Protecting and enhancing our environment is paramount to our industry. There are a host of regulations in place to ensure that natural gas development occurs in way that protects both ground- and freshwater resources. As it relates to protecting groundwater, each Marcellus Shale well has at least four layers of steel and cement that encase the well, which serves as a barrier to prevent the fracturing fluid and natural gas from communicating with potable aquifers.
And prior to a natural gas well being developed, operators are required to test all water wells and surface waters within 2,500 feet of a proposed well site. These test results serve as a baseline should a homeowner believe their water may have been impacted by natural gas development. Tests are conducted in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency standards and the results are shared with the individual homeowner and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.
