Drilling Down
Activists Want Answers Related to Earthquakes
Thursday, March 13, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Activists concerned over the this week’s spate of earthquakes in Poland Township want the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to deploy portable seismic monitors so it can determine whether a hydraulic fracturing operation in Poland Township triggered the tremors.
"They never had any earthquakes in 250 years of European settlement in this area," observes Ray Beiersdorfer, a professor of geology at Youngstown State University. "So, there's a correlation in terms of time."
Demand for Shale Gas to Surpass $90B in 2017
Thursday, March 13, 2014NEW YORK -- Demand for products and services used in the development of shale gas and tight oil reservoirs is forecast to surpass $90 billion in 2017, says a research report issued by Reportlinker.com. The rapid growth in production from these unconventional resources continues to have a ripple effect throughout the U.S. economy, the study finds.
Fracking at Hilcorp Well When Quakes Occurred
Wednesday, March 12, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- Hilcorp Energy Co. was in the process of hydraulically fracturing a well at one of its Carbon Limestone pads in Poland Township when a series of earthquakes rattled the area Monday, a spokesman from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources confirms.
Mark Bruce, a public affairs officer for ODNR, says a "stimulation operation" was underway at one of the Hilcorp wells when the quakes occurred Monday. Whether frack fluid was being injected into the well at the precise time of the quakes is unknown, he noted.
Commentary: Shale Seminar Did Not Provide Whole Truth
Wednesday, March 12, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber hosted a presentation, “The Real Truth About Oil and Gas Development and Its Effects on Communities” Feb. 19, which it advertised as a presentation about the economic advantages of shale gas development in Arlington, Texas’ Barnett shale play and Washington County, Pa.’s Marcellus shale play.
Drilling Halted After Quakes Near Hilcorp Wells
Tuesday, March 11, 2014YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -- The Ohio Department of Natural Resources has halted drilling at Hilcorp's well pad at the Carbon Limestone Landfill in Poland Township. The action, taken Monday afternoon, follows a series of earthquakes Monday morning all of which had epicenters close to the well pad.
The National Earthquake Information Center of the U.S. Geological Survey places the epicenter of a 3.0-magnitude earthquake that took place early at 2:26 a.m. near where Hilcorp Energy Co. is drilling 12 Utica wells in Poland Township, according to the agency's website.