Natural gas company to disclose drilling chemicals

Range Resources says it will say how much of the chemicals it uses, not just provide a list of them. It has been drilling for natural gas for years in Pennsylvania.

One of Pennsylvania’s largest natural gas drillers says it will voluntarily disclose the chemicals it injects into lucrative Marcellus Shale reserve. Range Resources says it wants to address landowner’s concerns over water contamination and defuse a growing controversy about the industry’s secrecy over the chemicals.

Range Resources was the first company to exploit the deeply buried Marcellus Shale gas in 2004. They says they were the first to reuse 100 percent of their drill water, and now, they want to be the first to disclose details of chemical additives in that water.

Mark Pitzarella is a spokesperson for Range.

“We must apply and recognize a higher standard of care in developing this resource. You do not have to compromise the economy or the environment in order to develop this resource. They can be done in tandem and that’s what we’re trying to prove to everyone.”

Pitzarella says much misinformation exists on the process known as hydraulic fracturing.

To release the gas, water, sand and chemical additives are forced deep into the earth to cause thousands of thin fractures in the rock that holds the gas.

Range says the four chemicals they use are not in concentrations high enough to consider hazardous. The company will post the information for each of their wells on their website.