Horizontal Drilling

A vast amount of natural gas has been entrapped in the Marcellus Shale beneath Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Maryland for thousands of years. The Marcellus Shale is the largest shale deposit in the world, according to Penn State University. The recent innovation of horizontal drilling, coupled with hydraulic fracturing, has made extracting gas from the Marcellus Shale more practical.

Horizontal drilling allows more contact with the layer of shale rock containing the natural gas. Exploration companies drill a well down vertically to the depth of the layer of Marcellus Shale rock. The drill bit can curve so the bore hole runs horizontally through the rock layer containing gas. That allows for the extraction of larger amounts of marketable natural gas from a single well. Multiple well bores may be made from the same surface well.

Thousands of exploratory wells have been sunk in the Marcellus Shale that underlies Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Maryland. Each project involves the construction of a well pad and drilling of a well bore to depths of 6,000 feet or more.

Well drilling can cause damage to nearby property owners if drill operators aren’t careful.  If you have suffered personal injury or property damage because of Marcellus Shale drilling operations, contact Munley, Munley & Cartwright online or call us toll free at 877-421-9173

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, our goal is to stand up for the legal rights of our clients and provide them with exceptional legal representation. We have a breadth of experience in representing individuals and businesses in cases involving Marcellus Shale gas drilling, which gives us an advantage. We have a distinguished record of protecting the rights of individuals and businesses from harm.

Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Accidents

Marcellus Shale drilling operations can cause disruption in nearby groundwater wells, harming adjacent property owners. The bore hole drilled for the gas well can divert water from groundwater into the deeper gas well bore, causing a groundwater well to go dry or have greatly reduced flow. Chemicals and soaps used in drilling for natural gas well can contaminate the layer of groundwater and pollute a drinking water well. The owner of the groundwater well may need a new source of water, which should be provided by the drilling operator.

Once the well is drilled, drill operators force millions of gallons of chemically-treated water under high pressure into the bore hole to create cracks and fissures in the rock to release natural gas and maximize the well’s production. There are many environmental impacts associated with hydraulic fracturing or “fracking,” according to the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

Hydraulic fracturing requires 3 million to 8 million gallons of water per well. The water must be trucked in and stored on site, and the wastewater containing drill fluids, brines and heavy metals must be disposed of properly. A typical 3 million gallon hydrofrack produces 15,000 gallons of chemical waste, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

In Pennsylvania, this waste is stored on site in pits until trucks remove it. The storage ponds can produce noxious odors, harming neighbors’ use and enjoyment of their property. Disposal of the brine wastewater remains a problem. Spills are common.

At Munley, Munley & Cartwright, our goal is to provide exceptional legal service to our clients, and stand up for their legal rights. The results show in the compensation we obtain for our clients. Individuals who have been seriously injured in workplace fires or explosions should contact our office to learn your legal rights and options.

We strive to achieve the highest standard of excellence for the protection of individual rights through team work and the use of our considerable resources and experience. For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us online or call us today toll free at 877-421-9173.