Marcellus Shale Gas Well Drilling Operation In Towanda, Pennsylvania
The following pictures are from a Marcellus Shale gas well drilling operation located in Towanda, Pennsylvania taken during a tour given by Chesapeake Energy in June 2010. The pictures show a current gas well drilling site, including closed loop drilling operations. A few key notes about the drilling rig operations:
- The entire well pad sits on secondary containment consisting of (in order of ground to drilling rig) - hard plastic liner, sand and sawdust for cushioning, 30 mil plastic liner, and boom around entire site. This is designed to prevent any contamination of soil or groundwater.
- All chemicals used are in secondary containment, in addition to sitting over well pad secondary containment system to prevent spills and contamination.
- The drilling mud consists of synthetic, biodegradable oil and water.
- Powdered lime is used both to dry the drilling mud and adjust the pH before being landfilled.
- The drilling process uses closed loop drilling which recycles about 90% of the water to be used at another drill site.
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