Chile Mine Rescue Connection At Natural Gas Expo

The same company that is credited with rescuing 33 Chilean miners this week is marketing its services in the Marcellus Shale natural gas region. Two representatives of Center Rock Inc., which is based in Berlin, Pa., attended Thursday’s North Central Gas Expo in St. Marys. CRI helped bring 33 miners to the surface after months of drilling and preparation of a rescue shaft at the San Jose Mine. Trapped miners spent 69 days almost a half-mile underground after an Aug. 5 collapse brought down 700,000 tons of rock. Travis Mosholder (left) and Dan Stoner of CRI emphasized how technology has improved companies’ abilities to efficiently penetrate the earth with more precision and less risk than ever.

Nearly 200 service providers rented booth space at the expo, which focused on business opportunities in Cameron, Elk, Clearfield and Jefferson counties. Robert Garland Sr., technical advisor for Universal Wells Services Inc., summarized the opinions of most of the vendors: “Pennsylvania currently imports 74 percent of its natural gas, but the state will become a worldwide exporter. It makes sense because it’s right here, right now.” TerrAqua Resource Management of Williamsport was on hand to advertise its services in treating flowback water from Marcellus Shale hydrofracturing. Another vendor was touting his fee-based website that will be launched later this month for people seeking jobs in the gas industry. Business was not the expo’s only focus. Free seminars were presented on protecting private water wells and springs, leasing subsurface rights and preparing for employment in the industry. (Photo: St. Marys Daily Press)