on ground water," Adams said.
"If it is environmentally sound, we would potentially support it. The key is, there are so many unanswered questions, but there is a real push by the energy companies to sign leases, especially in Sullivan and Delaware counties. To sum it up, one needs to be concerned."
Dozens of Sullivan landowners already have visions of striking it rich, with companies now offering leases at about $750 an acre and a royalty.
"The smart money is not signing," said Noel van Swol, whose family owns land around Long Eddy and is organizing property owners to negotiate directly with the energy companies.
"What they haven't been telling people is that they (the landowners) are sitting on the greatest unconventional gas reserves in the history of the United States."
vwhitman@th-record.com
Unconventional natural gas
The Marcellus Shale is thought to contain at least 168 trillion cubic feet, and up to 516 trillion cubic feet, of natural gas. A supergiant field contains 30 or more trillion cubic feet. The Marcellus Shale extends all the way to the eastern half of Ohio and through West Virginia, but exploration efforts have been focused in Pennsylvania and New York.
Sources: Gary Lash, SUNY Fredonia; Terry Engelder, Penn State University.
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080308/NEWS/803080323/-1/rss01/gnews
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