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.

Drilling and hydrofracking a well in one of the natural gas plays such as the Marcellus or Haynesville requires at least a million gallons of water with chemical additives and will become salty when it comes in contact with subsurface brines. An article on the Reuters website explores this problem in New York.

In an article on the Journal of American Enterprise Institute website, Max Schultz, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute argues that new methods for producing natural gas (horizontal fracking) and new methods to distribute the gas (LNG) are going to transform the use of energy worldwide.

Some legislators in Harrisburg are trying to raise more revenue from the Marcellus Shale while others are trying to put on the brakes to reduce environmental impacts. More in an article at Philly.com.

An AP article in the Charleston Daily Mail says that “gas drilling in Appalachia yields a foul byproduct” – in reference to the wastewater associated with hydraulic fracturing.

Just a few years ago Russia invested heavily in the Shtokman gas field in the Barents Sea with the intent of exporting that gas as LNG to the United States. Now the US has several giant shale gas fields and the Russians have all of that Shtokman gas plus opportunities to develop their own shales. More at the United Press International website.

An article in the New York Times reports that members of the House Energy and Commerce panel will examine Exxon Mobil’s plans to acquire significant acreage in the Marcellus, Haynesville and Barnett gas shale plays as part of a deal with XTO Energy. Exxon is concerned about future regulations that will limit the use of hydraulic fracturing to develop these assets.

An article on the CNN website explores some of the potential environmental impacts of natural gas wells drilled into the unconventional shale formations such as the Marcellus, Barnett, Fayetteville, and Haynesville. Exxon has a clause in its deal to buy XTO that will allow the company to escape from the deal if federal regulations prohibit hydraulic fracturing or place severe regulations upon it.

Environmentalists are concerned about the impact of hydrofracking on subsurface rock units and waters. Some want to ban the practice and if they are successful the  development of natural gas shales will be in question.  More at the Star-Telegram Website.

Exxon’s intention to buy XTO, a leading producer of natural gas from shale, could provide inertia that will move natural gas into the position of a bridge towards renewable energy.  More on the FWBusinessPress.com website.

An article in the Washington Post reviews the ongoing debate over the environmental and human impact of hydraulic fracturing, in the development of natural gas reservoirs in shales such as the Marcellus of the Appalachian

The American Petroleum Institute has a video that explains and illustrates the horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing processes.  It includes information about  drilling, fracturing, equipment, materials and environmental concerns.   This is an excellent video from an authoritative source,

The American Petroleum Institute has released a best practices document that explains methods of drilling and cementing for wells that will be hydraulically fractured. “API HF1, Hydraulic Fracturing Operations – Well Construction and Integrity Guideline.”