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In recent years, breakthroughs in drilling technology have enabled U.S. oil and gas companies to tap previously inaccessible reserves.
The combination of two related extraction methods – hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," and horizontal drilling – have unlocked significant reserves of fossil fuels trapped in shale rock formations. As we've previously discussed, fracking activity in Europe has been extremely limited, due to the size, shape and geographic dispersal of the continent's shale resources.
However, large, accessible reserves are plentiful in the United States, which has driven rapid growth of the country's oil and gas sector in recent years. The success of fracking has also spurred interest in exploring some of the nation's less flush reservoirs.
A study released earlier this year by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) identified the Pioneer Valley in Western Massachusetts as a potential fracking site. The area contains part of the Hartford Basin, which stretches south into Connecticut.
Drilling in Massachusetts would be particularly challenging for oil and gas companies, because the regulatory environment is relatively strict. In fact, according to The Boston Globe, the type of wells that would need to be drilled in order to tap into the Hartford shale formation are currently prohibited in the state.
Geologists say that drilling is unlikely to begin soon, as the shale is relatively thin and unlikely to contain the large volumes of gas available in other locations. However, Robert Milici, lead author of the USGS study, asserted there is no way to know how much gas is available without conducting extensive testing. He explained that a rise in gas prices could make the Hartford Basin a more attractive prospect.
As Houston oil and gas companies look to participate in drilling projects around the United States, retaining experienced attorneys from a local energy law firm will help them overcome obstacles and achieve success.
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