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Posts tagged Hydraulic fracking
Oil and Gas Damage Greatly Underestimated
Feb 21st
Again underestimation. This happens in amazing regularity. Surely we cannot be blamed for being sceptical!
Is it the media or those feeding the media? Are scientists penalised for submitting “honest” predictions? By honest I mean predictions based on peer reviewed data. Valid in other words. Or, is it that “honest” prediction data doesn’t even get reviewed because of fear of retribution?
Oil and gas production is contributing even more to global warming than was thought, study finds
Fracking in the US
Aug 23rd
Fracking in the US
Daily Kos Staff
Friday August 17, 2018 · 9:23 AM PDT
A new study out of Duke University shows that fracking operations in the United States have boomed in their use of water over the past five years. The researchers found that between 2011 and 2016, the amount of water being used, per well, increased 770 percent. On top of that—during the same time—the amount of “brine-laden” wastewater generated by those wells increased 1,440 percent.
Trump’s U.S. Looks Past Energy Independence to Global Dominance
May 3rd
Bloomberg Climate Changed
https://www.bloomberg.com/climate-changed
Trump’s U.S. Looks Past Energy Independence to Global Dominance
by Laura Blewitt May 1, 2017, 11:43 PM GMT+1
It has been a few years since mining and drilling was all about US energy independence. At least, now the real reason has been unveiled. Yes, it is mostly about “energy-dominant” As usual, extractive industries will reap the profits whilst the public pay the price of medical bills and clean-up. Notice, “as companies cut costs”! That’s translated as fewer jobs and bigger and more expensive machines.
No longer do we need to be suspicious. The clarity is blinding. “U.S. exports surged above 1 million barrels a day for the first time.”
I remember reading a few years ago that Japan was importing wood pulp from Australia even though there were vast forests extant in Japan. Ever wonder why?
Now China is cutting back on coal production. Do we think this is foolish?
“The U.S. is in the position to be energy-dominant, not just independent, thanks to fracking and plans to loosen drilling regulations, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said Monday.
Oil production across the U.S. may increase by 17 percent to a record 10.24 million barrels a day by the end of next year as companies cut costs and become more efficient in drilling, especially in areas such as West Texas and North Dakota. Domestic output hasn’t surpassed 10 million barrels a day since 1970. At a time when OPEC and other producers are cutting output, U.S. exports surged above 1 million barrels a day for the first time.”
What the Frack?
Aug 15th
What the Frack?
What Cows Can Tell Us About The Dangers Of Fracking
BY ANDREW BREINER POSTED ON SEPTEMBER 19, 2013
“Evidence on the way fracking affects the health of humans is scarce, in large part because drilling companies go to great lengths to keep that information hidden. That’s why two Cornell University researchers turned to cows to find out just how toxic fracking pollution is. The results were alarming, if not exactly surprising.
Since drilling companies refuse to reveal the exact chemicals in fracking solutions, and typically settle and impose nondisclosure agreements on any individuals harmed by the practice, there is nearly no record of how it impacts people’s health to live near a drilling operation. Doctors in Pennsylvania are even barred from revealing to their patients what chemicals they may be poisoned by.
Although property owners often file suit claiming symptoms like breathing problems and burning eyes and skin, they are typically forced to drop those claims before the driller will agree to settle. That way, there’s never confirmation that fracking harms people’s health. This study constitutes an important step towards that confirmation.”
http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/09/19/2652731/cows-fracking-safety/
Frack off
Aug 14th
Oil companies fracking into drinking water sources, new research shows
“Companies say that fracking has never contaminated drinking water. The EPA launched three investigations over the last six years into possible drinking water contamination by oil and gas activity in Dimock, Pa.; Parker County, Texas; and Pavillion, Wyo. After initially finding evidence of contamination at the three sites, the EPA shelved the investigations amid allegations by environmentalists and local residents that the regulator succumbed to political pressure.”
http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-fracking-groundwater-pavillion-20140811-story.html#page=1
Fracking Companies Fight Texas Families’ Air Pollution Suits, Fearing Precedent
“Two major oil companies have asked a Texas judge to dismiss a civil lawsuit that could draw new attention to the toxic air emissions from oil and gas production.”
Frack off
Jul 28th
Frack off
“A typical early fracture took 750 gallons of fluid (water, gelled crude oil, or gelled kerosene) and 400 lbm of sand. By contrast, modern methods can use up to 8 million gallons of water and 75,000 to 320,000 pounds of sand. Fracking fluids can take the form of foams, gels, or slickwater combinations and often include benzene, hydrochloric acid, friction reducers, guar gum, biocides, and diesel fuel. Likewise, the hydraulic horsepower (hhp) needed to pump fracking material has risen from an average of about 75 hhp in the early days to an average of more than 1,500 hhp today, with big jobs requiring more than 10,000 hhp.”
“Those concerns (environmental) were aggravated in 2005 when fracking was specifically exempted from regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act.”
https://www.asme.org/engineering-topics/articles/fossil-power/fracking-a-look-back
Here is a good place to become informed as to the harmful effects already present from fracking.
http://frack-off.org.uk/mounting-evidence-the-harm-caused-by-fracking/