Dealing with the waste water from hydraulic fracturing is a problem. A Canadian company working in Arkansas has plans to treat Fayetteville Shale waste water and recycle it for continued drilling.
More in the Houston Chronicle.
Environmental Issues
Methane Emissions Disagreement
Methane has 25 times the greenhouse gas impact of carbon dioxide. Industry and government disagreements over how much methane is released into the atmosphere during drilling has been reported in an article on the Platts.com website.
Burning Natural Gas Instead of Coal Can Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions
A Carnegie Mellon University study reports that the generation of electricity by burning Marcellus Shale gas instead of coal could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 to 50 percent.
More in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Shale Gas Advisory Board Recommendations
The Shale Gas Advisory Board called for “making information about shale gas production operations more accessible to the public; taking immediate and long-term actions to reduce the environmental and safety risks of shale gas operations, with a particular focus on protecting air and water quality; creating a Shale Gas Industry Operation organization committed to improving operating practices; and continuing research and development to improve safety and environmental performance.”
More at UPI.com.
EPA’s 1987 Report of Contamination Caused by Hydraulic Fracturing
Representatives of industry and government agencies often state that there has not been one documented case of hydraulic fracturing contaminating a private water supply well. However, an EPA report from 1987 links hydraulic fracturing with a contaminated water supply in Jackson County, West Virginia. Those opposed to hydraulic fracturing hope to get a lot of mileage out of that report. More in the New York Times.
Earthquakes and Hydraulic Fracturing in the UK
Cuadrilla Resources was using hydraulic fracturing to develop a shale gas reservoir off the UK coast when small earthquakes occurred in the area. More at the Reuters.com website.
ExxonMobil and Chevron Shareholders Address Hydraulic Fracturing
Much of the discussion at ExxonMobil’s annual shareholder meeting was on the subject of hydraulic fracturing.
The topic was also on the agenda at Chevron’s annual shareholder meeting.
Brine Contamination Associated with Oil and Gas Production in the Williston Basin
“U.S. Geological Survey scientists and cooperating partners are examining the potential risk to aquatic resources by contamination from saline waters produced by petroleum development in the Williston Basin of Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota.” Quoted from the USGS publication release.
Shareholder Resolutions: Hydraulic Fracturing Disclosure
An article on Platts.com reports on shareholder resolutions at ExxonMobil, Chevron and Ultra Petroleum calling for those companies to disclose information about the environmental and financial risks of hydraulic fracturing in the production of natural gas.
Over 100 Injection Wells and 1000 Water Trucks
An article on the ShreveportTimes.com website considers the industry activity and environmental impact associated with the injection of salt water waste produced by drilling for natural gas in the Haynesville Shale.
Arkansas Governor Beebe Addresses Natural Gas Issues
Governor Mike Beebe of Arkansas answers questions related to natural gas drilling causing earthquakes, environmental problems and economic damage within the State of Arkansas.
Linking Methane in Drinking Water to Gas Extraction
The NPR Talk of the Nation program for May 13 investigates the occurrence of natural gas in household water supply wells in Pennsylvania. In a study of 68 wells, those within one kilometer of a natural gas well had 17 times the amount of methane in the water.
Expert Panel has 90 Days to Make Fracking Cleaner and Safer
Natural gas is a key factor in our long-term energy strategy. A panel of experts has been tasked with finding immediate steps to make hydraulic fracturing cleaner and safer. More in the New York Times.
Water Treatment Experiment at Marcellus Shale Production Site
“The Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy (FE) announced favorable results from a demonstration project turning wastewater from drilling sites into clean water.” Quoted from the Energy Information Administration’s Natural Gas Update.
Should France Ban Shale Gas Development?
People in France are concerned about the potential environmental and social impact of developing their natural gas shale but at the same time they are concerned about their energy security. More at WorldOil.com.
FracFocus.org: Information About Hydraulic Fracturing
The FracFocus website is all about hydraulic fracturing. It contains information about the process, the chemicals that are used and contact agencies in states were oil and gas drilling is active. It also has a “Find A Well” feature that allows you to look-up wells and view the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process. The site is provided by the Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.
Natural Gas Concerns Trigger Water Testing in Pennsylvania
Drinking water facilities and wastewater treatment plants will expand their water testing procedures out of concern for radioactive particles in wastewater produced during natural gas drilling. More in the New York Times.
Impact of Barnett Shale Development on Groundwater Resources
The impact of hydraulic fracturing on ground water supplies is a concern in almost every area where the well stimulation method is employed. The Texas Water Development Board has published an informative study: Northern Trinity/Woodbine GAM Assessment of Groundwater Use in the Northern Trinity Aquifer Due To Urban Growth and Barnett Shale Development. Get the report here.
EPA Hydraulic Fracturing Study
“As natural gas production has increased, so have concerns about the potential environmental and human health impacts of hydraulic fracturing in the United States. [...] The overall purpose of this study is to understand the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources. More specifically, the study is designed to examine the conditions that may be associated with the potential contamination of drinking water resources, and to identify the factors that may lead to human exposure and risks.” Quoted from the EPA publication announcement.
Radiation in Marcellus Shale Wastewater?
A New York Times article explores concerns about radiation levels in wastewater from Marcellus Shale drilling sites and how that water is being processed before discharge into the environment.
Does Shale Gas Cause More Global Warming than Coal?
A post on an environmental blog at the Baltimore Sun website has a punchy title: “Marcellus shale gas “dirtier” than coal?”…. Dirty might have been used to provoke shale advocates or to elicit clicks from environmental advocates, however, they ask a question about methane releases canceling out any carbon dioxide benefits gained by using natural gas as a few instead of coal.
What is the Deep Carbon Observatory?
The Deep Carbon Observatory is an initiative dedicated to achieving a transformational understanding of Earth’s deep carbon cycle, including its poorly constrained reservoirs and fluxes, the unknown role of deep biology, and unexplored influences of the deep carbon cycle on critical societal concerns related to energy, environment and climate.
Side-effects of Shale Drilling
An article in the Houston Chronicle titled: “We Can Minimize Negative Side-Effects of Shale Drilling” explores some ways to mitigate some of the problems encountered in developing the Barnett Shale, Eagle Ford Shale and Haynesville Shale in Texas.
No Hydraulic Fracturing or Waste Water Disposal in Buffalo
The Common Council of Buffalo, New York voted to ban the practice of hydraulic fracturing within city limits. In addition, it bans the disposal of drilling waste water anywhere within the city. More at Empire State News.
More on the Guy, Arkansas Earthquake Swarm
We recently posted a video about the earthquake swarm near Guy, Arkansas. Now the NewYorkTimes has an article titled: “A Dot on the Map, Until the Earth Started Shaking”.
Shareholders Want Hydraulic Fracturing Risk Disclosure
A few oil and gas companies have received shareholder resolutions calling for disclosure of risks associated with hydraulic fracturing. Some resolutions even specify field operating methods for the fracking procedure. More in an article titled “Investors Seek Disclosure of Fracking Oil, Gas Risks” at BusinessInsurance.com.
WV Marcellus Shale Impact: Economic, Legal, Regulatory, Environmental
A study on the economic, legal, regulatory, and environmental issues related to development of the Marcellus Shale has been published by the West Virginia University College of Business and Economics, Bureau of Business and Economic Research.
Can the Nitrogen Content of Natural Gas Determine Its Source?
Natural gas has been found in two private water wells in Parker County, Texas. The nitrogen content of the gas may determine if Barnett Shale drilling activity by Range Resources is the source or if the source is shallower rock units. More in the Washington Examiner.
Where Did That Gas Come From?
Two household water supplies in Parker County, Texas are contaminated with methane. EPA says that the gas came from Range Resources wells drilled into the Barnett Shale. Range Resources says that the gas came from the Strawn Formation which is much shallower. More in a Star-Telegram.com article.
Is Congress Neglecting Natural Gas?
In a blog post on the Reuter’s.com website, Christopher Swann, argues that Washington could take easy steps to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, reduce carbon emissions and save citizens money by promoting the use of natural gas in vehicles and electricity generation. He thinks that the natural gas lobby needs to work harder than those promoting coal and railroads.
