AskChesapeake

Advances in horizontal drilling made it possible to extend lateral wellbores approximately one mile – allowing energy companies to produce minerals in urban environments with minimal surface disruption. Moving drilling operations from cow pastures to municipalities requires sensitivity in every phase of operation. That’s why energy companies, like Chesapeake Energy make a significant investment in sound mitigation, safety and site security.

A Safe and Highly Regulated Industry

There are many safety and regulatory measures in place to ensure that natural gas drilling and urban communities coexist without incident. A system of checks and balances between local, state and federal agencies make sure that drilling and production operations are consistently monitored, supported and managed.

City ordinances mandate wellsite aesthetics, noise and traffic control. State regulatory agencies – including the Railroad Commission of Texas – govern drilling, production and pipeline operations while the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality monitors health and safety aspects of operations. On the federal level, the United States Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency and the Federal Energy Regulatory agency all work to oversee the industry.

What Every Texan Should Know about the Barnett Shale

• $715.5 million in direct and indirect revenue from taxes to the state of Texas
• $10.1 billion in increased annual economic activity
• The Barnett Shale created 99,726 jobs in Texas
• In North Texas it accounts for 8% of gross product, 8% of personal income and 9% of employment
• One average well generates enough natural gas to heat 26,500 homes for one year.

New Pipelines. New Jobs. New Revenue

Pipelines are an integral part of producing natural gas. Without them, natural gas cannot be transported and sold at market to provide royalty payments, clean energy for home and commercial use, and the economic benefits Texas has come to rely upon.

Today, 270,000 miles of natural gas pipelines stretch across Texas. The construction of new natural gas pipelines and compressor stations have created 13,261 permanent jobs in Texas. They have also generated $16.3 million in tax revenue in 2008, 16 times greater than the $1 million generated in 2004. And with natural gas producers projected to remain active in the Barnett Shale for the next several decades,Texans will enjoy long sustained job growth as a result.

Even with conservative estimates, one 12-well padsite can produce:

 

• $144 million in total revenue ($12 million per well) • $24 million in royalties to residents • $9.8 million to state and local taxing jurisdictions • $20 million to local workforce and businesses

 

More information

For more information on the economic impact of natural gas in the state of Texas, visit the links below:

Community Involvement

Chesapeake is a firm believer in being a responsible corporate citizen. As the exploration and production of natural gas expands to many areas of the country, we make sure our work will invigorate economies and improve the infrastructure of the regions where we operates. This is done by investing in education, building positive relationships with civic and government leaders for local initiatives and protecting the beauty and integrity of the environment.

Chesapeake has made donations to organizations that have had a far-reaching affect on the people of Tarrant, Johnson and Dallas counties. From truck donations to volunteer fire departments to computers for students and libraries, Chesapeake gives back to the community to improve the quality of life for residents. Among those organizations that have received contributions are the United Way agencies of Tarrant and Johnson counties, the Fort Worth Zoo, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History and the Chesapeake Scholarship and Johnson County Scholarship funds.

Corporate Giving Guidelines

Click here for our corporate giving guidelines.

Scholarships

Click here for information about our scholarship programs.