Geokinetics: Lower Burrell to be ‘thumped’ to test for natural gas fracking sites
Oil and natural gas exploration and production company Huntley & Huntley, Inc. is using two companies to conduct seismic testing in Lower Burrell.
Seismic testing is often tied to natural gas exploration.
The testing began earlier this month and will take place through the end of February.
It consists of placing data collection devices called “geophones” across a large area, which record sound waves made by “thumper” trucks that pound the surface to send vibrations through the ground in order to provide information about the geological conditions at a location.
“Huntley & Huntley Energy Exploration has contracted with GeoKinetics and Cougar Land Services to conduct a seismic survey in portions of Lower Burrell (as) part of a larger program to collect geologic data to support a natural gas drilling program in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties,” Paul Burke, vice president and general counsel for Huntley & Huntley said in a statement. “The companies have worked with local government officials and property owners in Lower Burrell to provide information about this work, and have obtained permission from property owners to place geophones and other equipment on their land to complete the survey.”
The testing will move steadily from east to west, toward the border with Plum.
The trucks will operate between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Other work is limited to daylight hours, seven days a week.
Burke said all the testing equipment will be removed when the testing is completed, and there is no impact to the land, houses or other structures associated with the testing.