The extraction of natural gas in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale
formation is running at a fast pace. New data and the recent
realization of this vast energy resource have escalated the gas
drilling industry in Pennsylvania. In response, drilling
techniques have caused much public concern. The dark sedimentary
rock, named after a visible dark shale outcrop in the town of
Marcellus, New York, underlies much of the Appalachian Basin. It
covers more than two-thirds of Pennsylvania and has a depth from
surface level to more than a mile below ground. The location is
close to metropolitan areas on the east coast, providing an
ideal market. Marcellus Shale is an exceptional energy resource
for natural gas because it is rich in organic content,
signifying substantial gas production. An estimate for the
amount of natural gas that can be captured from Marcellus Shale
ranges from 50 to 500 trillion cubic feet. PA currently has an
annual natural gas consumption rate of 750 million cubic feet
(EIA: Official Statistics). Th