 |
Central New York Oil and Gas Company (CYNOG) has started drilling the first of several gas storage wells in the South Owego/Apalachin/Nichols region. These storage wells, using techniques developed by ECORP of Houston, Texas, will provide a natural underground storage of gas, the environmentally preferred fuel, for the Northeast U. S. market area. |
 |
The Stagecoach Storage Project will be using the existing natural porous rock formations that supplied the numerous gas wells drilled by Quaker State in 1986 through the early 1990s and were later purchased by Belden & Blake. The Stagecoach Field was very productive for over a decade but is now almost depleted with pressures low enough to make production inefficient. These wells provided clean efficient low cost fuel for the Southern Tier for over ten years reducing our dependency on Middle Eastern foreign oil. The new Stagecoach Storage Project coupled with the proposed Tennessee Gas Pipeline Company@ Stagecoach Expansion Project will continue to provide clean energy to the Southern Tier and the Northeastern United States for many years to come. |
 |
Key Energy Drilling Company out of Michigan is drilling a 21" hole that will house a 16" steel pipe cemented in to protect the surrounding water table. The final well will be approximately 4,500 feet deep. At that, level horizontal shafts will later be drilled to provide access to the gas retaining formation. |
 |
Geologists and "Mud-loggers" are carefully monitoring every foot of rock samples that come out of the well as the drilling continues. The rocks or "mud" are identified, analyzed, and the data entered into a computer where it adds to existing information bank of knowledge of the world beneath us. |
 |
Every effort is being made to assure that the surrounding environment is protected. The well pads are carefully constructed. Diversion ditches, run-off protectors, stone-lined silt collecting pits, weirs, and drainage pipes are the order of the days to protect any damage that could occur this area. |
 |
Well pad #2 is completed and ready
for the drilling rig to be moved from well #1 where it is currently working.
Note that the pad has been covered with gravel and packed with a roller.
The area is beautifully graded with well and human waste storage Facilities
provided. What a far cry it is from the site preparation and maintenance
Quaker State did on my property back in 1986 when the first successful
gas well started the Stagecoach Field. I am particularly pleased and impressed
with the job CNYOG is doing but wonder if it would be the same if we didn't
have the New York State DEC, The Soil Conservation Service, The Federal
Regulatory Commission and other watchdog agencies looking after the public's
interest. This is a tough question for a conservative, science oriented,
educated person like myself to ask.
These and other 8 x 10 color prints of the drilling operations are on display at my shop at 32-34 Lake Street in Owego. For more information, contact the Owego Office of ECORP and CNYOG at 175 Front Street or visit their interesting and complete Web site at http://www.eCORPusa.com. |