Guilford well to eventually supply Amphenol, Sidney with gas
GUILFORD – The site is about ready to go. Workers are just waiting for the rig to arrive.
“I wish I could tell you when to expect it. And will let you know just as soon as I do,” Gastem USA Vice President Richard Nyahay said earlier this week.
Nyahay was commenting on progress at the proposed natural gas well site, located on state Route 8 in the Town of Guilford just three miles up the road from Sidney. It will be the first gas well built in Guilford since 1970.
Future plans are to service nearby Amphenol Corp., downtown businesses and Sidney Central Schools with low-cost natural gas for fuel rather than oil. Once drilled, Nyahay said the well would be shut in until a pipeline, like the one being proposed by Leatherstocking Gas LLC., can be built south toward Sidney. (See sidebar)
In December, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued Gastem a drilling permit to access the Oneida formation, some 5,500 feet below the surface.
In light of the controversial nature of hydraulic fracturing, Nyahay has been up front and open about the processes and procedures surrounding the drilling of this well. It is a conventional, vertical well, not horizontal, and will be drilled with air, not large quantities of water mixed with sand and chemicals. Those factors distinguish it from the widely-publicized, horizontal, high volume fracking process needed to release gas deposits from shale.
The Oneida sandstone is situated between the Marcellus and the Utica shale formations. Previous geological work and seismic analysis indicate the potential for favorable structures capable of producing commercial quantities of natural gas at the site.
The company will spend nearly $1 million on the project. Since August, the company has worked under guidance from the United States Geological Services and NYSDEC to complete a 200-page storm water pollution prevention plan that will control sediments and rain water around the 160 acre unit. Its construction plans meet all of the required cementing and casing regulations. Other documentation and studies included an endangered species review and archeology review.
Adjoining landowners were notified of the project. In addition, base line water tests were taken from private wells located from within a half mile radius of the well site.
“We have been able to characterize the water from test wells of neighbors. It will serve as a great database for the community as a whole,” said Nyahay.
Cuttings and formation fluids, and drilling mud if needed, will be collected and contained in a graded, closed and lined container, separated and then pumped into a waste disposal truck. The fluids will go to a disposal site in Pennsylvania, Nyahay said, and the cuttings to a landfill in Chemung County.
Among other regional companies involved in the project, Gastem has contracted with Clark Construction of Mt. Upton and Paynes Cranes of Bainbridge.
Guilford Supervisor George Seneck said there had been very little discussion at town board meetings regarding the project. “There was a 10 to 12 minutes discussion on gas drilling after they were issued their permit from the DEC. I had expected more than that,” he said.
Gastem is an independent oil and gas exploration and development company based in Montreal. The company holds natural gas exploration and storage permits and rights in Quebec and leases and interests in New York State and Virginia.
“I wish I could tell you when to expect it. And will let you know just as soon as I do,” Gastem USA Vice President Richard Nyahay said earlier this week.
Nyahay was commenting on progress at the proposed natural gas well site, located on state Route 8 in the Town of Guilford just three miles up the road from Sidney. It will be the first gas well built in Guilford since 1970.
Future plans are to service nearby Amphenol Corp., downtown businesses and Sidney Central Schools with low-cost natural gas for fuel rather than oil. Once drilled, Nyahay said the well would be shut in until a pipeline, like the one being proposed by Leatherstocking Gas LLC., can be built south toward Sidney. (See sidebar)
In December, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation issued Gastem a drilling permit to access the Oneida formation, some 5,500 feet below the surface.
In light of the controversial nature of hydraulic fracturing, Nyahay has been up front and open about the processes and procedures surrounding the drilling of this well. It is a conventional, vertical well, not horizontal, and will be drilled with air, not large quantities of water mixed with sand and chemicals. Those factors distinguish it from the widely-publicized, horizontal, high volume fracking process needed to release gas deposits from shale.
The Oneida sandstone is situated between the Marcellus and the Utica shale formations. Previous geological work and seismic analysis indicate the potential for favorable structures capable of producing commercial quantities of natural gas at the site.
The company will spend nearly $1 million on the project. Since August, the company has worked under guidance from the United States Geological Services and NYSDEC to complete a 200-page storm water pollution prevention plan that will control sediments and rain water around the 160 acre unit. Its construction plans meet all of the required cementing and casing regulations. Other documentation and studies included an endangered species review and archeology review.
Adjoining landowners were notified of the project. In addition, base line water tests were taken from private wells located from within a half mile radius of the well site.
“We have been able to characterize the water from test wells of neighbors. It will serve as a great database for the community as a whole,” said Nyahay.
Cuttings and formation fluids, and drilling mud if needed, will be collected and contained in a graded, closed and lined container, separated and then pumped into a waste disposal truck. The fluids will go to a disposal site in Pennsylvania, Nyahay said, and the cuttings to a landfill in Chemung County.
Among other regional companies involved in the project, Gastem has contracted with Clark Construction of Mt. Upton and Paynes Cranes of Bainbridge.
Guilford Supervisor George Seneck said there had been very little discussion at town board meetings regarding the project. “There was a 10 to 12 minutes discussion on gas drilling after they were issued their permit from the DEC. I had expected more than that,” he said.
Gastem is an independent oil and gas exploration and development company based in Montreal. The company holds natural gas exploration and storage permits and rights in Quebec and leases and interests in New York State and Virginia.
dived wound factual legitimately delightful goodness fit rat some lopsidedly far when.
Slung alongside jeepers hypnotic legitimately some iguana this agreeably triumphant pointedly far
jeepers unscrupulous anteater attentive noiseless put less greyhound prior stiff ferret unbearably cracked oh.
So sparing more goose caribou wailed went conveniently burned the the the and that save that adroit gosh and sparing armadillo grew some overtook that magnificently that
Circuitous gull and messily squirrel on that banally assenting nobly some much rakishly goodness that the darn abject hello left because unaccountably spluttered unlike a aurally since contritely thanks