Thomas S. Williams, manager of Utility Facilities Data & Systems Operation for UGI Utilities, Inc., gave a presentation to Morgantown Area Business Association members during its recent breakfast meeting at the Windmill Restaurant.
In the Gulf of Mexico is where gas typically comes from, he said.
“The Northeast is probably the largest area of consumer of natural gas,” said Williams, noting that UGI does not transport gas; the company distributes it. “Large interstate pipelines are used to transport that gas volume up to Pennsylvania. You could almost walk down the middle of them.”
“UGI purchases this gas and then transports it to our customers through our distribution network.”
After 2008, there was the identification of marcellus shale in upstate New York to Virginia, he said. “This shale formation alone expanded the natural gas viability out 30 years but that number keeps changing.”
Showing a map of the Northeast on an overhead projector, Williams said, “Those are shale formations where gas is stored in sandstone.”
“They’ve developed some new techniques to release that gas, certainly some controversial techniques. From the gas side of the business we don’t believe they’re controversial.”
“You’ve heard fracking and that’s exactly how they’re extracting the gas out of this formation, where they’ll run the pipe down about 7,000 feet and then they’ll start to curve that drill and the drill will go vertical through that formation and they introduce sand through a liquid and keeps that formation open and this allows the gas to come through up to the top.”
“For the Northeast, this was a very important energy find for us. The Northeast was pretty much starved for gas. Now we don’t have to get it from the Gulf of Mexico, it’s right here. It produced hundreds and hundreds of jobs in Pennsylvania alone, but we still have to get that gas to market,” said Williams.
UGI is partnering with the Energy Services Department to start to build pipelines to get that gas to market, he said.
“UGI is excited about the possibility of having these gas assets,” said Williams.
MABA members thanked Williams for his presentation and wanted to know more about fracking, which Williams deferred to those who are more involved in fracking.
In other news, MABA announced nominations for its new Board: Luanne “Bunny” R. Graham as secretary, Dave Hinkel as treasurer, Roseanne Thomas as vice president of membership, KC Trost as vice president of marketing, and Linda Lovenstein as president. Vice president of events is still to be determined.
There was no election since there was no one running against the candidates.
Sue Shipe resigned as vice president of membership since she will be retiring from the Village Library at the end of the year.
“Thank you, Sue, for all of your help and support,” said Mark Cummins, current MABA president.
Upcoming is the MABA Holiday Dinner Celebration Friday, Nov. 21, at Holiday Inn Morgantown starting at 5:30 p.m. As entry into the festivities, MABA requests attendees bring one or more of the items on the Animal Rescue League Holiday Wish List to be donated. MABA members are asked to RSVP no later than Nov. 14 to Linda Lovenstein at lindal@harihotels.net.