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Marcellus Shale yield skyrockets in Allegheny County
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The amount of Marcellus Shale gas produced in Allegheny County more than doubled in the first half of 2012, with nine online wells concentrated in Frazer and Fawn producing more than 3.6 billion cubic feet of gas, according to new data released by the state Department of Environmental Protection.
Even with the increase, the county still contributed a pittance to total statewide production figures.
Gas production across the state climbed from January to June, with 704 billion cubic feet of gas produced, up from the 630 billion cubic feet reported from July to December 2011.
The increase comes despite a market climate that saw gas prices plummet and forced drillers to move rigs to western parts of the state that contain more lucrative natural gas liquids and oils. That migration was somewhat reflected in Thursday's report.
Bradford County in northeast Pennsylvania slipped from first place in production to second, with 110 billion cubic feet produced in the six-month period, down from the 169 billion cubic feet reported from July to December 2011. Susquehanna County took the top spot, with 129 billion cubic feet, and Lycoming, Tioga and Washington counties rounded out the top five.
Meanwhile, southwestern counties -- including Greene, Washington, Westmoreland, Fayette and Butler -- registered increases. Washington and Greene counties continued to produce the most gas in the western region, with 78 billion and 74 billion cubic feet in this reporting period, respectively.
The state's highest-producing well for the past six months was a Citrus Energy Corp. operation in Wyoming County that produced 4.5 billion cubic feet of gas. For the second six-month report in a row, Susquehanna County contained eight of the top 10 highest-producing wells.
First Published August 17, 2012 12:00 am
