From K.B. Battaglini of GT Houston:

The Marcellus Shale contains about 84 trillion cubic feet of recoverable natural gas, and 3.4 billion barrels of recoverable natural gas liquids, according to a just-released assessment by USGS of geological and engineering data.  These estimates are significantly more than the last USGS assessment in 2002, which estimated 2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas and .01 billion barrels of natural gas liquids. 

The new volumetric assessment must be tempered by legal and technical accessibility issues.  In other words, it is not likely that all of the recoverable gas will be recovered.

In reporting on this development, the New York Times slanted the results by proclaiming in a headline that "Geologists Sharply Cut Estimate of Shale Gas."  But the USGS did not cut its 2002 estimate, but rather increased it.  Instead, the Times compared the USGS’s volumetric assessment with a prior estimate made by the Energy Information Administration of 410 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.  Upon learning of the just-released assessment by USGS, the EIA downgraded its prior estimate, saying "we consider the USGS to be the experts in this matter" and "they’re geologists and we’re not."  So, rather than proclaiming that "Geologists" had cut their estimate, the Times headline should have stated that the "EIA downgraded its estimate based upon a geological assessment." 

 

Tags: Marcellus Shale, natural gas, U.S. Geological Survey
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Photo of Caleb Holmes Caleb Holmes

Caleb’s practice focuses on complex environmental litigation and environmental compliance. Caleb has represented clients in state and federal courts and in administrative proceedings. In his environmental litigation practice, Caleb often represents corporate clients in cost recovery, contribution and government enforcement actions under Comprehensive

…

Caleb’s practice focuses on complex environmental litigation and environmental compliance. Caleb has represented clients in state and federal courts and in administrative proceedings. In his environmental litigation practice, Caleb often represents corporate clients in cost recovery, contribution and government enforcement actions under Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Caleb has litigated such matters through trial and has also helped clients negotiate and settle matters. He has worked with clients on cases involving a wide variety of contaminants, including but not limited to PCBs, PFAS, and dioxins. Caleb also has broad experience litigating complex commercial litigation, including products liability and mass tort/toxic tort matters. He has a depth of experience with all aspects of discovery, including work with experts, taking and defending depositions, motion practice, trial preparation and settlement negotiation.

Caleb provides practical advice to clients in the acquisition and disposition of businesses and assets and the re-development of brownfield sites. He works with clients to achieve compliance with state-specific voluntary cleanup programs, including Pennsylvania’s Land Recycling Program (Act 2).

Caleb counsels clients on compliance with a broad range of federal and state environmental laws, including RCRA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and a host of other federal and state environmental laws.

In addition to his legal work, Caleb is active in various professional and civic organizations. He is currently serving as the Council’s Secretary for the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Environmental and Energy Law Section.

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