Water Resources, Marcellus Shale and the Need for an Environmental Assessment

Dr. Michel Boufadel, P.E.
Professor and Chair,
Civil and Environmental Engineering Department
Director, Center for Natural Resources Development and Protection (NRDP)
Temple University

The Marcellus Shale formation is around 7,500 feet deep and covers 50% of Pennsylvania along with the neighboring states of West Virginia, Maryland, and New York.  Recent estimates of the amount of natural gas recoverable using newly developed horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) methods approach 50 trillion cubic feet, a volume that could supply the entire United States for about two years. The extraction of natural gas from the formation has attracted great attention within the last year due to environmental concerns.  The talk provides an overview of the operations, and addresses the migration of fluids within the subsurface during fracking and due to accidental spills.

Note to Professional Engineer's:  This seminar qualifies for 1.0 PDH.  A Certificate of Attendance will be available.