Chief Oil & Gas announced that they will voluntarily disclose the additives that are used in their hydraulic fracturing fluid at every Marcellus Shale well site in Pennsylvania and West Virginia. See the press release.
Hydrofracturing
Chief Oil and Gas to Disclose Hydraulic Fracturing Chemistry
“Overwhelming Evidence” that Hydraulic Fracturing is Safe
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.
First Hydraulic Fracturing in Poland
Halliburton has done the first hydraulic fracturing job in Poland for PGNiG – the government’s oil and gas company. More at Reuters.com.
Shale Gas: History and Future
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
Natural Gas Vehicles Bill Linked to Hydrofracturing Fluid Chemistry
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.
Horizontal Drilling / Hydraulic Fracturing Video
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.
“Gasland” Documentary
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.
EPA Study Will Investigate Fracking
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.
Public Hearing Topic: Chemistry of Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids
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.
First Shale Gas, Now Shale Oil
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.
Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, Cornell University, on Hydraulic Fracturing – Part 3
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.
Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, Cornell University, on Hydraulic Fracturing – Part 2
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.
Dr. Anthony Ingraffea, Cornell University, on Hydraulic Fracturing – Part 1
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.
Obama Administration: Disclosure of Hydraulic Fracturing Chemicals
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.
Water Injection Correlates with Texas Earthquake Activity
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.
House Commerce and Energy Committee on Hydraulic Fracturing Chemicals
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.
New York and Hydrofracking Waste Water
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.
LNG and Horizontal Fracking are Monumental Energy Shifts
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.
Pennsylvania Legislators: Step on the Gas or the Brake?
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.
Foul Byproducts of Natural Gas
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.
Shale Gas and Russia
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.
Exxon Mobil, XTO and Hydraulic Fracturing
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.
