Marcellus wells double in Fayette, but lag behind area counties
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Nearly twice as many Marcellus shale gas wells have been drilled in Fayette County so far this year as were drilled last year.
However, reports drillers filed with the state also show that Marcellus development in Fayette County remains far behind neighboring Greene and Washington counties, where 68 and 103 wells have been drilled, respectively, so far this year. The 40 wells drilled in Westmoreland County slightly outpaces the 32 in Fayette County.
Those four counties comprise the base of Chevron Corp.’s Marcellus development area in which the company has long-term investment plans.
“Our core operating areas are Fayette, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland counties. We’re going to be investing in southwestern Pennsylvania for decades,” said Chevron spokesman Nate Calvert.
Chevron plans to have 70 wells drilled by the end of the year.
Dunbar Township leads Fayette County with 14 new wells. Four wells have been drilled or started in Bullskin, Redstone and North Union townships. Three were drilled in German Township, two in Henry Clay Township and one in Wharton Township, according to reports drillers submit to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), which posts the information online.
Morris Township is leading Greene County with 14 new wells this year. Franklin Township is host to 11 new wells and 10 wells have been drilled in Cumberland and Morgan townships. Center Township has nine new wells, three have been drilled in Gray, Jefferson and Washington townships, two were drilled in Dunkard and Jackson townships and one was drilled in Monongahela Township.
In Washington County, the leading exploration county in southwestern Pennsylvania, 16 wells have been drilled in Morris Township. Cross Creek Township has 13 new wells, Robinson Township has 11 and Hopewell and Mount Pleasant townships have 10 each. Nine wells have been drilled in Amwell Township, seven in Donegal Township and six in North Franklin Township. Five new wells have been drilled in West Bethlehem and Chartiers townships, four in Independence and South Franklin townships, two in Fallowfield Township and one in North Bethlehem Township.
About 1,015 wells have been drilled statewide so far this year.
Last year, 139 wells were drilled in Washington County, 80 in Greene County, 46 in Westmoreland County and 19 in Fayette County. In 2009, 138 wells were drilled in Washington, 91 in Greene, 55 in Fayette and 46 in Westmoreland. In 2008, 32 wells were drilled in Washington, 19 in Westmoreland and 18 each in Fayette and Greene.