Really really informative, interactive site on Fracking

 

 

THIS LINK sends you to a very good, very informative interactive web page called Exploreshale.org, which is about fracking in the Marcellus Shale.

About Marcellus Shale

The Marcellus Shale is a geologic formation of shale rock buried deep under parts of Pennsylvania, New York and West Virginia. This formation contains a large amount of natural gas distributed throughout the shale in cracks and pores.
Low-yield natural gas wells have been drilled in the Marcellus Shale for more than 50 years, but recent technological advancements in deep horizontal drilling combined with hydraulic fracturing techniques have exposed the possibility of more profitably tapping the shale for gas. The lure of profits has drawn numerous large drilling firms to the Marcellus region and spurred the leasing of thousands of acres of mineral rights from private citizens.
Part of the process of preparing a Marcellus gas well for production involves pumping millions of gallons of water, sand, and chemicals into the well under very high pressures to crack the shale apart and prop open the cracks—a process called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.”

Mission

We develop and create public service media projects on a wide range of topics that stimulate dialogue around important social issues that impact people at both the local and national levels. Exploreshale.org enhances public understanding of the basic science surrounding the Marcellus Shale by providing a fact-based interactive learning experience.

Project Organizations

Exploreshale.org is a public service media project by Penn State Public Broadcasting and was funded by the Colcom Foundation.