Sunday, May 15, 2016

Shale gas may surpass coal in state economy

The Marcellus Shale natural gas may replace coal as the leading economic driver in West Virginia.

Since 2012, West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio accounted for 85 percent of U.S. shale gas growth, which is two-thirds of U.S. natural gas production.

Wetzel County is No. 1 with 191 wells. Marshall County is second with 185 wells and Harrison is third with 184 wells. The top counties for reserves are Harrison, Wetzel and Doddridge in West Virginia.

The natural gas is sold in Virginia, the Carolinas, New England, the Gulf Coast, St. Louis, Chicago, Detroit and Ontario. Soon it will be heading to American and Canadian ports to be turned into liquefied natural gas and shipped in tankers to Europe and Asia.

Drilling began in the Marcellus Shale in 2003 in Pennsylvania. It followed in West Virginia.

14,022 shale wells have been drilled in the Utica-Marcellus from southern West Virginia to Ohio and Pennsylvania. West Virginia had 31 rigs in 2013.

$150 billion has been invested in the process.

Meanwhile, coal output in West Virginia has fallen 34% since 2008.
 
 

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