The spike in natural gas development has proven to be a boon to businesses of all sorts in states located on top of the country’s the largest shale formations and basins. The most drilling and pipeline activity is being conducted in the massive formations – or “plays” – in Pennsylvania, North Dakota and Texas, where contractors are cashing in on the flurry of drilling that began in 2008.
“It’s definitely been a boon economically,” says Charles Campbell, director of special projects with Glenn O. Hawbaker, a State College, Penn.-based heavy and civil construction contractor. “And it’s all new business. The gas has been here for millions of years, but until recently none of this [business] existed.