Today’s post contributed by Bill desRosiers – Coordinator, External Affairs[vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_custom_heading text=”Often lost in today’s discussion about natural gas is our neighbor to the north, Canada, and its enormous natural gas reserves.” font_container=”tag:h4|font_size:28px|text_align:left|line_height:30px” google_fonts=”font_family:PT%20Sans%3Aregular%2Citalic%2C700%2C700italic|font_style:400%20regular%3A400%3Anormal”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]
Like the United States, Canada is blessed with recoverable natural gas in quantities that could make the country energy independent or a major player in the energy export business. While Canada has a number of natural gas plays, the one in the St. Lawrence River Valley between Quebec City and Montreal has seen the most attention. Unlike the United States, Canada has a different political structure that severs mineral rights from all its citizens. Under this arrangement, Canadian landowners do not have a choice about development and do not directly benefit from royalties. This policy has led to a very frustrated general public that views development of natural gas as something with little direct reward. However, as the industry in Pennsylvania has demonstrated time and again, everyone benefits from natural gas development not just landowners. The Canadian government recognizes this fact and decided to send, a delegation from Canada visited Cabot’s operations here in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The tour, which took place on Sunday morning, was organized by Energy in Depth’s Northeast Marcellus team who asked Cabot to assist as a last second favor. The group from Canada was a mixture of governmental officials, journalists and some influential members of the community, bringing the total to 16. After a twenty-minute discussion inside the field office about Cabot’s history, current development strategies, and community involvement, everyone made their way to Springville for a tour of the Flowers site.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_single_image css_animation=”” image=”1622″ border_color=”” img_link_large=”” link=”http://cabotsusq.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/drill-bit.jpg” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]While Canada does not share in the prolific Marcellus Shale formation, it does have a large footprint of the Utica formation. You might be aware of the Utica formation in Ohio, a formation known to produce oil and natural gas liquids. In Canada, because of geological history, the Utica formation, it appears, is not oil or liquids rich. Instead, it resembles the Marcellus Shale formation here in Susquehanna making comparisons to our operations important for Canada’s decision process.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/2″]At the Flowers pad site, the group was taken through the development process from day one when the pad site is created all the way through completion of the drilling process. During this overview a few certain areas were stressed including environmental stewardship, safety, and Cabot’s commitment to exceed many regulations. On the back side of the rig, the tour got an up-close look at Cabot’s closed-loop system, which insures cuttings and fluids from our operation do not enter the surrounding environment. The final string of casing for the well was being staged and it gave the group a chance to actually see how strong our wells are constructed.[/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_single_image css_animation=”” image=”1623″ border_color=”” img_link_large=”” link=”http://cabotsusq.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/flowers-pad-site.jpg” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”medium”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]After the Flowers site, the group moved to the Greenwood pad in Dimock. This specific location has four producing wells and was recently reclaimed. Thereby giving the group a chance to see how little of a footprint responsible natural gas development actually makes.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Whether Canada decides to move forward with natural gas development is unknown. The possibility of economic growth, social progress, and an energy source to power its country for decades must be a challenging thought. Only time will tell if or when this vast resource will be developed.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]