DCNR releases update to shale monitoring report

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — A July update to members of the Pennsylvania Natural Gas Advisory Committee gave an overview of natural gas industry activity in forest districts through December 2014. The committee, established by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, helps identify best practices and other information to assist with natural gas management efforts on DCNR lands.

Key points outlined to the 21-member committee included:

• In 2013, 79 new wells were approved for drilling on state forestland and 47 in 2014. Through the end of 2014, a total of 1,020 wells have been approved. To date, 608 wells have been drilled on state forestland.
• In 2013, 19 new infrastructure pads (encompassing 73 acres) were constructed. Eight new infrastructure pads (32 acres) were constructed in 2014. Since the onset of gas development, 755 acres have been converted for infrastructure pads.
• Overall, four miles of new roads were constructed in 2013. In 2014, less than one mile of new road was constructed, bringing the total miles of new roads to 36 since 2007. Acreage converted for new roads and road modifications in 2013 totaled 22 acres; 16 acres in 2014. A total of 259 acres have been converted for new road construction and road modification to accommodate gas development.
• A total of 49 acres were converted for pipeline rights-of-way; 66 acres in 2014. Since 2007, 661 acres have been converted to pipeline ROW in these districts.
• Total acreage converted to non-forest in the core gas districts in 2013 was 144 acres. For 2014, 114 acres were converted. Total conversion acreage for all types of development in the core gas districts since the onset of shale gas development is 1,674 acres.

Detailed information, along with a variety of graphics, can be found in the Infrastructure chapter of the bureau’s “Shale Gas Monitoring Report” on the DCNR website, dcnr.state.pa.us.