Marcellus shale meeting held
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A community that is well-versed in natural gas drilling is preparing for an even more in-depth undertaking.
Representatives of Canonsburg-based Range Resources were on hand to provide information and answer questions at a public hearing at Franklin Regional High School April 7.
The hearing allowed the public an opportunity to ask questions regarding the company's application to drill into the natural gas-rich Marcellus Shale that lies deep under the soil.
Range Resources has submitted a plan to drill on a 6.1-acre parcel that is near the intersection of Saltsburg and Logans Ferry roads, an area that is in close proximity to the Murrysville/Plum border, along with the heavily traveled Golden Mile Highway and several business and residential areas.
According the local officials, this is the first such plan to drill into the Marcellus Shale within Murrysville. Only shallow wells were accessed by gas companies to obtain natural gas before this plan was hatched.
"This is a secure, clean and environmentally sound form of energy," said Range Resources public affairs specialist James Cannon. "About 900 of the next 1,000 power plants to be built in this country will be fired by natural gas."
Range Resources received the permit to drill from the Department of Environmental Protection late last year.
The Marcellus Shale runs more than a mile under the Earth's surface and is prevalent throughout Western Pennsylvania. This layer of rock is thought to contain 50 trillion to 100 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
During the nearly three-hour hearing, Mr. Cannon cited an economic impact study by Penn State University that deduced the shale could produce up to $15 billion in revenue across the state by 2020 via a valuable resource such as natural gas.
"No doubt, this is a world-class discovery," said Mr. Cannon.
A packed audience in the Franklin Regional High School auditorium listened intently, then lathered the Range Resources contingent with questions about how the drilling - scheduled to begin in late 2010 or early 2011 - will affect those living in the affected area.
First Published April 15, 2010 5:41 am
