he natural gas industry is looking to use abandoned mine drainage during the hydraulic fracturing of gas wells. This innovation is currently being practiced by some operators and assists in mitigating environmental impacts. Although it is a win-win situation some ‘environmental’ groups still oppose the practice, revealing much about who they really are.

Next week we will recognize the birthday of Edwin Drake, the man who drilled the first oil well in Pennsylvania. It makes one wonder what could possibly come next when we reflect on the long history of resource extraction in Pennsylvania and the technological advances since the Drake Well.

Yet, even with how far we’ve come, there are still advancements being made. Everyday, new technology is created to mitigate risks during oil and natural gas development, as well as improvements to best management practices the industry works to follow. One such new innovation coming into play throughout Pennsylvania is the use of acid or abandoned mine drainage (AMD) in the completion process of shale gas development.

http://eidmarcellus.org/marcellus-shale/abandoned-mine-drainage-is-...