Business & Tech
Consol Energy Details Future Drilling Plans at Pittsburgh International Airport
Officials announced plans to begin drilling operations in mid-2014 on airport property.
Consol Energy on Tuesday announced plans to begin drilling operations in mid-2014 at Pittsburgh International Airport property.
The Cecil-based company with Allegheny County and Airport Authority officials held a public workshop at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott, where they revealed plans to use six well pads to drill 47 shale gas wells on airport land.
Gas production is expected to begin in 2015 and last through 2018.
Consol Energy said it has identified six potential well sites, along with gas and water pipelines and a small number of impoundment locations.
Consol is also currently in discussions with Moon and Findlay townships—where much of the leased land is located—to serve as sources of fresh municipal water to support airport drilling operations.
"This will result in significant additional income for the townships and is consistent with our commitment to partner with and reinvest in the communities in which we operate," Consol said in a news release. "It will also reduce truck traffic into and out of the airport property."
According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, project officials are still working to lease some private properties that might be impacted from the well pads close to airport borders.
Consol Energy and county officials said the drilling won't obstruct flights or airport operations.
Allegheny County Council approved an ordinance in February authorizing the lease of more than 9,000 acres of land surrounding Pittsburgh International Airport for Marcellus shale gas extraction.
The airport authority has a 20-year agreement with Consol Energy, which includes a lump sum payment of $50 million to the authority in addition to an 18 percent royalty on annual natural gas proceeds generated from airport land. The deal could net more than $500 million for the airport.
The Cecil-based company with Allegheny County and Airport Authority officials held a public workshop at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott, where they revealed plans to use six well pads to drill 47 shale gas wells on airport land.
Gas production is expected to begin in 2015 and last through 2018.
Consol Energy said it has identified six potential well sites, along with gas and water pipelines and a small number of impoundment locations.
Consol is also currently in discussions with Moon and Findlay townships—where much of the leased land is located—to serve as sources of fresh municipal water to support airport drilling operations.
"This will result in significant additional income for the townships and is consistent with our commitment to partner with and reinvest in the communities in which we operate," Consol said in a news release. "It will also reduce truck traffic into and out of the airport property."
According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, project officials are still working to lease some private properties that might be impacted from the well pads close to airport borders.
Consol Energy and county officials said the drilling won't obstruct flights or airport operations.
Allegheny County Council approved an ordinance in February authorizing the lease of more than 9,000 acres of land surrounding Pittsburgh International Airport for Marcellus shale gas extraction.
The airport authority has a 20-year agreement with Consol Energy, which includes a lump sum payment of $50 million to the authority in addition to an 18 percent royalty on annual natural gas proceeds generated from airport land. The deal could net more than $500 million for the airport.
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