Posted on 05/20/2011 7:08:33 PM PDT by neverdem
A new technique for natural gas extraction eliminates fears about contaminated water and stops opponents in their tracks.
In a major energy security speech this March, President Barack Obama had some nice things to say about a new technique for extracting domestic natural gas deposits: “Recent innovations have given us the opportunity to tap large reserves—perhaps a century’s worth of reserves, a hundred years worth of reserves—in the shale under our feet.”
The innovation that has unlocked those vast new reserves of natural gas is a process known as hydrofracking—or fracking for short—in which horizontal drilling is combined with blasts of pressurized water and sand. But for Obama, along with other more strident critics, the natural gas unlocked by fracking may come at too great a cost.
The biggest, most headline-grabbing fear is that fracking chemicals will contaminate drinking water. Last week, environmental scientists at Duke University published a study titled “Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas-well drilling and hydraulic fracturing,” in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study found that natural gas concentrations in water wells within 3,000 feet of gas wells were higher than in wells that were further from gas wells. Interestingly, the researchers included water wells near Dimock, Pennsylvania where it is well known that improperly constructed natural gas well casings had resulted in the fugitive gas contaminating local water wells.
Sounds like bad news. But when you read the fine print, the Duke researchers admit that “based on our data, we found no evidence for contamination of the shallow wells near active drilling sites from deep brines and/or fracturing fluids." Despite its misleading title, the study did not find that fracking as a technique contributed at all to the natural gas found the nearby water wells. In fact, the gas-rich shale...
(Excerpt) Read more at reason.com ...
Good President, Bad Senate ?
This article, like so many others, makes the mistake of accepting the liberal terms of debate. We should refuse to do so, and go on the attack. Make the liberals defend their support of expensive energy.
I tried a new fracking technique last night and my wife got suspicious.
More good news for North Americans, Poles (and Mexicans if they get rule of law established) and bad news for Russians and Arabs. Thanks for posting.
Would appreciate your input here...
Thought you might be interested in this article!
It’s a fracking miracle.
LOL. She didn’t like the gas leakage?
Turban Dick Durbin (D) Illinois says US has only 2% of the world’s oil reserves and that’s why we shouldn’t go after it.
I think the safest way would be carbonated water and mentos.
Liberal propaganda by Duke? Say it ain’t so!!
Dick and Chuck Shumer are the dumbest Democratic Senators in Congress.
I can't say in the Senate that would include Juan McCain and Leslie Graham ( who got reelected only because he hide while Sarah Palin carried him and McCain but TRUST ME SOUTH CAROLINA will Not Elect him Again.
I only pray Sarah won't return his call in 4 years.
TTIWWP
The only safe fuel for the environazis is dung.
For all the egalitarianism claimed by the environazis, they want to turn this country into the Soviet Union. The party nomenklatura with their mansions, dachas, and limousines, and then the rest of us waiting in lines.
Do you have a direct quote for that statement?
Cannot find any.
If it exists I will jam it down...
As quoted by PBS: SEN. RICHARD DURBIN, D-ILL.: If you take a look at all the known oil reserves in the United States, offshore and onshore, all of them, they comprise 2 percent of the known oil reserves in the world, 2 percent. So, the Republican answer is drill, baby, drill. Honestly, that’s not going to solve the problem.
Link: http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/politics/jan-june11/oilsubsidies_05-18.html
...the Duke researchers admit that “based on our data, we found no evidence for contamination of the shallow wells near active drilling sites from deep brines and/or fracturing fluids." Despite its misleading title, the study did not find that fracking as a technique contributed at all to the natural gas found the nearby water wells.Anyone against fracking, or drilling for oil, should find out the consequences of class warfare and their own demagoguery by being forced outdoors, to spend the winter outside. And I don't mean in the Sunbelt.
What the fraq are you guys talking about?
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