This is a map of unconventional oil and gas development (UOGD) infrastructure in Westmoreland and Allegheny Counties. UOGD (or "fracking") operations involve multiple types of facilities involved in extracting and transporting methane gas (also referred to as "natural" gas). Each "Well" location on this map actually represents a "well pad". A well pad can contain multiple wells. These wells go deep into the earth and then turn horizontally. This means that each point on the map can have multiple wells radiating out from it, extending a mile or more in any direction.
Compressor stations are needed to transport this gas along pipelines. They occur along the length of pipelines to collect, distribute and maintain high pressure on gas that is being sent along a pipeline network. There are many miles of smaller pipes connecting the network of production sites and compressor stations. These are not shown on our map. Most of the methane gas produced in Southwest Pennsylvania is exported overseas and needs to be sent to ports along the east coast. Our map shows the location of the Mariner east pipeline, the main high pressure pipeline in our region that collects and sends this gas to its export destination.
Every step in the extraction and transport phases carries risks of accidents and exposures to harmful chemicals. We work in Penn Trafford and added places where people recreate and send their kids to school and daycare to illustrate the harms that we are exposed to by placing this industry so close to our communities.
https://www.protectpt.org/fracking-map
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