Mike Shuster, left, and Lisa Zaccaglini, both of Sharon Springs, N.Y., hold signs during a rally against hydraulic fracturing for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale region of the state, at the Capitol in Albany, N.Y., on Monday, April 11, 2011. (AP Photo/Mike Groll) (Associated Press)
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This is one of Chesapeake Energy's hydraulic fracturing operations over the Eagle Ford shale formation near Carrizo Springs, Texas. Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a practice used to coax natural gas and petroleum from rock formations like shale. The head of the well is the red, vertical extension on the bottom right corner. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
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Dust permeates the air at a Chesapeake Energy Co. fracking operation at a well site near Carrizo Springs, Texas Thursday May 5, 2011. The site is over the Eagle Ford shale formation where oil and gas is being extracted in the area. Fracking is also known as hydraulic fracturing. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
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An oil worker walks pass the manifold (right) and frac pumps (left) at a Chesapeake Energy hydraulic fracturing operation near Carrizo Springs, Texas Thursday May 5, 2011. Hydraulic fracturing is a method of removing oil and gas from rock formations such as the Eagle Ford shale formation in south central Texas. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
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A natural gas well operated by Northeast Natural Energy on Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011. The well is the subject of a dispute over a drilling ban recently enacted by the city of Morgantown, which is directly across the Monongahela River from the well. (AP Photo/David Smith) (Associated Press)
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Helge Lund (left), CEO of Norwegian energy company Statoil, speaks with Statoil Joint Venture Manager Cesar Alvarez (facing away) and Talisman Energy Frac Specialist Nabila Larsen (right) at a Talisman Energy fracking site near Cotulla, Texas. Statoil is working with Talisman energy to develop oil and gas ventures in the Eagle Ford shale formation in south central Texas. (Wednesday September 7, 2011) JOHN DAVENPORT/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS (jdavenport@express-news.net) (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
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An oilfield employee works at a Talisman Energy fracking site near Cotulla, Texas. Talisman Energy is working with Norwegian energy company Statoil to extract oil and gas from the Eagle Ford shale formation in south central Texas. (Wednesday September 7, 2011) JOHN DAVENPORT/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS/jdavenport@express-news.net (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
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Sandstone is washed and tumbled and put through a series of screens and sieves Wednesday August 31, 2011 until it is broken down into sand particles at the Frac Tech Services sand mining operation near Brady, Texas. Sand from the mine is being used nationwide by drilling companies using the hydraulic fracturing process. JOHN DAVENPORT/jdavenport@express-news.net (SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS)
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Protestors scale a shale gas rig at Banks, near Southport, England bringing a halt to work at the Cuadrilla Resources site Wednesday Nov. 2 , 2011. Cuadrilla Resources, which is drilling for gas in northwestern England, said Wednesday that independent experts concluded that the tremors were due to an unusual combination of geology and operations, and were unlikely to happen again. The company said local geology would limit any future seismic events to around magnitude 3 on the Richter scale. The tremor on April 1 measured 2.3 on the Richter scale. Local campaigners have mounted a "Frack Off" campaign to oppose the drilling technique that cracks open rock layers to free natural gas. (AP Photo/Peter Byrne/PA) UNITED KINGDOM OUT NO SALES NO ARCHIVE (Associated Press)
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In western New York state near the Pennsylvania border, many signs can be found expressing support for both sides in the hydraulic fracturing debate. (August 2011)
BILL MONTGOMERY : CHRONICLE (staff)
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FILE - In this April 22, 2008 file photo, a natural gas well pad sits in front of the Roan Plateau near Rifle, Co. The director of the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission, David Neslin, said Monday, Dec. 5, 2011, that requiring drilling companies to publicly disclose what chemicals they use in hydraulic fracturing is only one tool for protecting public health and the environment. The comment was made during a hearing regarding a proposal to require public disclosures of fracking fluids that aren't trade secrets. More than 100 people packed the hearing. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) (Associated Press)
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FILE- In this photograph taken April 15, 2009, an unidentified worker steps through the maze of hoses being used at a remote fracking site being run by Halliburton for natural-gas producer Williams in Rulison, Colo. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday Dec. 8, 2011 in Wyoming, for the first time that fracking - a controversial method of improving the productivity of oil and gas wells - may be to blame for causing groundwater pollution. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File) (Associated Press)
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In this July 27, 2011 photo, Range Resources workers stand near the rig that drills into the shale at a well site in Washington, Pa. The company is one of many drilling and "fracking" in the area to release natural gas. The three different diameters of pipe at bottom are the casing tubings that each go inside the other to line the well. Experts say Marcellus Shale natural gas production is expected to keep rising in 2012, yet landowners may find that signing lease deals isn't as easy as in years past. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (Associated Press)
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In this July 27, 2011 photo, Range Resources site manager Don Robinson stands near the well head by the drill that goes into the shale at a well site in Washington, Pa. The company is one of many drilling and "fracking" in the area to release natural gas. Experts say Marcellus Shale natural gas production is expected to keep rising in 2012, yet landowners may find that signing lease deals isn't as easy as in years past. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (Associated Press)
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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 11: Opponents of hydraulic fracturing in New York state attend a news conference and rally against hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, on January 11, 2012 in New York City. The event, which was held on the steps of City Hall, called for an end to the controversial gas drilling method as environmental groups increasingly warn about contamination of the state's aquifers that could poison its drinking water. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 11: New York Senator Tony Avella speaks at a news conference and rally against hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, in New York State on January 11, 2012 in New York City. The event, which was held on the steps of City Hall, called for an end to the controversial gas drilling method as environmental groups increasingly warn about contamination of the state's aquifers that could poison its drinking water. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
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In this photo made on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, a worker walks through a maze of pies connecting storage tanks and pumps in the hydraulic fracturing process in the Marcellus Shale layer to release natural gas was underway at a Range Resources site in Claysville, Pa. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (Associated Press)
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In this photo made on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, a worker shovels the powder used to make a mixture with water used in the hydraulic fracturing process in the Marcellus Shale layer to release natural gas b at a Range Resources site where the process was underway in Claysville, Pa. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic) (Associated Press)
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Daniel Morrissey of Latham leads anti-fracking demonstrators organized by Occupy Albany protest in front of the DEC building in Albany,NY Thursday, Jan.12, 2012. ( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union) (Albany Times Union)
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Abram Loeb of Afton dressed in a decontamination suit joins anti-fracking demonstrators organized by Occupy Albany protest in front of the DEC building in Albany,NY Thursday, Jan.12, 2012. ( Michael P. Farrell/Times Union) (Albany Times Union)
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is seeking nominees for a peer review panel that will be asked to take a close look at an EPA draft report that theorizes a link between hydraulic fracturing and groundwater pollution in a Wyoming gas field.
A notice published in the Federal Register on Tuesday says the EPA is seeking panelists with technical experience in areas including petroleum engineering, hydrology, geology and chemistry. The panelists must also be impartial and not have any conflicts of interest.
Those interested may self-nominate. Nominations are due no later than Feb. 17.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method for breaking open rock deposits inside oil and gas wells. The EPA draft report released last month theorized that industry activity including fracking might have polluted groundwater in the Pavillion area.
Local residents for years have complained about their well water reeking of chemicals, although the report did not speculate that fracking polluted their well water. That part of the report focused on two wells drilled to test for groundwater pollution.
Environmentalists welcomed the report as confirmation of their long-held suspicions, while the petroleum industry, including Encana Corp., the major operator in the Pavillion gas field, has cast doubt on the EPA’s methodology and preliminary conclusions.
The EPA has addressed some of Encana’s concerns but not others, including those having to do with construction of the monitoring wells and quality assurance of the results, Encana spokesman Doug Hock said Thursday.
“This is of particular note as these are the two primary areas of concern that Encana, the state of Wyoming and others have focused on in addressing questions as to EPA’s methodology,” Hock said.
Gov. Matt Mead said the EPA has committed to having a Wyoming representative on the panel. The EPA has not committed to Mead’s request for additional testing before the panel meets, however.
“We have reviewed a few names with the EPA and we will continue to evaluate those names and others to determine who to nominate through the formal process that started this week. Any names we submit must go through an evaluation by an independent consultant and be free of conflicts of interest, both of which are appropriate,” Mead said through spokesman Renny MacKay.
The 30-day peer review will follow a public comment period on the report that began Dec. 14.
Running this again?
Review of unrepeatable results is junk science. Anyone finding credibility in unrealiable data are shills for the enviro-terrorists.
I think this is a good thing. The EPA is not going to go away anytime soon. At least they can learn to obtain samples in a verifiable manner for future studies.
Headline should read: EPA seeks enviro-whackos and greenie-weenies to make up ‘evidence’ to support their position on Oil Industry excesses and abuses. Only Sierra Club Life Members need apply.
As a young scientist who has been a part of delivering a few (more than 50) horizontal wells when I worked in the industry, I have to say that the anti-EPA attitudes strike me as “throw caution to the wind.” Exploration has always been a risky venture. With uncon, a great deal of the geological risk is minimized, but operational risks still exist. Add in the demand to deliver so many wells per year, and once in a while the unexpected will happen. There is the other problem as well- people don’t like to get caught making mistakes, so they tend to cover their tracks when things go awry.
Hydraulic fracturing needs more study. Granted it has been happening for decades, but not at the current scale, nor in such a mix of geological environments. Ask a completions engineer to draw you a 3D map of fracture networks from a job they completed and they will look at you like you have two heads. Hydraulic fracturing is very effective at getting hydrocarbons out of source rocks, just as caffeine is very effective at keeping someone awake- but we (as a government) have taken the time to learn about the effects of caffeine on the human body. The government, in due diligence to protect the shared interest of our citizens, has a right and responsibility to scientifically study the effects of hydraulic fracturing, primarily because it is not in the economic interest of the industry to do so.
Signed,
another left wind extreme green goonie bird
@townes…it is not a completions engineers job to draw you a 3D map of fracture networks – they have geologists and geophysicists to do that. Not quite sure what point you are trying to make with that statement. Also, in many areas 3D mapping does exist and knowledge of the fracture networks is quite detailed.
So how do you determine that someone is not biased? I can live with people who are biased – as long as they are honest about it AND are willing to try to set aside their bias in order to honestly evaluate the facts. My contempt is for those who lie and say they are objective and when you point out their bias they become indignant.
@ townes – driving on the roads can be risky; eating processed food can be risky; living in a house that has been built in the past 50 years can be risky; using DEET for mosquitos can be risky; typing on a keyboard can be risky; kissing someone can be risky – so, may I suggest that you avoid all of the activities also?
As to the “anti-EPA” attitude – yes, having acquantances who work for EPA and having to work alongside EPA officials when I worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, I do have a strong anti-EPA attitude. Many in the agency do not believe that Americans as smart enough to make their own choices and that it is their job to lead the dumb masses down the path that they, in their self-wisdom, have determined to be “best.”
Running this again?
Review of unrepeatable results is junk science. Anyone finding credibility in unrealiable data are shills for the enviro-terrorists.
I think this is a good thing. The EPA is not going to go away anytime soon. At least they can learn to obtain samples in a verifiable manner for future studies.
Where are the wing-nuts calling the President a socialist?
Headline should read: EPA seeks enviro-whackos and greenie-weenies to make up ‘evidence’ to support their position on Oil Industry excesses and abuses. Only Sierra Club Life Members need apply.
A major problem in this area is that the O & G industry has proven itself to have so little credibility!
number 1 requirement,
left wing extreme green goonie bird.
As a young scientist who has been a part of delivering a few (more than 50) horizontal wells when I worked in the industry, I have to say that the anti-EPA attitudes strike me as “throw caution to the wind.” Exploration has always been a risky venture. With uncon, a great deal of the geological risk is minimized, but operational risks still exist. Add in the demand to deliver so many wells per year, and once in a while the unexpected will happen. There is the other problem as well- people don’t like to get caught making mistakes, so they tend to cover their tracks when things go awry.
Hydraulic fracturing needs more study. Granted it has been happening for decades, but not at the current scale, nor in such a mix of geological environments. Ask a completions engineer to draw you a 3D map of fracture networks from a job they completed and they will look at you like you have two heads. Hydraulic fracturing is very effective at getting hydrocarbons out of source rocks, just as caffeine is very effective at keeping someone awake- but we (as a government) have taken the time to learn about the effects of caffeine on the human body. The government, in due diligence to protect the shared interest of our citizens, has a right and responsibility to scientifically study the effects of hydraulic fracturing, primarily because it is not in the economic interest of the industry to do so.
Signed,
another left wind extreme green goonie bird
@townes…it is not a completions engineers job to draw you a 3D map of fracture networks – they have geologists and geophysicists to do that. Not quite sure what point you are trying to make with that statement. Also, in many areas 3D mapping does exist and knowledge of the fracture networks is quite detailed.
I’m sure that this guy at Cornell, I think his name is Howarth, would be glad to tell the EPA what they want to hear.
If he’s busy, I’m sure he can recommend others from the Cornell faculty to get the job done.
I don’t know why the EPA is having so much trouble here, just dial 444-Cornell
So how do you determine that someone is not biased? I can live with people who are biased – as long as they are honest about it AND are willing to try to set aside their bias in order to honestly evaluate the facts. My contempt is for those who lie and say they are objective and when you point out their bias they become indignant.
@ townes – driving on the roads can be risky; eating processed food can be risky; living in a house that has been built in the past 50 years can be risky; using DEET for mosquitos can be risky; typing on a keyboard can be risky; kissing someone can be risky – so, may I suggest that you avoid all of the activities also?
As to the “anti-EPA” attitude – yes, having acquantances who work for EPA and having to work alongside EPA officials when I worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, I do have a strong anti-EPA attitude. Many in the agency do not believe that Americans as smart enough to make their own choices and that it is their job to lead the dumb masses down the path that they, in their self-wisdom, have determined to be “best.”