Monitoring

Technology spawned from shale gas got special notice this month in Pennsylvania, with two innovations taking top honors in a competition geared to maximize the economic return from the Marcellus and Utica shales.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar signaled Tuesday that the department is close to completing final regulations for hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in drilling operations on public lands.

A Pennsylvania lawmaker is proposing legislation that would require real-time monitoring of all natural gas wells and pipelines in the state.

The impact of Marcellus Shale drilling on air quality is shaping up to be a major issue this year.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is asking natural gas companies to provide information about air emissions from their facilities in the state.

Wyoming is analyzing U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) findings of high levels of benzene and other chemicals, including petroleum-related compounds, at two monitoring test wells installed near natural gas drilling locations around Pavillion, WY.

A voluntary first-of-its-kind groundwater sampling program was launched this month by Colorado’s energy industry to “proactively” address concerns associated with drilling and hydraulic fracturing.

Beginning Wednesday (Aug. 3) there will be a “HAWK” flying over the Eagle Ford Shale of South Texas, collecting infrared images intended to reveal the release of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from natural gas production and other industrial facilities.

New Mexico regulators late Wednesday were closely monitoring the troublesome Track fire in rural parts of the state, which was threatening natural gas services in areas in and around Raton and Las Vegas, NM.