The Problem with Natural Gas Infrastructure

[vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/2″]As Director of External Affairs for Cabot, I was honored to testify about the problem with natural gas infrastructure in the United States in relation to America’s energy security to members of the House of Representatives Natural Gas Caucus in Washington, D.C. Infrastructure is VitalTo begin my testimony I tried to convey just how abundant the natural gas production is within the Marcellus Shale. I highlighted that a natural gas well that produced between 1 to 1.5 BCF over its life was a good well, a few years ago, but that today in Pennsylvania, we expect our wells to produce 17 BCF of natural gas.
[/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image css_animation=”” image=”7955″ border_color=”” img_link_large=”” link=”https://wellsaidcabot.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/Pipelines.jpg” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]With this amount of proven gas, being available for decades, I then moved to discussing that Pennsylvania does not have a wide distribution network necessary to get the vast amounts of natural gas that we are producing from the Marcellus Shale to the communities who need it. Natural gas is going to be here well into the future which means that the additional pipelines to transport it must be built immediately to keep up with this production.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Because we have this much natural gas, the trick is to move it from where it is extracted and produced to where it can be used by the consumer. We need to figure out a way to get infrastructure built to move this gas.  Without a proper infrastructure, the natural gas that Pennsylvania, and the entire country needs won’t be able to get to the people who need it.  This allows more natural gas to be burned, to be utilized for manufacturing, for heating your homes and for electric generating chemical industry.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]A Need for Change
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]It is abundantly clear that there is indeed a need for change in the natural gas industry’s infrastructure. New pipelines need to be built to match the amount of natural gas that companies are now producing. Without the proper means to carry the product to the consumer, the only people that will be negatively affected are the everyday citizens that rely on natural gas to fuel their cars, heat their houses and light their stoves.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]You can listen to my full testimony below:
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]https://soundcloud.com/cabotog/natural-gas-caucus-washington-dc[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

George Stark

George grew up in Western PA, graduated from Dickinson College and has been involved in Public Policy matters since then. He has worked in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh on energy issues with a focus on Local, State and Federal matters. As the Director, External Affairs at Cabot Oil & Gas Corp, George directs the media, community and legislative relations for the company.