David Paterson, Governor of New York says that hydraulic fracturing will not be done in his state until there is “overwhelming evidence” that it will not damage water supplies. More at PressConnects.

Halliburton has done the first hydraulic fracturing job in Poland for PGNiG – the government’s oil and gas company. More at Reuters.com.

Newsweek has an article “Shale Gas: Hope for Our Energy Future” which is interesting… but for some readers the gem of the article might be the historical details about how the horizontal drilling and hydrofracturing methods were first applied to shale

An article on Reuters.com reports that the bill to provide rebates to buyers of natural gas vehicles has provisions that require drilling companies to share the chemistry of their hydrofracturing fluids.

Encana has an informative video on their website that illustrates and explains the horizontal driling / hydraulic fracturing techniques used for many natural gas wells drilling in shale. Look for the video link on the right of the page – the video file is very large but worth waiting for the long download.

An article on the TulsaWorld website reports on a showing and discussion of the natural gas documentary, “Gasland”. The film won the 2010 Sundance Film Festival special jury prize and has been stirring up discussion where ever it is shown.

According to an Associated Press article, EPA plans to spend $1.9 million to study hydraulic fracturing methods. Such a study might benefit the natural gas industry if the report shows a low incidence of problems.

At a public hearing of the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, Wyoming Governor, Dave Freudenthal questioned Halliburton attorney, Thomas Jackson about the composition of hydraulic fracturing fluids. More in the Washington Post.

Some companies such as such as EOG Resources are using horizontal drilling to and hydrofracing to tap oil in organic shales. More at BusinessInsider.com.

This is the third video in a three part series in which Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, an expert on hydraulic fracturing explains the process and its potential environmental impacts to a group of interested citizens in New York.

This is the second video in a three part series in which Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, an expert on hydraulic fracturing explains the process and its potential environmental impacts to a group of interested citizens in New York.

This is the first video in a three part series in which Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, an expert on hydraulic fracturing explains the process and its potential environmental impacts to a group of interested citizens in New York.

Joseph Aldy, special assistant to President Obama for matters related to energy and the environment says that there is not enough evidence to say if hydraulic fracturing fluids are damaging the environment , however, releasing the composition of the fluids would avoid regulation that might require it. More on the Reuters website.

A study of seismic activity near Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport by researchers from SMU and UT-Austin reveals that the operation of a saltwater injection disposal well in the area was a “plausible cause” for the series of small earthquakes that occurred in the area between October 30, 2008, and May 16, 2009.

The House Commerce and Energy Committee is writing to oil field service companies to get information on the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing and environmental impacts. More in an article in the Houston Chronicle.