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| A skeptical citizen shows his response to Gas Drillers claims. |
Showing posts with label shale gas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label shale gas. Show all posts
Friday, October 28, 2011
Public Meeting: Citizens Plead for Safety ...
... Gas Drillers say, "not to worry", current gas drilling ordinance is OK.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Will Joe Pool Lake have a future? Mother Jones reports ....
As Texas Withers, Gas Industry Guzzles
Drought
restrictions are forcing homeowners to quit watering their gardens,
even as thirsty fracking operations help themselves to the agua.
| Thu Sep. 1, 2011 3:00 AM PDT
At Trinity Park, a popular picnic spot near
downtown Fort Worth, Texas, a scorching summer has killed stately oaks
and turned lawns into brittle moonscapes. On the park's eastern edge,
loud diesel generators pump some 4 million gallons of water from the
Trinity River, though they're not supplying the park or city residents,
who began facing drought-imposed watering restrictions on Monday.
Instead, Chesapeake Energy is piping the water across the park to frack a
nearby natural gas well.
As Texas faces its worst single-year drought ever, many drinking wells have failed, entire towns could go dry, and millions of residential water users face mandatory cutbacks. A study released at a meeting of Texas water districts yesterday predicted that the drought will persist through next summer. But so far, the state's booming and increasingly thirsty natural gas industry faces no limits to how much water it can pump.
"In a drought like this, every drop is important," says Don Young, a local anti-fracking activist who showed me where Chesapeake's water pipes had been hoisted over a jogging trail. "And if we're asked to conserve, then I think the drilling industry should be doing the same thing."
As Texas faces its worst single-year drought ever, many drinking wells have failed, entire towns could go dry, and millions of residential water users face mandatory cutbacks. A study released at a meeting of Texas water districts yesterday predicted that the drought will persist through next summer. But so far, the state's booming and increasingly thirsty natural gas industry faces no limits to how much water it can pump.
"In a drought like this, every drop is important," says Don Young, a local anti-fracking activist who showed me where Chesapeake's water pipes had been hoisted over a jogging trail. "And if we're asked to conserve, then I think the drilling industry should be doing the same thing."
Fracking, which employs high-pressure jets of
water to fracture rock and release natural gas, accounts for a
fast-growing share of water use in some of the driest parts of Texas.
Though the overall affect of fracking on reservoirs and rivers in Fort
Worth's Barnett Shale zone is dwarfed by agriculture and homeowners,
its local impacts can be severe. For example, in the Upper Trinity
Groundwater Conservation District (UTGCD) west of Fort Worth, the share
of groundwater used by frackers was 40 percent in the first half of
2011, up from 25 percent in 2010.
In
the midst of a severe drought, Chesapeake Energy pumps 4 million
gallons of water from a river for a fracking operation in Fort Worth."Obviously,
that's a pretty heavy draw on an aquifer when we're in the midst of a
drought," says Bob Patterson, UTGCD's general manager. In his water
district, 40 to 50 wells have run dry and many municipalities have
declared stage two or stage three drought conditions, which involve
severe restrictions on residential outdoor water use. But natural gas
drillers can still pump as much water from the district as they want.
Patterson says restrictions targeting drillers in his area would have
to be imposed by state agencies or the Legislature, which "has been
fairly lax." He and many other water managers want Texas Gov. Rick Perry
to place limits on the drillers.
Critics of fracking claim the industry actually uses far more water than it lets on. Because water used in the fracking process becomes contaminated with hydrocarbons and other toxins, frackers typically sequester it deep underground, removing that wastewater permanently from the hydrologic cycle. Unlike the water used for irrigation or daily living, it doesn't reenter rivers, aquifers, or the atmosphere. "Fracking water is typically not recycled," says Paul Hudak, a hydrologist with the University of North Texas. "It's not really economical."
A similar battle is playing out in the Eagle Ford Shale zone of south Texas, where, due to a quirk of geology, wells typically require four times more fracking water than those in the Barnett Shale area. Each Eagle Ford well uses an average 13 million gallons of water, enough to supply the needs of 240 adults for a year. Some farmers in the area have refused to sell water to the drillers for fear of not having enough for their crops. ExxonMobil has taken to recycling fracking fluids, and Anadarko Petroleum is replacing dirt roads with limestone to cut down on water needed for dust control.
Faced with drillers' booming water needs, some Texas cities have taken matters into their own hands, charging drillers more for water or refusing to sell to them at all. A group of cities, including Fort Worth, is encouraging drillers to tap into a new pipeline that would let them purchase reclaimed industrial water at reduced rates. The UTGCD's Patterson urges drillers to recycle their wastewater, but says he lacks the legal authority to make them do it.
Prior to the drought, opposition to fracking typically focused on the industry's potential to contaminate drinking water, befoul the air, and disrupt neighborhoods with noisy drilling operations. But in the long run, opponents now see the industry's thirst as a major sticking point. A 2007 study by the Texas Water Development Board estimated that fracking could consume up to 13 percent of the Barnett Shale zone's groundwater by 2025—water the area may not have to spare if droughts like this one become more commonplace.
"It's a symbol of the arrogance of these companies that they can run these pipes all through the park," said Young, a founder of Fort Worth Citizens Against Neighborhood Drilling Ordinance. "This is not doing the public any good at all, but these companies don't care because they're making money."
In
the midst of a severe drought, Chesapeake Energy pumps 4 million
gallons of water from a river for a fracking operation in Fort Worth."Obviously,
that's a pretty heavy draw on an aquifer when we're in the midst of a
drought," says Bob Patterson, UTGCD's general manager. In his water
district, 40 to 50 wells have run dry and many municipalities have
declared stage two or stage three drought conditions, which involve
severe restrictions on residential outdoor water use. But natural gas
drillers can still pump as much water from the district as they want.
Patterson says restrictions targeting drillers in his area would have
to be imposed by state agencies or the Legislature, which "has been
fairly lax." He and many other water managers want Texas Gov. Rick Perry
to place limits on the drillers.Critics of fracking claim the industry actually uses far more water than it lets on. Because water used in the fracking process becomes contaminated with hydrocarbons and other toxins, frackers typically sequester it deep underground, removing that wastewater permanently from the hydrologic cycle. Unlike the water used for irrigation or daily living, it doesn't reenter rivers, aquifers, or the atmosphere. "Fracking water is typically not recycled," says Paul Hudak, a hydrologist with the University of North Texas. "It's not really economical."
A similar battle is playing out in the Eagle Ford Shale zone of south Texas, where, due to a quirk of geology, wells typically require four times more fracking water than those in the Barnett Shale area. Each Eagle Ford well uses an average 13 million gallons of water, enough to supply the needs of 240 adults for a year. Some farmers in the area have refused to sell water to the drillers for fear of not having enough for their crops. ExxonMobil has taken to recycling fracking fluids, and Anadarko Petroleum is replacing dirt roads with limestone to cut down on water needed for dust control.
Faced with drillers' booming water needs, some Texas cities have taken matters into their own hands, charging drillers more for water or refusing to sell to them at all. A group of cities, including Fort Worth, is encouraging drillers to tap into a new pipeline that would let them purchase reclaimed industrial water at reduced rates. The UTGCD's Patterson urges drillers to recycle their wastewater, but says he lacks the legal authority to make them do it.
Prior to the drought, opposition to fracking typically focused on the industry's potential to contaminate drinking water, befoul the air, and disrupt neighborhoods with noisy drilling operations. But in the long run, opponents now see the industry's thirst as a major sticking point. A 2007 study by the Texas Water Development Board estimated that fracking could consume up to 13 percent of the Barnett Shale zone's groundwater by 2025—water the area may not have to spare if droughts like this one become more commonplace.
"It's a symbol of the arrogance of these companies that they can run these pipes all through the park," said Young, a founder of Fort Worth Citizens Against Neighborhood Drilling Ordinance. "This is not doing the public any good at all, but these companies don't care because they're making money."
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
100+ Turn Out for Gas Drilling Public Hearing in 100+ Temps
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfairpark/2011/08/drilling_task_force_gets_a_pub.php
City's Gas Drilling Task Force Received a Public Education at Last Night's Hearing
City's Gas Drilling Task Force Received a Public Education at Last Night's HearingIn the end, council members Delia Jasso, Dwaine Caraway and Scott Griggs skipped Mayor Mike's shindig to sit amongst the public at last night's hearing in front of the city's gas drilling task force. And they were surrounded: The council members were joined by about 100 people who addressed many of the issues topping the list of the task force's concerns -- air and water pollution, truck traffic, proximity to neighborhoods, you name it. In short, they wanted to make sure Dallas doesn't get fracked when the task force makes its recommendations to the council, which will rewrite its drilling ordinance in the fall.
"I need as much information as possible," said task force member Cherelle Blazer. Far as she was concerned, the citizenry's input would serve as a "good barometer" of public concern.
"This task force is an opportunity," said Jeffrey Jacoby of Texas Campaign for the Environment when he took the podium. "You are an opportunity, and, of course, you have an opportunity." He theatrically expanded on his point, saying that the task force has the ability to give energy companies a chance to make "boatloads" of money and that it also has the chance to protect the citizens of Dallas.
"I see you as the group that's going to define the word 'safety' for the city."
"I believe fracking is a license to kill," Dallas resident Donna Turman said. She noted that it felt "surreal" to ask the task force, "Please don't kill us."
Raymond Crawford, often hailed by his fellow activists as the man who got City Hall to pay attention to drilling diligence, asked the task force to pay close attention to drilling impact studies that detail the effects of drilling on water, road conditions, the environment and business. "Very little science was known or was used" when the current ordinance was created in '08, he said.
"No matter what anybody says, there is not a stainless steel plate under the earth," environmental activist Marc McCord said when it was his turn to speak. "We're in a critical shortage of water ... and this is nothing new. There is no new water coming from outer space."
Mountain Creek's Ed and Claudia Meyer took back-to-back turns at the mic, and both ended their three minutes with that quote Mayor Rawlings uttered before the screening of Gasland at the Texas Theatre several weeks ago: "I will never vote to put any neighborhood at risk because of money."
Dallas resident Robert Unger was one of only two people to speak in favor of fracking: "It has proven to be a safe technology," he said. "It is an industry that is respectful of the communities in which we operate and in which we live." He characterized the practice as a "compromise" wherein the positive outcomes outweigh the negatives.
At the end of the hearing, task force chair Lois Finkelman told Unfair Park, "We can hear from dozens of professionals and experts in all the various fields ... but the bottom line is what is the effect on citizens and neighbors and what are their concerns." Public hearings, she said, are another way of "broadening the education" of the task force.
Finkelman hinted that the task force may need to extend its flexible October deadline for its recommendations to council. "Whether or not [the October deadline] is realistic remains to be seen," she said at the hearing's outset, adding that she has her sights set on early November. After that, she said there would be additional opportunities for public input as their recommendations make their way to the city council.
"I need as much information as possible," said task force member Cherelle Blazer. Far as she was concerned, the citizenry's input would serve as a "good barometer" of public concern.
"This task force is an opportunity," said Jeffrey Jacoby of Texas Campaign for the Environment when he took the podium. "You are an opportunity, and, of course, you have an opportunity." He theatrically expanded on his point, saying that the task force has the ability to give energy companies a chance to make "boatloads" of money and that it also has the chance to protect the citizens of Dallas.
"I see you as the group that's going to define the word 'safety' for the city."
"I believe fracking is a license to kill," Dallas resident Donna Turman said. She noted that it felt "surreal" to ask the task force, "Please don't kill us."
Raymond Crawford, often hailed by his fellow activists as the man who got City Hall to pay attention to drilling diligence, asked the task force to pay close attention to drilling impact studies that detail the effects of drilling on water, road conditions, the environment and business. "Very little science was known or was used" when the current ordinance was created in '08, he said.
"No matter what anybody says, there is not a stainless steel plate under the earth," environmental activist Marc McCord said when it was his turn to speak. "We're in a critical shortage of water ... and this is nothing new. There is no new water coming from outer space."
Mountain Creek's Ed and Claudia Meyer took back-to-back turns at the mic, and both ended their three minutes with that quote Mayor Rawlings uttered before the screening of Gasland at the Texas Theatre several weeks ago: "I will never vote to put any neighborhood at risk because of money."
Dallas resident Robert Unger was one of only two people to speak in favor of fracking: "It has proven to be a safe technology," he said. "It is an industry that is respectful of the communities in which we operate and in which we live." He characterized the practice as a "compromise" wherein the positive outcomes outweigh the negatives.
At the end of the hearing, task force chair Lois Finkelman told Unfair Park, "We can hear from dozens of professionals and experts in all the various fields ... but the bottom line is what is the effect on citizens and neighbors and what are their concerns." Public hearings, she said, are another way of "broadening the education" of the task force.
Finkelman hinted that the task force may need to extend its flexible October deadline for its recommendations to council. "Whether or not [the October deadline] is realistic remains to be seen," she said at the hearing's outset, adding that she has her sights set on early November. After that, she said there would be additional opportunities for public input as their recommendations make their way to the city council.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
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