Support+Development+of+Marcellus+Shale

WE SUPPORT DRILLING IN THE MARCELLUS SHALE

The Marcellus shale has enough trapped natural gas to supply the entire U.S. for two years and hydrofracking is the only way to get the resources we need to become less dependent on other countries.

"Hydrofracturing really hasn't been a problem," Louis said. "More government regulations would mean more expense for oil and gas." "If hydro fracturing is subjected to federal regulation, the American Petroleum Institute estimated the cost of drilling one oil or gas well would increase $150,000." This shows that hydrofracking has never been a problem, but the one of the main reasons why people are against it is because it costs a lot of money.

The oil and gas industry says it has employed the process on hundreds of thousands of wells for decades without fouling any aquifers.

__Industry sources say hydrofracking is safe,__ a 2004 EPA study that found no harmful effects from hydraulic fracturing.

Kathryn Klaber, president of the Marcellus Shale Coalition, testified the industry is working closely with the DEP to determine and impose best practices as they relate to hydraulic fracturing.

An industry-backed study shows that drilling for Marcellus shale natural gas in Pennsylvania and West Virginia could generate $1 billion a year in taxes and indirectly support 100,000 jobs during the next decade as investments filter through the local economy.

"__The industry currently treats or recycles all of its flow back water__," Klaber said. "Recycling accounts for approximately 60 percent of the water used to complete Marcellus Shale wells, with greater percentages predicted for the future."

"During the next few years, we plan to more than double our work force -- adding more than 500 jobs here in Pennsylvania," said Jeffrey Kupfer, senior vice president of Atlas Energy Inc. He said that number doesn't include the thousands of contractors and other jobs that can be associated with the project.

Lindsay Link, president of Houston-based Baker Hughes' pressure-pumping business segment, says, __"I'm not concerned that it has caused groundwater contamination because of the steps that are taken"__ in the hydraulic fracturing process to ensure that hydrocarbons are isolated from sources of groundwater.

Gary Flaharty, vice president of investor relations for Baker Hughes, adds, "Hydraulic fracturing has a really solid safety track record."

__"Our industry is confident that an objective evaluation of hydraulic fracturing will reach the same conclusion as other studies: that it is a safe and well-regulated process that is essential to the development of natural gas,"__ the Marcellus Shale Coalition, an industry group, said.