A new study (embargoed) from Cornell in the journal Climate Change suggests natural gas emissions tracked over the lifecyle of a well *may* make coal a cleaner option than methane in the short and long run ...

Methane and the Greenhouse-Gas Footprint of Natural Gas from Shale Formations
Robert W. Howarth1*, Renee Santoro1, and Anthony Ingraffea2
1. Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA. 1. School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA.Abstract:

ABSTRACT: We evaluate the greenhouse gas footprint of natural gas obtained by high-volume
hydraulic fracturing from shale formations, focusing on methane emissions. Natural gas
is composed largely of methane, and 3.6% to 7.9% of the methane from shale-gas
production escapes to the atmosphere in venting and leaks over the life-time of a well.
These methane emissions are at least 30% more than and perhaps more than twice as
great as those from conventional gas. The higher emissions from shale gas occur at the
time wells are hydraulically fractured -- as methane escapes from flow-back return fluids
-- and during drill out following the fracturing. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas,
with a global warming potential that is far greater than that of carbon dioxide, particularly
over the time horizon of the first few decades following emission. Methane contributes
substantially to the greenhouse gas footprint of shale gas on shorter time scales,
dominating it on a 20-year time horizon. The footprint for shale gas is greater than that
for conventional gas or oil when viewed on any time horizon, but particularly so over 20
years. Compared to coal, the footprint of shale gas is at least 20% greater and perhaps
more than twice as great on the 20-year horizon and is comparable when compared over
100 years.

Source:  http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/155101-report-gas-from-fracking-...

 

RELATED STORIES

Studies Say Natural Gas Has Its Own Environmental Problems / NYT (4/11/11)

 

Take a look through the typical kind of lease that is being handed to landowners all over PA. The terms of this lease are filled with loopholes, ambiguities, and a lack of landowner protections.  We will be working with legal experts to annotate this lease--identifying typical kinds of loopholes, points in need of clarification and  areas of concerns.

A counterexample of a more restrictive lease can be found at the DCNR website Oil & Gas Lease Offering Page.  Here is an example of a lease currently up for bid to sell a tract of state forest land where the minimum bid is Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) per acre. The royalty rate has been established at eighteen percent (18%).

If you have insights, experiences to share regarding how to deal with a basic "nonsurface oil and gas lease" like this, please contribute your comments and experiences below.

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Also know, on 31 March 2009 the Pennsylvania House Committee on Environmental Resources and Energy began consideration of an expansive piece of legislation imposing new requirements on gas drilling operators in relation to the rights of land surface owners.  The Bill proposes:

• prior notice to surface owners prior to entry upon land for certain pre-drilling activities, 
• notice to surface owners within one half mile of a proposed well prior to submission of a Well Permit application, 
• plan and notice content requirements,
• a mandatory offer to enter into a “surface use and compensation agreement”,
• required contents of a surface use and compensation agreement,
• a definition of required compensation to surface owners,
• provisions for enforcing compensation obligations, 
• a requirement to post security for compensation,
• obligations for the restoration or replacement of polluted water supplies and a presumption of operator responsibility for pollution of water supplies within 2,500 feet of a well occuring within six months after completion of drilling or alteration,
• a provision for recovery of attorneys fees and for treble damages in certain instances of failure to comply with the Act.

The PaDEP would be prohibited from issuing a Well Permit or renewing an existing permit if the operator is not in compliance with with the Act, placing DEP squarely into a role of protecting surface owner rights established by the bill, if enacted.

The full text of HB1155 can be viewed by clicking here.

Info Source: Marcellus Shale Watch

The below document was accidentally drop by a landman visititng an Ohio home. It give some insights into the talking points used to convince landowners to lease.

Source: Desmog Bog

View this interactive map to see drinking water intakes and relative to treatment plants accepting frack water.

Source: The Times-Tribune Natural Gas Drilling Series/AP
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/natural-gas-drilling-polluted-w...

Related Research

Extended Resarch Abstract

Related News Articles
As Pennsylvania Implements New Wastewater Rules, Some State Waterways Still Face Problems / Propublic (1/21/2011) 

Pennsylvania’s Drilling Wastewater Released to Streams, Some Unaccounted For / Propublic (1/5/2011)

Pa. seeks more tests for drilling pollution / Pittsburgh Tribune-Review/AP (4/8/11)

Analysis of mainstream and social media opinions of Marcellus Shale development.
Industry sponsered survey conducted by Gregory FCA Communications and GoMarcellusShale.com using data from Nielsen Online’s BuzzMetrics.

Key Takeaways for Shale Player Communication Strategies

Key Takeaway 1: Marcellus Shale has become a focal point of public interest in natural gas development and a lightning rod for media and online scrutiny and interest.

Key Takeaway 2: There appears to be a disconnect between how traditional media are perceiving Marcellus Shale development and how sentiment is being reflected in social media. In social media—which presumably is closer to real sources and user‐generated opinions—sentiment is more positive than what is currently being reflected in traditional media.

Key Takeaway 3: There appears to be a disconnect between traditional media’s more negative coverage of gas companies and sentiment that appears online for these same companies.

Key Takeaway 4: While public opinion toward Marcellus Shale is taking a drubbing in traditional media, natural gas is being covered positively by the media. Shale players need to align their communications strategies to the positive sentiment of natural gas, instead of the negative sentiment of Marcellus Shale development.

Key Takeaway 5: Shale developers need to speak more intensively with social media audiences about the benefits of natural gas in order to directly support the beliefs and opinions of the general public with the intent that this effort will eventually win more favorable coverage by traditional media.

Key Takeaway 6: The media has clearly taken a more negative perspective in their coverage of Marcellus Shale development, as compared to other major U.S. shale plays, with the exception of Utica Shale.

Key Takeaway 7: The meaning of words: The term “fracking” is more generally associated with lower sentiment than terms such as “horizontal drilling” and “natural gas drilling.” Even the terms “hydraulic fracturing” and “hydraulic fracking” are generally associated with more positive sentiment than the term “fracking.” Word choice is important in the court of public opinion.

Professor Anthony Ingraffea, Dwight C. Baum Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Weiss Presidential Teaching Fellow at Cornell University speaks about the technology, development and impact of horizontal natural gas drilling and slick water hydrofracking in the Marcellus Shale.

Professor Ingraffea has been a principal investigator on R&D projects from the National Science Foundation, NASA, FAA, Kodak, IBM, Schlumberger, and the Gas Research Institute. His research concentrates on computer simulation and physical testing of complex fracturing processes.

(Recorded live 3/31/10 at Vestal Library in Vestal, NY)

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Excerpts from President Obama's speech outlining the Administration’s “Blueprint for A Secure Energy Future” with references to natural gas...

In terms of new sources of energy, we have a few different options.  The first is natural gas.  As I mentioned earlier, recent innovations have given us the opportunity to tap large reserves – perhaps a century’s worth – in the shale under our feet.  Now, we have to make sure we’re doing it safely, without polluting our water supply.  And that’s why I’m asking my Energy Secretary, Steven Chu, to work with other agencies, the natural gas industry, states, and environmental experts to improve the safety of this process.  I don’t know if you’ve heard, but he’s got a Nobel Prize for physics, after all.  He likes to tinker on this stuff in his garage on the weekend.

But the potential here is enormous.  It’s actually an area of broad bipartisan agreement.  Last year, more than 150 Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle proposed legislation providing incentives to use clean-burning natural gas in our vehicles instead of oil.  They were even joined by T. Boone Pickens, a businessman who made his fortune on oil.  So I ask them to keep at it and pass a bill that helps us achieve this goal.(1)

(page 13)

Encouraging Responsible Development Practices for Natural Gas: Recent technology and operational improvements in extracting natural gas resources, particularly shale gas, have increased gas drilling activities nationally and led to significantly higher natural gas production estimates for decades to come. In order to take full advantage of this important domestic energy resource, we must proactively address concerns that have been raised regarding potential negative impacts associated with hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) practices. That is why the Administration is taking steps to address these concerns and ensure that natural gas production proceeds in a safe and responsible manner. Initiatives supported by the Administration include:

• Disclosure of Fracking Chemicals: The Administration is calling on industry to be more transparent about the use of fracking chemicals.
• Leading by Example: In April, DOI will hold a series of regional public meetings to discuss the potential for expanding shale gas production on Federal lands. These events will provide a forum to develop a framework for responsible production on public lands.
• Research: The Federal government will conduct research to examine the impacts of fracking on water resources. At Congress’ direction, EPA will continue with its study of fracturing impacts on drinking water and surface water, and DOE will likewise sponsor research on these issues.
• Setting the Bar for Safety and Responsibility: To provide recommendations from a range of independent experts, the Secretary of Energy, in consultation with the EPA Administrator and Secretary of Interior, should task the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board (SEAB) with establishing a subcommittee to examine fracking issues. The subcommittee will be supported by DOE, EPA and DOI, and its membership will extend beyond SEAB members to include leaders from industry, the environmental community, and states. The subcommittee will work to identify, within 90 days, any immediate steps that can be taken to improve the safety and environmental performance of fracking and to develop, within six months, consensus recommended advice to the agencies on practices for shale extraction to ensure the protection of public health and the environment.
• Offering Technical Assistance to State Regulators: States exercise oversight of oil and gas drilling using delegated authority under Federal environmental laws and additional authorities under state law. Some have made more progress than others on enhancing protections to deal with the challenges of fracking. DOE and EPA are establishing a mechanism to provide technical assistance to states to assess the adequacy of existing state regulations. EPA will continue to perform a strong backstop role under Federal environmental laws and will take actions, as necessary, to protect public health and the environment.(2)

(page 15)

Expanding Natural Gas Production Worldwide: Although oil is used mostly for transportation in the U.S., this is not always the case in other countries. In developing economies especially, a lack of indigenous fuel or infrastructure often means that oil is used to generate electricity and fuel industrial processes. Following the development in the U.S. of new techniques for recovering shale gas, the State Department initiated the Global Shale Gas Initiative which assesses a country’s potential for shale gas production and assists governments in establishing the commercial arrangements and safety and environmental regulations that permit the beneficial development of this resource. The Energy Department is leading an Unconventional Gas Census for the Asia Pacific at the request of APEC energy ministers. These programs benefit both developing countries and the U.S. by moderating oil demand growth in these rapidly growing economies and facilitating fuel-switching to cleaner natural gas.(2)

(page 17)

Encouraging Fuel-Switching from Oil to Natural Gas: We will continue to work with countries under the Global Shale Gas Initiative and the APEC Unconventional Gas Census to encourage the safe production of natural gas and fuel-switching from oil to gas, as appropriate, in the production of electricity. We also plan to work under the auspices of the G-20 to prompt policies that increase transparency and efficiency of international natural gas markets. Increasing the liquidity of global gas markets can play an important role in ensuring reliable supplies of oil by moderating global demand for oil.(2)

Blueprint for A Secure Energy Future (PDF)

Gigapan of compression and processing facilities including pig receiver, various gas/liquid separators, scrubbers, liquid tanks, and dehydration equipment.

Click on the title bar to view fullscreen with descriptions at GigaPan.org

Processing “Pipeline Quality” Natural Gas

The natural gas we use is composed almost entirely of methane. While the gas that flows from the wellhead is composed primarily of methane, it also contains numerous impurities like water vapor, carbon dioxide, helium, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide and other substances. These must be removed.

The methane is also mixed with other hydrocarbons commonly referred to as natural gas liquids (NGLs). These include propane, butane, ethane and pentanes. Once separated from the gas, NGLs can be further processed and sold.

All of these substances must be separated and removed before the gas can be transmitted to the end user. Some processing can be done right at the wellhead, but most of the more complicated separation is accomplished at natural gas processing plants.

The diagram below, courtesy of the EIA, depicts the flow of raw wellhead gas through a typical processing flow.  Excerpted: Investment U

Shale Gas Processing Diagram

Wet Gas Production Diagram

 

Canadian Institute / Shale Gas Symposium Media Room

SCOTT ANDERSON, Senior Policy Advisor for the Environmental Defense Fundshares his perspective on Shale Gas development in the Appalachian Basin. In this conversation with The Canadian Institute, he talks about the important issues that need to be addressed right now:

Listen to the MP3 file

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WHYY Radio | Update on natural gas, fracking & the Marcellus Shale: Water

The natural gas industry drilling into the Marcellus Shale formation in Pennsylvania and neighboring states along the Appalachian mountains is at the forefront of many conversations in the state and the country today. With drilling supporter Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett calling for the commonwealth to become the “Texas of the Marcellus Shale boom” and a GOP legislature, the industry has political support in Harrisburg secured. However, at the same time, new questions continue to be raised about its impacts on the environment, especially water.  Joining us to provide an update on those questions is ABRAHM LUSTGARTEN, whose investigative reporting into fracking and Marcellus Shale for the nonprofit ProPublica won last year’s Polk Award.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is embarking on a new review of the impacts of the industry, and a member of its Science Advisory Board on these questions is one of our local water and spill experts, Temple University’s MICHEL BOUFADEL, Professor and Chairman of Temple’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of Temple’s Center for Natural Resources Development and Protection. Also joining us is DAVID YOXTHEIMER, an Extension Associate with the Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research, who is investigating water and environmental issues related to Marcellus shale and doing public outreach for Penn State on these issues.

Listen to MP3 file

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American Entrepeneur Radio  | Marcellus Shale Series (12-part)

TAE has now engaged some of the state’s top experts for the purpose of conducting a series of 12, two-hour programs dealing with important Marcellus-related topics.  These shows will begin in December 2011.  http://www.taeradio.com/marcellus-shale/

 

Part I:

The geologic history of Marcellus Shale with Terry Engelder, Penn State University

Part II:

Why is Marcellus so important to western Pennsylvania and the country? 

Part III:
“Fracking”: What is it, how long has it been in practice, what exactly is the overall gas extraction process like?

Part IV:
What is horizontal drilling and why is it being used in western PA?

Part V:
How should we handle the co- and by-product created by the extraction process (Including waste water)?

Part VI:
What is this project’s impact on our roads, bridges and farms?

Part VII:
What are this project’s long-term effects on our water table and other subterranean minerals?

Part VIII:
What are the financial estimates for this project (Including estimates for natural gas producers, landowners, taxpayers)?

Part IX:
Workforce - Where will the workers come from?  How will they be educated?

Part X:
Land leasing/acquisition: How to ensure that both parties are getting a fair deal?

Part XI:
What is “pooling” and how does this affect landowners and the industry?

Part XII:
What happens after the drillers are gone?  What new industries and businesses will emerge as a result of the Marcellus activity?