No impact to water from Marcellus shale fracking

Penn Energy ^ | 5/29/12 | Chesapeake Energy

[Rebelbase]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently conducting a national study to determine if hydraulic fracturing has any impact on drinking water sources. As part of a larger study, the EPA is conducting five focused retrospective studies in separate areas across the country including Bradford County, Pennsylvania.

Samples were taken in Bradford County during the study’s first round of sampling in October and November 2011. In a collaborative effort, Chesapeake Energy Corporation consultants collected split samples with the EPA from 15 individual drinking water sources for analysis by accredited laboratories. Chesapeake then commissioned WESTON Solutions, Inc. to critically evaluate the results and compare them with more than 4,000 historic and baseline groundwater samples in the area. Approximately 310 of these samples came from the United States Geologic Survey’s public databases and predate any Marcellus Shale natural gas development activity in the area. Based on the data evaluated, WESTON has concluded these drinking water sources have not been impacted by Marcellus Shale natural gas development activity – including hydraulic fracturing.

In advance of a public release, these findings were submitted to the EPA, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and landowners involved in this study. Chesapeake hopes the EPA will find WESTON’s report useful in meeting Congress’ request for independent sources of information to be included in the agency’s influential scientific assessment regarding hydraulic fracturing.

[Rebelbase]

The first thing to note is the source is an evil oil company, BUT the fact that they split samples with the EPA was brilliant.

Historical comparisons to the government's own baseline tests seals the deal for this one round of tests.

[Para-Ord.45]

bm

[mountainlion]

The problem with fracking resides in the minds of liberals.

[Sacajaweau]

My best guess would be that here in NY, our government officials are figuring out the income from taxing the sh** out of this commodity.

Scr** the people again.

[IronJack]

bookmark

[Cricket24]

I LIVE in Bradford County PA. There have been problems with water here BUT most of those problems came in the surface drilling. A home not far from mine had their well casing top blow right off from pressure from the gas build up. Chesapeake helped them with a water buffalo, tested their home, etc. This was stray gas probably released by the drilling. Shale is very unstable and it’s not surprising that this is happening at times. It’s too long to go into BUT to my knowledge even though it’s been alleged, no problems have come from fracking EXCEPT in LeRoy Twp where the wellhead blew out during fracking. This was due to equipment failure. Because the price of natural gas is down, so is the drilling in Bradford County. The traffic is WAY DOWN! Many drilling companies moved to Ohio for the “wet” gas. They will be coming back probably when and if the price goes back up. Right now we’re enjoying the reprieve!

[Rebelbase]

I read a report today that there are only 85 drill rigs in western PA this week, down from 95 last month. Drillers are pulling out and heading to Ohio to drill the wet gas portion of the Marcellus.

[brityank]

Studies showing that fracking is not involved in ground water contamination.

Ping.

[SuperLuminal]

Good fracking news.

[fatima]

Thanks for the ping Brityank.((((Hugs))))