Drilling Down on Marcellus Shale: Environmental Impacts

Carnegie Science Center's Podcast

Please download the corresponding PowerPoint Presentation here: https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B72jWNjNLuDcNDg1YmJiZWItNjgwZi00MzFmLTllMDQtNTRkZTVhOTMxOWRj&hl=en The Marcellus Shale represents one of the largest reservoirs of unconventional natural gas in the world. It holds the potential to provide a source of energy and jobs. Its extraction, however, is non-trivial and if done without proper safeguards can result in the degradation of water and air quality, and loss of land use. John Stolz, Professor of Environmental Microbiology at Duquesne University, will lead a discussion, providing an overview of the industry, the processes involved in extraction, and the environmental impacts of drilling into the Marcellus Shale. Hear the answers to questions like: What chemicals are used in the fracking process? What are the environmental concerns about extracting gas from the Marcellus Shale? Can earthquakes be caused by fracking? These questions and more are covered, including a Q&A session at the end. Recorded on April 26, 2011 at Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh, PA.