Agricultural Sciences

Dec. 19 webinar to look at the reclamation of shale gas cuttings

A clump of cuttings from a shale gas drill: the material can be recycled into a reusable, sustainable product that benefits the environment. Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- The reclamation of cuttings from the drilling of Marcellus Shale natural gas wells and the construction of gas pipelines is the subject of a Web-based seminar to be presented by Penn State Extension from 1 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 19.

During "Drilling and Pipeline Cuttings Reclamation," two leaders of Clean Earth Inc. -- a research and development company permitted by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection -- will discuss the company's unique operations in recycling drill and pipeline cuttings from shale development.

Averil Rance, vice president of environmental health and safety, and Daniel Mueller, general manager of drilling services, will detail environmental advancements Clean Earth Inc. has made converting unwanted leftovers into a valued material.

"As we enter the second phase of our research and development permit, we have made great progress in building data that supports the environmental benefits of this type of waste being recycled," Rance said.

"What we end up with is not only a reusable product, but a reusable, sustainable product that benefits the environment."

Penn State Extension's Marcellus Education Team provides monthly webinars on a variety of topics. Future planned topics include the following:

-- Jan. 16: "PA Wilds Design Guide Supplement for Oil and Gas Best Practices," featuring Jim Weaver, director, Tioga County Planning.

-- Feb. 20: "A Look at Recent Well Waste and Production," featuring Dave Yoxtheimer and Matt  Henderson, both with the Penn State Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research.

-- March 20: "A Look at Land and Property Valuations with Shale Development," featuring Jeffrey Kern, senior appraiser for Resource Technologies Corp.

Registration for the webinars is not necessary and all are welcome to participate by logging in to the website. For more information, contact Carol Loveland at 570-320-4429 or by email at cal24@psu.edu .

Previous webinars, publications and information also are available on the Penn State Extension natural-gas website, covering a variety of topics such as Act 13; seismic testing; air pollution from gas development; water use and quality; natural gas liquids regional development; royalties; gas-leasing considerations for landowners; legal issues surrounding gas development; the impact of Marcellus gas development on forestland; one northcentral Pennsylvania county's struggle to keep up with the demands of shale-gas development; and changes in types of income at the local level associated with Marcellus Shale activity.

Last Updated January 9, 2015

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