Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Wastewater

US Dept of Energy Awards Grants for Hydraulic Fracturing Research, Looking for Greener Alternatives
August 3, 2011August 3, 2011

The U.S. Department of Energy is funding a number of research projects to help find ways to extract more energy from unconventional oil and gas resources while reducing environmental risks. The DOE grants amount to $12.4 million.

The selections include $10.3 million for eight projects that will reduce the environmental risks of shale gas development while accelerating the application of new exploration and production technologies; and $2.1 million for three projects investigating innovative processes for extracting additional oil from mature domestic oil fields including Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR).

The total value of the shale-related projects is more than $17.0 million over 3 years with approximately $6.7 million of cost-share provided by the recipients in addition to the $10.3 million in federal funds. The shale gas projects include:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Noise | Regulation | Roads | Statewide NY | Trucking

NY Drilling Delayed Again: Public Comment Period on New Regulations Delayed by DEC’s Joe Martens for Additional Month, Maybe Longer
August 2, 2011August 2, 2011

Once again New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Joe Martens has delayed the start of Marcellus gas drilling—this time by at least an additional 30 days, maybe longer. The “nearly” final draft drilling regulations, called the Supplemental Generic Environmental Impact Statement (SGEIS), were released on July 8 (originally supposed to be released July 1 as ordered by Gov. Andrew Cuomo). At that time, Mr. Martens said there would be a 60-day public comment period that would begin in August. Then the DEC would review those comments, tweak the regulations, and issue the final regulations sometime late this year.

The 60-day public comment period will now not begin until “late summer,” which in DEC-speak means September. Why?

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Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Public Opinion

Unnamed Source in New York Times Anti-Gas Articles was…an Intern?!
August 2, 2011August 2, 2011

MDN has previously commented on the obvious vendetta by the New York Times against the natural gas industry, most particularly in articles written by Ian Urbina (see one example here). The Times has a public editor that, from time to time, will criticize the paper’s coverage. Recently, the public editor published a couple of articles refuting the Times’ reporting on the natural gas industry. In particular, the public editor revealed that one of the key anonymous government sources quoted by Urbina, one credited with a number of damaging remarks, was in fact just an intern and not a senior official.

Below is a press statement issued by Energy in Depth, an organization founded and funded by the energy industry. With their usual flair, they do an excellent job of uncovering the truth behind the Urbina articles. EID connects the dots between the intern, Urbina and the anti-drilling organizations who have been feeding them the propaganda we’ve been reading in the Times. MDN is reprinting the entire EID article, with full credit to the fine folks at EID. Please read it!

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Allegany County | Garrett County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Maryland | Regulation | Statewide MD

Maryland Marcellus Shale Commission to Have First Meeting This Week – One Meeting Down, Three More Years of Meetings to Go
August 2, 2011August 5, 2011

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley has effectively taken his state out of consideration for Marcellus Shale drilling. How? He’s appointed a commission to study that which has already been studied to death, to have meetings, to issue preliminary reports, have more meetings, and issue a final report in August 2014, years after drilling will already be firmly established in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and (perhaps) New York. A relatively small area of Maryland sits atop the Marcellus—two rural counties in the panhandle of Maryland: Allegany and Garrett counties. Both counties have high unemployment and would greatly benefit from Marcellus gas drilling, but the landowners and the people who could be employed by the drilling industry in those communities will not benefit from drilling for many years to come because of Gov. O’Malley’s delays.

So it’s of note, but of little consequence, that the kick-off meeting for Gov. O’Malley’s recently appointed Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission will happen this Thursday at 9:30 am at the Lakeside Visitors Center at Rocky Gap State Park. The meeting is open to the public. Below is a recent press release announcing the people appointed to O’Malley’s Commission.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Statewide NY

New York State Democratic Party Chairman Says Risks from Marcellus Drilling are “Minuscule”
August 1, 2011August 1, 2011

New York State Democratic Party Chairman Jay Jacobs wants to see hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale in New York State begin. From today’s New York Post:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Commonwealth Foundation Identifies Groups, People Who Fund Anti-Drilling Efforts in PA
August 1, 2011August 1, 2011

Last week the Commonwealth Foundation released a policy briefing paper titled “The Great Frack Attack: The War On Natural Gas” (full copy of the paper embedded below). The policy paper names names and outlines the big money behind groups critical of drilling in the Marcellus Shale.

From the introduction:

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Statewide WV | West Virginia | Wetzel County

WV Drillers Threaten Economic Boycotts of Local Businesses in Cities that Ban Marcellus Drilling
July 29, 2011July 29, 2011

Here and there, some city municipalities in West Virginia—like Morgantown—have banned hydraulic fracturing and Marcellus shale gas drilling inside, and even outside of their borders. The latest WV city to do so is New Martinsville (Wetzel County). The West Virginia Independent Oil & Gas Association has had enough and is threatening to stop supporting local businesses in cities that have enacted bans.

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Blair County | Economic Impact | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania

Altoona Water Authority Expands Sale of Treated Wastewater to Marcellus Drillers in PA
July 28, 2011July 28, 2011

The Altoona [PA] Water Authority is looking to expand its program to sell treated sewage wastewater to Marcellus drillers in central PA.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

NY DEC Hydraulic Fracturing Advisory Panel Appointed by Joe Martens in Disarray
July 27, 2011July 27, 2011

An amazingly balanced and non-partisan article by WNYC News delves into the 13-member Advisory Panel appointed by Joe Martens, Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), to advise the DEC on issues with implementing the new Marcellus drilling regulations. The article, which MDN highly recommends you read, points out the confusion among the panel members about what, exactly, they are supposed to do.

It also recounts the rushed and last-minute approach Martens took in creating and appointing members to the panel. The article points out how the panel is stacked with members who are largely anti-drilling (MDN’s words, the article refers to them as environmentalists). Even the so-called industry representative on the panel, Mark Boling from Houston-based Southwestern Energy, is ~~colluding~~ working with the Environmental Defense Fund on a new “industry code of conduct.” He admits his views are not mainstream in the energy industry.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA

Temple University Launches Study to Investigate Possible Link Between Marcellus Drilling and Methane in Water Wells
July 26, 2011July 26, 2011

Yet another study is about to be launched looking for a connection between Marcellus Shale gas drilling and elevated methane (natural gas) levels in nearby water wells—this time from a group of researchers at Temple University.

You may recall that Duke University recently released a study which supposedly showed a connection between drilling and high levels of methane in water wells (see MDN story here). However, the Duke study cherry-picked the locations they used—locations where there was already high levels of methane in the water, methane that is naturally occurring (and has been for decades). Hopefully the Temple researchers will employ a more rigorous methodology in their study.

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Algepower | Energy Services | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Wastewater

Could Algae be the Answer to Marcellus Wastewater? Innovative New “Green” Fracking Solution Looking for a Partner
July 22, 2011July 22, 2011

From time to time businesses contact MDN to ask for exposure to their product or service. Most times MDN passes because it wouldn’t be of interest to landowners and industry participants. However, we recently received a request about an intriguing green solution for fracking wastewater.

What if you could use algae to feed on fracking wastewater and convert that wastewater into a harmless (and useful) biofuel? And what if you ramped up the growth rate of the algae by using hydroponics technology? And what if the whole operation, covering just one acre, was enclosed in an inflatable structure that protected the environment around it, and enabled 24/7/365 growth of the algae inside? And what if that one acre super-algae farm could handle 50,000 gallons of fracking wastewater per day? Well then, you’d have something called Algeponics®.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Regulation | Statewide NY

New York Landowner Group Sponsors Letter Writing Campaign to Thank Gov. Cuomo and Commissioner Martens
July 22, 2011July 21, 2011

The Joint Landowners Coalition of New York (JLCNY) is encouraging landowners in New York State to thank Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his actions in lifting the gas drilling moratorium, and encourage him to keep the process moving along quickly. How? By printing and signing a letter saying just that. The JLCNY has produced a form letter supporters can use (see below).

MDN heartily endorses the letter and encourages drilling supporters to sign and send it at their earliest opportunity.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Regulation

SRBC Seeks Comments on Rule Changes that Govern Shale Gas Drilling, Two Public Hearings Scheduled
July 22, 2011July 22, 2011

On June 23, 2011, the Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) approved the release and publication of a Proposed Rulemaking package which, if finally adopted after being subject to public review and comment, would make certain changes to 18 CFR Part 806.

The purpose of the regulatory amendments set forth in this proposed rulemaking is to make further modifications to the Commission’s project review regulations, most of which relate to the approval of hydrocarbon development projects (ie shale gas drilling). These changes would be made to 18CFR Part 806. An Executive Summary of the proposed rule changes is embedded below.

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Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | New York | Steuben County

Civil Disobedience Training Camp at Keuka Lake, NY to Train Young People in How to Oppose Marcellus Drilling
July 20, 2011July 20, 2011

As MDN has written before, the real, deep-down motivation for those who oppose drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale is not really about chemical contamination of groundwater, noise, roads and the many other (often legitimate) concerns people have with drilling. At it’s core, this is a fight, a battle, about a philosophy. The philosophy driving opposition to drilling says, in essence, that all fossil fuels are bad, and even though natural gas may burn cleaner than coal and oil and produce less carbon, it still must be opposed because it’s not “sustainable” and if natural gas usage increases, it will delay the marvelous future that awaits us all with solar, wind power and other so-called alternative energy sources.

MDN readers are sometimes skeptical when I point out this philosophical motivation. Need more proof? Take a look at an email just received by MDN from an organization in New York called The Green Umbrella about an upcoming event that will train young people in non-violent civil disobedience so they can attempt to stop Marcellus drilling in New York State. The event page, linked to at the bottom of the email, lists Frack Action and Food & Water Watch as co-sponsors of this civil disobedience training event.

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Brooke County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | West Virginia

Wellsburg, WV City Council Votes to Repeal Two-Month-Old Marcellus Drilling Ban
July 20, 2011July 20, 2011

The Wellsburg (WV) City Council voted in May of this year to institute a ban on hydraulic fracturing within the City and up to one mile outside of the City. On Tuesday, Council members voted to repeal the two-month old ban:

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Allegheny County | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation

Pittsburgh Councilman Doug Shields Lobbies to Get Drilling Ban Added to City’s Charter
July 20, 2011July 20, 2011

Pittsburgh, PA enacted an ordinance banning hydraulic fracturing and Marcellus gas drilling some eight months ago. Leading the charge against drilling was city Councilman Doug Shields (Democrat-District 5). Now Mr. Shields is concerned that once he’s gone from office, future city councils may waver in their anti-drilling commitment and may repeal the ban, so he wants to enshrine the ban in the city’s charter:

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