Friday, February 17, 2012

Fracking doesn't cause water contamination

Fracking doesn't cause water contamination.  How many times have you heard that?   It's sort of true, but it depends on how you define FRACKING.

Note the graphic, see where it says Hydrofrac Zone?   Natural Gas Industry defines "Fracking" as the moment of explosion. 

 Fracking does not include the drilling, the well casings, extraction of natural gas, frackwater holding ponds, truck traffic, pipelines, compressor stations, cracker factories etc. 

Using the same hair-splitting to other things, it's true that people aren't hurt or killed by a gun shot.    WhaaaaAAAAT????   Yes, it's true if you define a gun shot as the moment where the hammer impacts the bullet and disregard the trajectory, the path of motion, the impact on a human body, and the resulting damages.

It's not fracking's fault, study says

By Alan BoyleA university study asserts that the problems caused by the gas extraction process known as hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," arise because drilling operations aren't doing it right. The process itself isn't to blame, according to the study, released today by the Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin.

The report is likely to add new fuel to a blazing controversy over fracking. Researchers reviewed the evidence contained in the reports of groundwater contamination from three prominent shale-rock formations where the process is employed: the Barnett Shale in North Texas, the Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, New York and other areas of Appalachia; and the Haynesville Shale in western Louisiana and northeast Texas.


Fracking Report Reverberates in Texas
December 16, 2011 | 9:00 AM
By Mose Buchele


Excerpt:
Lurking behind such statements is the concern that the EPA’s findings could be used to justify stricter federal regulations or even possibly a ban on fracking.

“I think the polarized positions in the shale gas development are becoming more entrenched and so you chose up sides rather look at the evidence,” said Dr. Chip Groat, Associate Director of University of Texas’ Energy Institute.  “[That] is not a fortunate thing for either our energy future or for the validity of an environmental issue.”

Groat headed up a study that recently found no evidence of fracking contaminating water supplies. But the study did find that improper drilling and other surface activities associated with fracking can contaminate water sources. He says if the EPA’s study ends up proving that fracking itself caused the Pavilion contamination, that could throw his findings into question.

“That would negate our general conclusion that we haven’t found any evidence. This in fact would be evidence for that [contamination],” said Groat.
Now let's Connect a few DOTS:

ConocoPhilips
$1.5 million donation 11/1/2010 - AUSTIN, Texas — ConocoPhillips has committed to contribute $1.5 million over five years to support cutting-e...dge energy research at The University of Texas at Austin. The five-year grant, administered through the university's interdisciplinary Energy Institute, is split evenly between the Cockrell School of Engineering and the McCombs School of Business. The Energy Institute provides guidance to the state of Texas and the nation on sustainable energy security through the pursuit of research and education programs.

The UT study was headed by Charles "Chip" Groat:
Univeristy of Texas Director, Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy;
Director, Energy & Earth Resources graduate program;
Jackson Chair in Energy and Mineral Resources Department of Geological Sciences


Plains Exploration and Production Co. (PXP)
Independent Director

Former Director
He was a director of Pogo from 2005 to November 2007.  Pogo was bought out by Plains Exploration and Production Co.  

US Federal Government
Director of the U.S. Geological Survey
Groat served six and a half years as Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, having been appointed by President Clinton and retained by President Bush.
 
Pogo Producing Company

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