Seismic Surveys To Start in Dunbar Twp, Fayette County in Autumn
Seismic surveys will begin in autumn in Dunbar Township, Fayette County in order to determine the best locations for Marcellus shale gas drilling operations. Dunbar Township supervisors told residents that testing will begin in October to allow Chevron to select drilling sites.
McDonald Land Services will send letters to property owners that agreed to the surveys, notifying them of the procedures. The survey will take place in six phases in mid-October until the survey is complete, according to a letter from McDonald Land Services. Activity over the entire survey may last over many months.
What can residents expect? During the first step, they will take an initial access survey to locate all items of interest that will be avoided on each property, including pipelines, wells, natural springs, wetlands, buildings, ponds, etc. They will then survey source and receiver locations. If allowed by permit and only if necessary, areas with heavy brush will be cleared. However, heavy timber will be untouched.
Surveyors will travel to each property in pickup trucks and will drive between properties in small all-purpose utility vehicles while using GPS and/or other equipment to survey source and receiver locations. Each position will be marked with a numbered wooden lathe, and colored ribbons will be used to mark the path from point to point that the crew will follow. The ribbon flagging serves as a visual aid for navigation of field personnel during operations.
Once the operations portion of the project for a permit is concluded, the property will be cleared of any remaining equipment and materials.
