As I’ve noted a few times before, if you’re looking for work in construction, think deeply about the Marcellus Shale options. This Gold Rush of our times is spread throughout America and the world. The locations that that have Shale gas are booming.

An excellent article in ENR describes the changing game of the shale gas extraction. A few years ago, fracking was developed with great enthusiasm and little regard for the environmental consequences. There simply were no regulations, technical decisions tended to be left to the conscience of the operator. History teaches that the Wild West model doesn’t work too well.

With the EPA producing a report by the end of 2012 that documents the impact of fracking on adjacent water supplies, more regulations will follow. Fortunately, the technological race for improved methods will likely go faster and farther than the bureaucrats.

The huge amount of water currently used in the fracking process is both a large cost and an environmental challenge. Water treatment and recycling plants are being built and tested. Abandoned mine drain waters are being proposed for the fracking. Even waterless fracking systems, 95% inert nitrogen and 5% water which becomes like foam in use, are being developed and tested.

Shale gas will be an important part of the future world economy. If you’re looking for someplace to jump back in, consider the locations shown in the map above.