Drillsites are selected based on a number of factors, including but not limited to availability of land suitable for drilling, proximity to buildings, parks and other infrastructure, geologic considerations, proximity to natural gas pipelines or the feasibility of installing new pipelines, if necessary, environmental impact, and the location of wetlands, floodplains, wildlife habitats and archeological sites. The company's lease position in the area is also a consideration. Ultimately, energy companies strive to select sites that are the least-intrusive to daily life as possible.
From a physical standpoint, minor short-term disruptions may occur on-site. Like any typical construction project, however, the majority of residents will experience few, if any, changes to daily life. Drilling practices are designed to have minimum impact on the environment and new pipelines pose no more danger than the common public natural gas lines which already service most neighborhoods. Economically, you will notice a big difference as natural gas production brings millions of dollars in revenue, new jobs and income streams to local property owners, municipalities and other taxing jurisdictions. In fact, a recent study by the University of Arkansas predicts the economic benefit of gas drilling in the Fayetteville Shale to be almost $18 billion through 2012.
The drilling process begins with padsite construction, which typically lasts approximately four weeks. Next, the set up of the rig and the drilling of the well will take approximately three weeks per well. Multiple wells are sometimes drilled from a single padsite. Although the rig is the most visible part of drilling operations, it is temporary and will be removed once the drilling is completed. Once the layer of rock that holds the natural gas (pay zone) is reached, the well will be completed and prepped for production. Even with multiple-well padsites, the entire process frequently takes less time than the building of a house or store in the same area.
During the approximate three weeks of drilling, operations run continuously 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The completion process takes about 14 days.
Multiple measures are in place to ensure that any inconvenience is minimal and temporary. Operators must work with communities in determining truck routes and implementing security measures. As with any construction site, there will be additional truck traffic from setting up and taking down equipment. After the wells are completed, there is no noise and minimal visual impact, if any. The energy company returns regularly to monitor and maintain the site. At some wellsites trucks may return to remove naturally occurring water, which is separated from natural gas during the lifting process and stored in tanks located on the site. A typical padsite is three to five acres in size.
Once drilling is completed and the operating equipment in place, Chesapeake’s wellsites are made to appear as aesthetically appealing as possible. Subsequently, the sites are frequently more attractive than other utilitarian structures like waste water pump houses or electrical substations.
Chesapeake has a state-of-the-art cementing and casing program that protects groundwater from any drilling activities. The vertical portion of the wellbore is normally drilled with “air” (through the freshwater aquifers) thus minimizing any risk of contamination. On the rare occasion when fluid is required, freshwater and mud are used instead of air.
Steel casing and surrounding layers of concrete are then installed to isolate the well from the drinking water aquifers through which the wellbore penetrates.
Additional strings of casing and tubing are set to provide even greater separation between the gas stream and the freshwater aquifer. The multiple layers of steel and cement, which go into the construction of a natural gas well, virtually eliminate the possibility of the contamination of any freshwater zones.