Pennsylvania Shell is a building a petrochemical (ethane polymer) plant in Potter Township, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. It will be owned and operated by Shell Oil Company, the American subsidiary of Royal Dutch Shell. Get the facts from the Breathe Project of what this means for Beaver County here.
Fracking is the process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks, boreholes, etc. so as to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas.
Photo: Ted Auch of FracTracker Alliance 2020
Modern oil and gas extraction no longer involves just a well, pump, and tank. The process can be so overwhelmingly complex that in lieu of taking a tour in person, it helps to explore each stage through photos. By clicking this link e you will find a virtual guide from FracTracker to the process of unconventional oil and gas extraction
Photo: Ted Auch of FracTracker Alliance 2020
Oil and gas wells produce the chemicals needed to produce 99% of plastics.
Nearly all U.S. shale wells are fracked, and in addition to oil and gas, they generally produce a very high volume of natural gas liquids, or NGLs, a suite of chemicals that include butane, propane, and ethane.
Photo: Wix
Air and water pollution from
fracturing threatens
public health and communities. Visit our Health & Safety page to learn more about the health risks associated with fracking and Beaver County's petrochemical expansion.
