Property Damage and Personal Injury from Marcellus Shale Exploration

Drilling in the Marcellus Shale region frequently involves a controversial extraction technique called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” Releasing natural gas through hydraulic fracturing involves pumping millions of gallons of water, chemicals and sand underground to break up the shale rock and release entrapped gas. Hydraulic fracturing, and the handling of large volumes of drilling wastewater, has been linked to serious health problems, environmental contamination and property damage.

The rapid growth of the Marcellus Shale drilling industry in Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia and Maryland has caused numerous incidents involving spills of wastewater and chemicals, pollution of streams, leaking containment basins and contamination of drinking water wells. Exposure to toxic chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing has been linked to neurological and gastrointestinal problems.

If you are a property owner whose well has been contaminated or whose property has been damaged by well drilling, you may have a claim for damages against a drilling rig operator or gas exploration company. The Marcellus Shale gas accident lawyers at Munley, Munley & Cartwright  can advise you on your options.

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 that have suffered personal injury or damage to their property, which gives us an advantage when we go to court. We have a distinguished record of protecting the rights of individuals and businesses from harm. For a free consultation regarding your legal concerns, contact us online or call us today toll free at 877-421-9173.

Marcellus Shale Gas Drilling Accidents & Contamination

Drilling for natural gas involves the use of extremely toxic chemicals. Federal regulators have begun a comprehensive study of the potential adverse impacts that hydraulic fracturing may have on water quality and public health.  Hydraulic fracturing is used on the majority of wells in the Marcellus Shale that underlies much of Pennsylvania and the Catskill/Delaware portion of the City of New York’s water supply. The city of New York determined that hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling posed an unacceptable threat to the water supply and cannot be safely permitted using current technologies.

In Pennsylvania, hydraulic fracturing is allowed, and environmental regulators have cited numerous instances of spills and leaks. There are two main areas of Pennsylvania where Marcellus Shale gas development is occurring. Gas exploration companies are focusing on an area of Southwestern Pennsylvania that includes Fayette, Washington, Greene and Westmoreland counties. They also are developing well sites in an area of North Central Pennsylvania that includes Tioga, Bradford and Susquehanna counties. An area of Central Pennsylvania that includes Clinton, Centre, Lycoming and Columbia counties is experiencing a lesser but still significant amount of gas development activity. Several towns have the potential to host many of the major national and international companies operating in the region. They include Williamsport, Penn., Towanda, Penn., and Horseheads, New York.

In the first half of 2010, Pennsylvania environmental inspectors issued more than 400 notices of violations to operators of Marcellus Shale wells, including at least 50 violations for spills.  In August 2009, environmental inspectors found that Marcellus Shale drilling wastewater had contaminated Alex Branch, a high-quality trout stream in southwestern Pennsylvania, and damaged the drinking water at a nearby hunting camp. They determined that leaks from one or more drill-site wastewater containment basins most likely contaminated the stream. Environmental contamination can harm enjoyment of property and reduce property values.

Hydraulic fracturing also can lead to unpredictable migration of natural gas. If a drilling company fails to properly cement the well casing, methane gas and other toxic chemicals can migrate into the underground aquifers and drinking water wells.  If gas migrates through the bedrock, it also can accumulate and cause an explosion capable of damaging property and causing loss of life. Gas typically moves along fractures in bedrock and through groundwater and soil. Gas can build up to dangerous levels in the basement of a building and be touched off by a spark. Damage caused by gas migration is a common problem in western Pennsylvania. Pennsylvannia’s Department of Environmental Protection required a gas company to shut down a well that had caused methane contamination in 14 residences.

If you have suffered personal injury or property damage or harm as a result of Marcellus Shale drilling, you need to talk to an experienced Marcellus Shale gas accidents attorney.

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 teamwork 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.