Posted on 05/20/2011 6:20:34 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Opponents of gas exploration have time and again raised the ghastly specter of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) contaminating water supplies. The process uses water, sand and chemicals injected under high pressure to break dense rock to release trapped oil and gas. But these "fracking" fears are false.
Most recently, Duke University researchers purportedly found trace methane gas in well water near gas wells in the Marcellus Shale region. Yet naturally occurring trace methane is found in well water nationwide. The study is meaningless, because it presents no baseline data on methane in well water, and also fails to distinguish between methane that's naturally present in well water and manmade methane contamination.
Supporters of gas exploration agree that the state must take all necessary precautions to ensure that drinking water in the Southern Tier remains safe and plentiful. Contrary to critics' suggestions, New York City's watershed, like those of our state's other major cities, is protected and off-limits to natural-gas exploration.
It recently came out that $1 billion in state pension funds is invested in companies involved in natural-gas exploration. State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli says he's been urging the companies to make their operations environmentally friendly. Apparently, he understands that gas exploration is not necessarily a threat to water quality.
The additives used in "fracking" fluid are well known. Last summer, nine drilling companies provided the US Environmental Protection Agency with detailed information on those chemicals.
We know that 99.5 percent of fracking fluid is water and sand. The rest is comprised of commonly used compounds -- many of them chemicals used in water treatment, pharmaceuticals and automotive care.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
That Marcellus shale region is massive. Enough to provide for NYS for 1000 years.
From what I understand we could get enought natural from there gas to convert all our cars to run on it for next to nothing
A friend of mine went to Alaska...met up with some Indians. Said they all drove broncos, never worked a day...just collected “oil” checks.....and the amounts were huge.
RE: That Marcellus shale region is massive. Enough to provide for NYS for 1000 years.
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Yes, and that’s just what has been DISCOVERED. It has been estimated that Marcellus shale is large enough to provide for America’s Natural Gas needs for generations.
Upstate New York NEEDS the jobs. Unfortunately, we have been studying the environmental issue for years ... ANALYSIS PARALYSIS.
I’m a New Yorker...have some very old books showing the Marcellus Shale region.
From what I hear, most of the problems stem not from the fracking fluids, but from natural deposits that are released as a result of the drilling. I used to a skeptic of these complaints, but lately some of the complaints seem valid. I’m a big supporter of nat gas here in PA, but if a company ruins a domestic well, they should fix it.
RE: I’m a big supporter of nat gas here in PA, but if a company ruins a domestic well, they should fix it.
This isn’t really an EITHER/OR thing. It can be a BOTH/AND thing.
Why can’t we ALLOW drilling while at the same time IMPLEMENT and REGUALTE strict environmental standards?
That is just what I said.
If we were to discover an immense reserve of conventional petroleum in the continental United States these same people would be out banging their drum about the many reasons we must not use it. The one thing they can not say is their real reason for their opposition to our use of our resources...their goal is to further deindustrialize the nation in the name of their sustainable no-growth religion.
Thankfully in Pennsylvania our Governor and most of our officials recognize the value in this. Not that the Enviros aren’t still trying to monkeywrench it.
In the old days of shallow drinking wells on farms, it was well known that one could suffocate from gas in the well.
Experienced workers would always go down with a rope around them and a competent worker to pull them out.
These were 30 and 50 ft. wells.
So methane is where you find it.
What do you think the old days of the canary in the coal mine was all about?
Tree hugger scare tactics is what it is all about.
“Opponents of gas exploration have time and again raised the ghastly specter of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) contaminating water supplies.”
Fine. Let them read by candle light and heat their homes with wood burning stoves.
Do you really think there is no regulation? The problem is OVER-regulation.
OK, let’s use the right word — REASONABLE REGULATION.
The problem we have is the word “Reasonable” has become so elastic that the definition has become almost meaningless.
RE: Thankfully in Pennsylvania our Governor and most of our officials recognize the value in this. Not that the Enviros aren’t still trying to monkeywrench it.
So, how’s the water in PA? Is it chemically polluted as the enviros in NYS fear if fracking were allowed?
Thank you.
Excellent information.
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