DEP Holds Oil and Gas Summit
With Pennsylvania facing record interest from the natural gas industry, Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Kathleen A. McGinty today said taking advantage of the state’s energy resources is important to the its economy and the nation’s interests, but doing so must be balanced against the need to protect its natural resources.
Speaking at a first-of-its-kind summit today attended by approximately 150 representatives of the oil and gas industry, McGinty said improving technology and higher energy prices are making it easier and more attractive for drilling companies to explore and extract natural gas, but that activity must be done in accordance with the state’s environmental laws and regulations.
“The economics of the energy industry are driving an incredible level of interest in Pennsylvania’s natural resources,” said McGinty. “In three of the last four years, we’ve set a new record in terms of the number of permits issued to drill here, and this year could bring another record. “This activity can be a tremendous economic boon for our state’s citizens and industries, especially at a time when natural gas prices are at record highs. However, developing our energy resources cannot come at the expense of our environmental resources—our water, our land and our ecosystems.
Much of the new drilling activity taking place in Pennsylvania is targeted at reaching the natural gas found in the Marcellus Shale formation. Up until recently, those natural gas deposits were either inaccessible or reaching them was cost prohibitive because the Marcellus Shale is much deeper than formations where traditional gas fields are located.
However, new drilling techniques, extraction methods and higher energy costs have brought drilling activities to areas of the state unaccustomed to such operations. Pennsylvania has experienced a steady growth in oil and natural gas exploration over the past eight years, with a record number of permits issued during 2004, 2005 and 2006. During 2007, the number of permits issued leveled off at 7,241, but based on activity so far this year, DEP expects a slight increase.
The department has issued 2,510 permits in 2008 to date.
Speaking at a first-of-its-kind summit today attended by approximately 150 representatives of the oil and gas industry, McGinty said improving technology and higher energy prices are making it easier and more attractive for drilling companies to explore and extract natural gas, but that activity must be done in accordance with the state’s environmental laws and regulations.
“The economics of the energy industry are driving an incredible level of interest in Pennsylvania’s natural resources,” said McGinty. “In three of the last four years, we’ve set a new record in terms of the number of permits issued to drill here, and this year could bring another record. “This activity can be a tremendous economic boon for our state’s citizens and industries, especially at a time when natural gas prices are at record highs. However, developing our energy resources cannot come at the expense of our environmental resources—our water, our land and our ecosystems.
Much of the new drilling activity taking place in Pennsylvania is targeted at reaching the natural gas found in the Marcellus Shale formation. Up until recently, those natural gas deposits were either inaccessible or reaching them was cost prohibitive because the Marcellus Shale is much deeper than formations where traditional gas fields are located.
However, new drilling techniques, extraction methods and higher energy costs have brought drilling activities to areas of the state unaccustomed to such operations. Pennsylvania has experienced a steady growth in oil and natural gas exploration over the past eight years, with a record number of permits issued during 2004, 2005 and 2006. During 2007, the number of permits issued leveled off at 7,241, but based on activity so far this year, DEP expects a slight increase.
The department has issued 2,510 permits in 2008 to date.
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