The Greater Pittsburgh region is at the center of the hottest natural gas play in North America, the Marcellus Shale.

One of the world’s largest unconventional natural gas reserves, it contains an estimated $500 billion in recoverable gas and covers 95,000 square miles or approximately 60% of Pennsylvania’s land mass. 1000+ new wells were drilled in Pennsylvania in 2010 – that’s expected to increase to 2,900 annually by 2020. Pennsylvania has an existing natural gas industry that is ranked second in the nation, in the number of producing gas wells.

Investors from around the world have put nearly $20 billion in equity investment into regional natural gas companies focused on opportunities in the Marcellus Shale.

The abundant supply of natural gas in the Pittsburgh region provides a cost-effective source of fuel and feedstock, attracts exploration, production and midstream companies and drives demand for organizations that can supply and service the industry.

Breakthroughs in unconventional drilling combined with continuing improvements to shale fracking and water treatment have made it possible to unlock the potential of the Marcellus Shale and bring it responsibly to market.