Marcellus shale why is it bad

Sure, they may acknowledge, there are a few safety issues to be worked out and techniques yet to be perfected, but just look at the big picture. Fracking detractors in environmental and social justice circles, meanwhile, will conjure up the iconic image: Flammable water flowing from a home faucet. And with that come other haunting images: The double-crossed landowner hapless in the face of aggressive Big Energy.

The stench of unknown — even secret — chemicals, sickness, and looming illnesses, and death. But a review of the research can help clarify some of the chief points of contention. Below are the arguments and synthesized evidence on some key issues, based on the available research literature and conversations with diverse experts.

PRO FRACKING: Increasing reliance on natural gas, rather than coal, is indisputably creating widespread public health benefits, as the burning of natural gas produces fewer harmful particles in the air. The major new supply of natural gas produced through fracking is displacing the burning of coal, which each year contributes to the early death of thousands of people.

Coal made up about 50 percent of U. In particular, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide emissions have been reduced dramatically. Fracking saves lives, and it saves them right now and not at some indiscernible date well into the future.

So fracking is no sure bet for improving regional air quality. Second, air quality dynamics around fracking operations are not fully understood, and cumulative health impacts of fracking for nearby residents and workers remain largely unknown. Some of the available research evidence from places such as Utah and Colorado suggests there may be under-appreciated problems with air quality, particularly relating to ozone.

Further, natural gas is not a purely clean and renewable source of energy, and so its benefits are only relative. It is not the answer to truly cleaning up our air, and in fact could give pause to a much-needed and well thought-out transition to wind, solar, geothermal, and other sources that produce fewer or no harmful airborne fine particulates.

A Question of Oversight Oversight of these disputes, along with other regulation of the shale gas industry here, is the responsibility of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection DEP , which has more than doubled its staff to handle the job.

Safe Process, but Risky Execution? The Dimock Case But perhaps the most notorious Pennsylvania contamination case was in the northeastern part of the state, in rural Dimock Township, where natural gas was found in early to have contaminated the drinking water wells of 14 homes.

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The era of greyhound racing in the U. What many are unaware about, though, is that methane occurs naturally in drinking water. Methane levels have been found to be just as high, or higher, in areas not impacted by Marcellus drilling. Because hydro-fracking is a discovery of the last decade, there are still many unanswered questions about the long term implications. To me, it seems as though the safety regulations have been created on a trial and error basis, which is frustrating.

Having gone into the discussion with little previous knowledge of the topic, there seemed to be a great deal of negative fire going at Yoxtheimer and the Marcellus Shale. I thought he did a great job of answering to the problem they were indicating and clearing up the best he could.

EQT Corp. CNX Resources Corp. And Cabot Oil and Gas Corp. Compare that with other energy companies, including Exxon Mobil Corp. B , down 18 percent; and Chevron Corp. Even other Marcellus companies like Range Resources Corp. Every oil well also produces gas, so lower number of new oils wells could decrease the total gas coming to market," said Kim Forrest , founder and chief investment officer of Pittsburgh-based Bokeh Capital Management.