Montana Tracker News -
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Published on: 9/20/2003
Last Visited: 9/20/2003
Ron Edelstein, director of regulatory affairs for the Gas Technology Institute, said increased gas drilling lags six to 18 months behind natural gas prices spikes.Wells drilled now also are depleted faster, he said.
Edelstein made a pitch for more drilling for gas in now-restricted areas such as in the Rocky Mountain Front.He also called for the expedited siting and building of new pipelines, and advocated increased coal-bed methane drilling.
To meet the increased national demand for natural gas, an estimated 25,000 new wells must be drilled annually, he said.
"We have to be able to open up these well sites in areas that are now restricted in order to heat and power our nation," Edelstein said.
He suggested that by using new technology, natural gas can be extracted in "an environmentally benign fashion."