Posted on 10/19/2013 7:46:32 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The benefits of hydraulic fracturing in terms of job creation and meeting energy demands have been drastically exaggerated, while the consequences of the controversial practice could prove cataclysmic, geopolitical commentator Ian Crane told RT.
RT: You used to work in the oil industry yourself: what is it that makes fracking worse than the other extraction techniques of oil and gas?
Ian Crane: What we’re talking about primarily here is the extraction of shale gas from unconventional geology. This is a very different technology, a very different technique from the usual process of extracting from conventional reservoirs.
The gas has to be extracted from what is known as tight geology. That’s a very good description, because it means that the geology is compact; it’s very difficult to drill through, and there’s very low porosity and permeability in that geology.
Consequently, the geology has to be opened, porosity and permeability has to be created, and this is done through high pressure, high volume hydraulic fracturing with literally millions of gallons of water – and primarily this is fresh water – mixed with a very toxic recipe of chemicals.
So what we’re talking about here is a number of issues. We’re talking about a phenomenal use of fresh water, which, once the chemicals are added, is lost to the system.
RT: The companies that are doing this, do they actually have governments behind them? Do they know what’s going on, are they with the companies?
IC: Of course the governments are supporting it, in fact it’s a government/industry driven agenda. What we’re seeing around the world is people reacting against this. The reality is that everywhere in the world, where this process has been put into use, it has resulted in the contamination of the water, of soil and of the air. When the governments and industry are promoting their shale gas agenda, they conveniently leave out the evidence that this is an abomination.
RT: But we’re talking about job creation here as well, with these companies there is that aspect of things. Should the public put job creation above everything else as we are in tough economic times right now?
IC: I think the thing that should be put above everything else is the protection of the water supply. Because if we don’t have access to fresh water, we’re talking about the potential end of all life. As for the jobs and as for the gas…at what price? The end of ecology or the end of life on earth as we know it?
In recent days actually, in the Financial Times – it was two days ago – a report was published that stated categorically that government estimates in terms of the number of jobs that this industry would create are grossly exaggerated. The likelihood is that maybe over the next 20 years, some 10-15,000 jobs may be created, which is actually minute.
Exactly. These Enviroweenies give away their scam. Since the ungodly and unwashed disciples of the environment reject the Christian God, they cling to another god, the god of science. Because of this it is easy for these agent provocateurs to concoct a phony scientific basis to tear down their foe, Capitalism. The worshipers of science will accept it like revealed prophesy. And those who preach the good faith get all kinds of economic payoff in their scam.
I don’t think they have any fracking evidence to back up their claims.
Too many zero’s alert.
All Greenies are NIMBYs.
“I get it. Since Putin ran rings around Barry, the Rooskies think they can screw with us ...”
Putin can screw over the boy emperor, but the private sector don’t roll that way
Is this guy Ichabod Crane’s long lost relative and what is he doing on Russian Television (RT), the propaganda voice of Putin?
He used to be in the oil industry? Was he a truck driver, a clerk, or a field worker? Sounds like he doesn’t know a thing about fracking despite the fact that it has been around well over 50 years.
the next 20 years, some 10-15,000 jobs may be created, which is actually minute ...
This is perfect. I'm sure the environmental wackos would be thrilled to get rid of all human life on earth. Just convince them that all of the other life will come back, but humans won't. Then they will be happy to back fracking and even set up non-profit foundations to increase it.
This is from Russia. From what I last read they need at least $80 per barrel of oil to fund their military expansion.
Most news that comes out of Russia is still the same lie as when they were the Soviet Union.
Fracking threatens their gas business?
russia does not want America to be energy independent... they want to sell us the rope that will stretch our necks. Hey ivan... FU!
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