Marcella Shale
Demand for energy
In the United States and around the world, demand for energy is growing significantly. Climate change and environmental regulations continue to push against the need for increasing energy generation. In the U.S., natural gas has become a popular alternative fuel source for power plants. It is also recognized for its ability to heat homes and serve as fuel for motor vehicles. Natural gas could greatly reduce the United States reliance on oil and coal.
Natural gas plants produce about half the CO2 pollution of a typical coal plant, and modern facilities greatly reduce pollution from nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, which contribute to acid rain. In addition to the environmental argument for natural gas, reserves have been found throughout the United States, decreasing our reliance on other countries for energy. Much of natural gas’ potential lies in our ability to capture it affordably and safely from deep shale formations throughout the U.S. One formation recently receiving a great deal of attention is the Marcellus Shale formation beneath large portions of New York. In this paper, the New York area provides an overview of the Marcellus Shale formation, noting advantages, disadvantages and potential financial impacts of developing this energy source.
Marcellus Shale is marine sedimentary rock in eastern North America. The shale has natural gas distributed throughout the rock and is identified as an unconventional reservoir of hydrocarbons or natural gas, because most oil and gas come from sandstone and limestone formations. The Marcellus formation spans about 600 square miles, beneath much of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and West Virginia. It also extends under the Great Lakes and into Ontario, Canada. Until recently, it had been overlooked because a vertical gas well drilled through the shale would not yield enough to be economically feasible. The Marcellus Shale is nearly a mile or more below the surface, making it
In the United States and around the world, demand for energy is growing significantly. Climate change and environmental regulations continue to push against the need for increasing energy generation. In the U.S., natural gas has become a popular alternative fuel source for power plants. It is also recognized for its ability to heat homes and serve as fuel for motor vehicles. Natural gas could greatly reduce the United States reliance on oil and coal.
Natural gas plants produce about half the CO2 pollution of a typical coal plant, and modern facilities greatly reduce pollution from nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide, which contribute to acid rain. In addition to the environmental argument for natural gas, reserves have been found throughout the United States, decreasing our reliance on other countries for energy. Much of natural gas’ potential lies in our ability to capture it affordably and safely from deep shale formations throughout the U.S. One formation recently receiving a great deal of attention is the Marcellus Shale formation beneath large portions of New York. In this paper, the New York area provides an overview of the Marcellus Shale formation, noting advantages, disadvantages and potential financial impacts of developing this energy source.
Marcellus Shale is marine sedimentary rock in eastern North America. The shale has natural gas distributed throughout the rock and is identified as an unconventional reservoir of hydrocarbons or natural gas, because most oil and gas come from sandstone and limestone formations. The Marcellus formation spans about 600 square miles, beneath much of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland and West Virginia. It also extends under the Great Lakes and into Ontario, Canada. Until recently, it had been overlooked because a vertical gas well drilled through the shale would not yield enough to be economically feasible. The Marcellus Shale is nearly a mile or more below the surface, making it