Wastewater

Accidents | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Lycoming County | Pennsylvania | Wastewater | XTO

XTO Will Pay $20M+ to Settle PA Frack Wastewater Spill Case
September 19, 2013September 19, 2013

XTO Energy (owned by Exxon) continues to fight against an egregious–perhaps illegal–abuse of power by Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane, an anti-driller who is attempting to criminalize an accidental spill of frack wastewater hoping to make “an example” of XTO (see PA AG Abuses Her Authority, Files Criminal Charges Against XTO).

Meanwhile, XTO has just settled the civil side of that accident by agreeing to pay more than $20 million–$100,000 in fines and $20 million to implement new procedures and technologies to ensure such a spill does not happen again…
Read More “XTO Will Pay $20M+ to Settle PA Frack Wastewater Spill Case”
Energy Services | FMC Technologies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Wastewater

FMC: Shale Industry Must Achieve 100% Frack Wastewater Recycling
September 16, 2013September 16, 2013

At last week’s 2013 YOUNG Expo, FMC Technologies vice president of surface technologies, Johan Pfeiffer, said water use for fracking is a big deal–such a big deal that the shale drilling industry needs to move to 100% recycling of fracked wastewater. Soon. If we don’t? An ominous prediction from Pfeiffer: “If we don’t address the water issue we will lose it.”

FMC is a huge oilfield services and equipment company with a vested interest in the issue. They are right now conducting a pilot program in Colorado for a new technology that removes impurities and chemicals from frack wastewater. Pfeiffer explained a bit about their new and unique technology…
Read More “FMC: Shale Industry Must Achieve 100% Frack Wastewater Recycling”
Energy Services | GreenHunter Resources | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Washington County (OH) | Wastewater

GreenHunter Begins Operation of New OH Wastewater Injection Well
September 12, 2013September 12, 2013

GreenHunter Water announced today they’ve started operating a brand new injection well at their Newport (Washington County), Ohio location–just a stone’s throw from the Ohio River (where they dearly hope to be able to barge wastewater soon). GreenHunter says the new injection well, called a “salt water disposal” or SWD facility, has the potential to pump 1,200 barrels per day of frack wastewater and brine…
Read More “GreenHunter Begins Operation of New OH Wastewater Injection Well”
Crime | Industrywide Issues | Litigation | Mahoning County | Ohio | Wastewater

Harch Environmental Gets $100K Fine for OH Wastewater Dumping
September 12, 2013September 12, 2013

In early June, the Ohio Dept. of Environmental Resources (ODNR) “temporarily” shut down Harch Environment Services after it was caught illegally dumping frack wastewater on the ground (see Another OH Company Shut Down for Illegal Frack Wastewater Dumping). The ODNR investigated and has just assessed a $100,000 fine against Harch. As part of their action, ODNR is requiring Harch to cease wastewater hauling for 30 days–although we were under the impression they had already ceased as of early June. Plus, ODNR says it reserves the right to bring more charges, including criminal charges, against the company in the future.

It does appear, however, that Harch (unlike D&L Energy) will be permitted to resume operations in Ohio once again…
Read More “Harch Environmental Gets $100K Fine for OH Wastewater Dumping”
Accidents | Energy Companies | Industrywide Issues | Lycoming County | Pennsylvania | Wastewater | XTO

PA AG Abuses Her Authority, Files Criminal Charges Against XTO
September 11, 2013September 11, 2013

In November 2012, the day after the general election, MDN asked the question if Pennsylvania’s newly elected anti-drilling attorney general, Kathleen Kane, would target the Marcellus Shale drilling industry (see Will New PA AG Go After the Marcellus Drilling Industry?). We now know the answer. Yesterday Kane’s office announced it had filed criminal charges against XTO Energy related to the spill of fracking wastewater at a site in Lycoming County, PA that happened more than three years ago–before she took office.

XTO has already responded that the area where the spill occurred suffered no long-term adverse environmental effects and that Kane has far exceeded the bounds of her authority (in fact is abusing her authority) in seeking criminal charges. We agree with XTO…
Read More “PA AG Abuses Her Authority, Files Criminal Charges Against XTO”
Energy Companies | Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Range Resources Corp | Washington County | Wastewater

Range Water Impoundment Public Hearing Postponed 2nd Time
September 11, 2013September 30, 2013

In August MDN told you about the latest kerfuffle between Range Resources and Mt. Pleasant township in Washington County, PA. Range had built and maintains four water impoundments (think “pond”)–one for frack wastewater and three for fresh water storage. Range uses the impoundments to store and haul water to/from drill sites for use in fracking (see Range Resources Argues with Mt Pleasant over Water Impoundment). Residents object to the impoundments on the grounds that their original use–drilling wells in that immediate area–is long over. Range continues to use them to drill other wells, not only in Washington County but also in Ohio and West Virginia. Residents say Range has overstayed their welcome with the impoundments.

A public hearing was continued from August to September when the public didn’t get a chance to vent at the August meeting. Last night, the hearing was continued yet again–to October–because Range wants a witness to appear at the hearing that couldn’t make it last night…
Read More “Range Water Impoundment Public Hearing Postponed 2nd Time”
Hydraulic Fracturing | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Statewide PA | Wastewater

MDN Processes its Own Frack Wastewater Comments
September 10, 2013September 10, 2013

Apparently MDN left a wrong impression with an article we ran yesterday. We told you about a new study just released by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) that takes a look at discharges from wastewater plants in Pennsylvania and concludes they don’t do a good job of cleaning up fracking wastewaster (see USGS Study Says Drilling Wastewater Not Fully Treated by Plants). Our criticism of the study left the impression with one reader that we believe municipal sewage treatment plants are capable of processing fracking wastewater. Let us be clear: We do NOT believe that nor do we advocate for it! Just the opposite.

We want to clear up our viewpoint on frack wastewater treatment…
Read More “MDN Processes its Own Frack Wastewater Comments”
Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Research | Statewide PA | Wastewater

USGS Study Says Drilling Wastewater Not Fully Treated by Plants
September 9, 2013September 9, 2013

In a bit of a scam, the U.S. Geological Survey has released the results of a new study that supposedly shows when conventional and unconventional wastewater (no distinction) is run through the local sewer plant for processing, it results in nasty stuff being dumped into local streams and rivers (study titled “Discharges of produced waters from oil and gas extraction via wastewater treatment plants are sources of disinfection by-products to receiving streams”). The scam is that U.S. taxpayer-paid researchers working for a U.S. government agency produced this report, but you can’t get a copy unless you pay Elsevier $41.95 for a copy. Excuse us, but reports and studies conducted by the government and paid for by us, taxpayers, are supposed to be free (we paid for it!)–not locked up in a private, for-profit business.

Therefore, we only have the abstract and summary on which to evaluate the study…
Read More “USGS Study Says Drilling Wastewater Not Fully Treated by Plants”
Energy Services | GreenHunter Resources | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Wastewater

Federal Approval for Barging Frack Wastewater Very Close
September 6, 2013September 6, 2013

Has there been movement at the federal level to approve barge shipments of fracking wastewater? Going by the recent comments of John Jack, vice president of business development and operations for GreenHunter Water, we would say the answer to that question is very much a “yes”. MDN has told you about GreenHunter’s fracking wastewater recycling/barge facilities–now seven of them in the Marcellus/Utica region. The most recent such facility to win approval (and now being built) is in Wheeling, WV (see Wheeling, WV Approves GreenHunter Frack Wastewater Facility).

The holdup on barging frack wastewater down the Ohio River to locations where there are injection wells for permanent disposal has been an alphabet soup of federal government agencies who need to approve it, including the EPA, OMB, DOE, DOT and Coast Guard (see The Long (Federal) Road to Approve GreenHunter’s Barge Terminals). Going by John Jack’s recent comments, the long wait is almost over…
Read More “Federal Approval for Barging Frack Wastewater Very Close”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Ohio | Regulation | Statewide OH | Wastewater

OH Democrat Senator Wants Total Ban on Wastewater Injection Wells
August 19, 2013August 19, 2013

Ohio Senator Michael J. Skindell (Democrat, District 23) has introduced a bill in the state legislature that will ban disposal of fracking wastewater via injection wells. Yet another elected anti-drilling Democrat who’s trying to shut down one of the safest forms of energy in the world–shale gas. If you shut down disposal of fracking fluid, you shut down drilling…
Read More “OH Democrat Senator Wants Total Ban on Wastewater Injection Wells”
Industrywide Issues | Wastewater

Company Acquires Technology from LANL to Clean Frack Wastewater
August 15, 2013August 15, 2013

Making a very big claim, IX Power Clean Water, based in Albuquerque, NM, announced yesterday it has acquired the patent rights to a technology developed by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) that can clean fracking wastewater (“produced water”) so clean the resulting water can be used for agriculture and livestock–and with “additional processes” can even be used for drinking water for humans. It is a big boast indeed. Let’s hope it proves to be true.

IX Power’s press release announcing this “new” technology:
Read More “Company Acquires Technology from LANL to Clean Frack Wastewater”
Energy Services | GreenHunter Resources | Industrywide Issues | Marshall County | Regulation | Wastewater | West Virginia

Wheeling, WV Approves GreenHunter Frack Wastewater Facility
August 14, 2013August 14, 2013

With capes gently flapping in the breeze, it was a crushingly sad defeat for the brave and noble Wheeling Water Warriors who sought to stop the evil frackwater company from establishing yet another facility along the shores of the pristine (*cough*) Ohio River…. OK, enough of that drivel! A great victory for GreenHunter Water and for sanity: The Wheeling (WV) Planning Commission has approved GreenHunter’s plan to develop a frack wastewater recycling/barge facility at the former Seidler’s Oil Service site on North 28th Street. The plan, opposed by a small band of anti-drilling protesters who called themselves the Wheeling Water Warriors, came before the Planning Commission several times without a vote in recent months (see Wheeling Delays Vote Again on GreenHunter Wastewater Facility).

The Commission took up the matter again at it’s Monday meeting and finally voted to approve GreenHunter’s plan. Eventually, GreenHunter hopes to use the facility to not only recycle shale drilling wastewater, but also ship some of it (by barge) down the Ohio River to locations in Ohio for disposal via injection wells. Shipping wastewater by barge is currently under review at the federal level, awaiting approval…
Read More “Wheeling, WV Approves GreenHunter Frack Wastewater Facility”
Indiana County | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Regulation | Wastewater

PA Frack Wastewater Plant Closes, Loses Permit to Operate
August 7, 2013August 7, 2013

Although companies like GreenHunter Water can’t get enough fracking wastewater facilities online fast enough to meet demand from Marcellus and Utica drillers, it appears not everyone has the same level of success when it comes to operating such facilities. The PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) has pulled the operating permit for a frack wastewater treatment facility in Indiana County, PA. Seems the facility operated “sporadically” in July and August of last year before stopping operation in September. The owner, Aquatic Synthesis, ran into financial difficulties (i.e. bankruptcy).

Problem is, there’s still a million gallons of wastewater at the plant that need to be disposed of. Who will pay for that?…
Read More “PA Frack Wastewater Plant Closes, Loses Permit to Operate”
Butler County | Energy Services | Industrywide Issues | Pennsylvania | Reserve Environmental Services | Wastewater

RES Breaks Ground for Wastewater Treatment Plant in Butler, PA
August 6, 2013August 6, 2013

Reserved Environmental Services, otherwise known as RES Water, is a Pennsylvania-based shale drilling wastewater treatment processor. RES’ claim to fame is that they build and operate zero liquid discharge facilities–100% of treated wastewater is returned to the field for re-use in fracking and drilling.

RES has just broken ground on its second wastewater treatment plant–in Penn Township (Butler County), PA. The new $2.5 million facility is projected to be operational later this year. According to RES president Andy Kicinski, more RES treatment plants are on the way in the Marcellus region…
Read More “RES Breaks Ground for Wastewater Treatment Plant in Butler, PA”
Energy Services | Heckmann | Industrywide Issues | Wastewater

Wastewater Company Nuverra: Too Much Success in Marcellus/Utica
July 31, 2013July 31, 2013

Nuverra Environmental Solutions (formerly Heckmann), a company that recycles and otherwise disposes of shale drilling wastewater and leftover rock and dirt from drilling, decided to release the “bad news” ahead of an earnings call on August 8 that 2Q13 profits will not meet expectations. They’ll show earnings of a measly $165.5 million. Nuverra has a growing presence in the Marcellus and Utica Shale region.

So what were the challenges in 2Q13 that caused Nuverra to falter financially? Believe it or not, one of the reasons for their “poor” financial showing is stronger than predicted growth for their business in the Marcellus/Utica. The strong growth forced them to parcel out work to subcontractors, which costs more than having your own employees do the work. Nuverra says they’re now ramping up and expanding their own people in the Marcellus/Utica…
Read More “Wastewater Company Nuverra: Too Much Success in Marcellus/Utica”
Anti-Drilling/Fossil Fuel | Industrywide Issues | Regulation | Wastewater

New CLEANER Act for Drilling Waste has a Dirty Purpose
July 26, 2013July 26, 2013

Pennsylvania Congressman Matthew Cartwright, Democrat – 17th District, has just introduced a new bill in the House of Representatives: the Closing Loopholes and Ending Arbitrary and Needless Evasion of Regulations (CLEANER) Act. The way Democrats euphomize the titles of their proposed bills is funny–torturing the language to make it sound like something it’s not. We’d like to propose our own legislation: Stop Torturing Us People In Democrat Idiotic Talkative Yammering (STUPIDITY).

This latest travesty–the CLEANER Act–perpetuates the lie that somehow oil and gas drilling have been inappropriately “exempted” from federal laws that apply to other industries. In this case, anti-drillers maintain oil and gas drilling have been inappropriately exempted from the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) of 1976 via legislation passed in 1980. To put oil and gas drilling under RCRA’s purview now would be to reclassify drilling waste as toxic waste (similar to nuclear waste), requiring very strict tracking and disposal regulations that go far beyond the actual hazard posed by oil and gas drilling waste. The CLEANER bill is unnecessary and its purpose is to make drilling uneconomic–i.e. to stop it.
Read More “New CLEANER Act for Drilling Waste has a Dirty Purpose”