Fracking...is it safe? I know very little and would like to know what you all think about it! (Pittsburgh: how much, house)

[Loves2Golf09]

Originally Posted by greg42

Funny, I was gathering to post something about this, but I wanted to find a NEWS story. Your link is an editorial (opinion) story with little real info. Here's the actual EPA draft report released the other day (link is to PDF document):

[url]http://www.epa.gov/region8/superfund/wy/pavillion/EPA_ReportOnPavillion_Dec-8-2011.pdf[/url]

Here is the ProPublica article that the editorial mentions: [url=http://www.propublica.org/article/feds-link-water-contamination-to-fracking-for-first-time]Feds Link Water Contamination to Fracking for the First Time - ProPublica[/url] It's worth noting that even if you want to criticize them as a liberal outfit (from what I can tell, the place is well set up for independent investigative journalism regardless of where it may get some funding) the article includes this: "The EPA’s findings in Wyoming are specific to the region’s geology; the Pavillion-area gas wells were fracked at shallower depths than many of the wells in the Marcellus shale and elsewhere."

The real question since we're in the Pittsburgh forum is if fracking in the Marcellus Shale is safe. The Wyoming findings, while notable for being the first to link water contamination to fracking, are not necessarily applicable here.

The editorial doesn't cite much in the way of anything we can actually go read as far as why they say the EPA's science is shaky. Citing a pro-industry group is not particularly compelling.

And I surely hope no one flushes one of their govt mandated mercury-infested curly light bulbs down some unsuspecting well. The EPA would have a cow! A dozen cows!!

[greg42]

Here's a nifty new tool: find where all the Marcellus wells in the state are. These are only active gas-producing wells. It's interesting that there's no production in Beaver County; I wonder why that is? There are certainly plenty of new leases there. Another site is keeping track of the leases just in that county, but it appears I can't get to that feature anymore without paying way too much. Weird. (I think it may be a mistake.)

Anyway, this tool https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylv...lus-shale-app/ shows active wells, who owns them and whether or not they've been cited for violations.

[WINDCHIMES]

Just wanted to thank everyone who contributed to the poll, thanks again! I still don't feel I know enough myself to say if I would support this...thanks for the interesting posts everyone. I have enjoyed reading them

[JanND]

This is an interesting group of article. I found it enlightening.
Catskill Mountainkeeper | WORKING TOGETHER TO PROTECT THE CATSKILLS

[South Range Family]

Originally Posted by greg42

Here's a nifty new tool: find where all the Marcellus wells in the state are. These are only active gas-producing wells. It's interesting that there's no production in Beaver County; I wonder why that is? There are certainly plenty of new leases there. Another site is keeping track of the leases just in that county, but it appears I can't get to that feature anymore without paying way too much. Weird. (I think it may be a mistake.)

Anyway, this tool https://stateimpact.npr.org/pennsylv...lus-shale-app/ shows active wells, who owns them and whether or not they've been cited for violations.

Greg, this will help you out with the Beaver County wells. Gas Wells in Beaver County

There is also the Patterson well just outside of Darlington in Lawrence County. A good website to keep up on the industry is Go Marcellus Shale - All things pertaining to the Marcellus & Utica Shale

I believe that Beaver County has temporarily been skipped over for two reasons. The Marcellus shale is producing a dry gas, and the infrastructure to get the gas to market isn't in place yet. With gas at less than $4 at the well head per million cubic feet, it isn't the quick return they are looking for.

Meanwhile, over the State line the Marcellus tapers off, and we have the Utica layer. Along with gas, the Utica is producing oil, and wet gas condensates. That means the wells are paying off quicker, and we already have the pipelines to get the dry gas to market. That's why I believe the drillers skipped right over to Ohio

I drive down the roads in my township, and can see shallow Clinton wells every quarter of a mile on both sides of the road. They were drilled in the 1970's. They were all tied together by gas gathering lines that dumped into the main transfer lines while the oil is stored in tanks, and trucked off on a regular basis. The well in my backyard is still producing about 100 barrels per week. It's great for running diesel tractors, and kerosene heaters.

Rumors in our area are that Columbiana County alone has 22 new millionaires just from signing bonuses, and a loose lipped bank teller is seeing royalty checks for $4000 per acre per month. That's a pretty nice income if you have any amount of property. I'm excited about what the future will bring.

[greg42]

Here's the one I was thinking of, map of Marcellus leases in Beaver County: Marcellus Shale Leases In Beaver County « Beaver Countian (http://beavercountian.com/content/featured/marcellus-shale-beaver-county - broken link)

[Tiger Beer]

This one deals with some of those PA towns and fracking:


Fracked Off - USA - YouTube

Probably one of the more memorable parts is when he lights the water from the faucet on fire. That's a lot of chemicals into the drinking water supply.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

Probably one of the more memorable parts is when he lights the water from the faucet on fire. That's a lot of chemicals into the drinking water supply.

You should see the weird color of the water in the farm ponds between Kittanning and Punxatawny. We saw them on our way up for Groundhogs day. It was unbelievable how many wells we saw along that stretch of road. While we were driving home in the afternoon, we drove through a massive gas leak. The smell was intense even though our windows were closed. We could smell it for a half a mile. It was super scary. We saw drilling employees arriving, just standing beside their cars staring from the side of the road---like they had no clue where it was coming from. You add that massive intense smelly gas leak to the number of wells in the area and that funny colored pond water, something isn't right about this drilling.

[yti2002]

No.

Talking to the workers in N Pa and hearing engineer talk to others at hotel there. Its not. They say it themselves!

[RyanR]

Safe Fracking.


Safe Fracking - YouTube