The Marcellus Shale is poised to become the top producing
gas shale in the United States according to recent industry analyst’s
reports. Although barely five years old,
serious drilling has increased exponentially over the past few years. Given the
volume of production, it would appear there’s no sign of slowing. In 2008,
drilling in Marcellus was barely noticeable in industry reports. As of mid-2012,
the production volume of Pennsylvania and West Virginia combined was over 7
billion cubic feet per day, representing 25% of national shale production.
This boom comes as no surprise given the advancement in
drilling technologies. The gas-rich formations, thousands of feet below the
ground are now profitably accessible. However, many concerns still exist
regarding environmental impact, as well as public resource impact. Local
infrastructures including roads and public services inevitably take a hit when
a profitable natural resource of this magnitude is discovered. Industry
progression and governmental oversight have strong roles in the future
profitability of this region.
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