Fracking in Southern Illinois (Chicago, Springfield: live, shopper, oil)

[hula]

So word has it that fracking has already begun in Southern Illinois. I was in the Springfield area over Memorial Day weekend and noticed wells pumping out in the fields where crops are planted. Has anyone else noticed this?

[Maintainschaos]

Originally Posted by hula

So word has it that fracking has already begun in Southern Illinois. I was in the Springfield area over Memorial Day weekend and noticed wells pumping out in the fields where crops are planted. Has anyone else noticed this?

You mean you notice wells pumping in central Illinois or southern Illinois? Central Illinois has had oil wells pumping across the state for as long as I can remember for years and years.

[linicx]

I've never seen an oil or gas well in central Illinois or in Sangamon County. I've seen many pumps in my travels, but never in a planted field where crop grow. Not saying it is not possible, just saying I've never seen it. OTOH I don't pretend to know every inch of Sangamon County as well I do other counties.

[Drover]

Seen plenty of oil pumpjacks bobbing up and down throughout east central and southern Illinois. There was even one in the middle of a municipal park in Mattoon when I lived there.

Google "Illinois basin crude"

[Maintainschaos]

Maybe we're not all on the same page regarding what we are talking about? I meant I've seen these outside of Spfld, Decatur and Champaign (all easily visible off of I-72):

A Grasshopper Pump Pumping Oil From The Ground Stock Photo 13135768 : Shutterstock

I haven't ever seen anything that looks like these, though:

Retronaut - See the past like you wouldn't believe.

I wonder which the OP is talking about?

[linicx]

I never had a reason to drive on I-72, but I've seen the first in Oklahoma, and both in Texas and New Mexico - especially on state, FTM and county byways. I've not seen many on I-Routes except in Western OK where there isn't much except red earth and very small towns located away from the well sites. I never knew what the more common first picture type of pump was called. Most are identified by Well #X.

[linicx]

Originally Posted by hula

So word has it that fracking has already begun in Southern Illinois. I was in the Springfield area over Memorial Day weekend and noticed wells pumping out in the fields where crops are planted. Has anyone else noticed this?

Whoever is talking to you doesn't seem to know much about Illinois. Southern Illinois does not begin in Chicago. It begins south of Springfield a few miles. Illinois is nearly 56,000 square miles with a population of over 12 million. Inside its borders are 155 lakes, 24 rivers with multiple tributaries, and the largest river that divides the state in two. In all twenty-six bridges, eight railroad trestles, and one ferry carry traffic across the Illinois River whilst nine locks & dams manage river traffic over its 273 miles.

It is hard to say which Illinois River was the first to be named as the Illinois River is also found in Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Oregon. The Illinois River in Oklahoma is quite usual. The eastern most portion is restricted to canoe and float whilst the Illinois River at the Port of Tulsa carries commercial river traffic as it does in the state of Illinois.

[Drover]

What is it with you dumping completely random Illinois trivia into every thread regardless of its utter irrelevance? What gave you any indication the OP (or anyone else) believes southern Illinois begins in Chicago? What the hell does that have to do with the OP's observations around Springfield?

[TRoweP]

I have see them. These are not fracking units but grasshopper pumps which are mostly non-functional now because there is no oil left in illinois.

It could be the wind that makes it look like its pumping.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by TRoweP

I have see them. These are not fracking units but grasshopper pumps which are mostly non-functional now because there is no oil left in illinois.

It could be the wind that makes it look like its pumping.

There's still oil to be found in Illinois, albeit not the type that is easily refined into gasoline or low-sulfur diesel for road-going vehicles. But it's still useful for lubricants and fuel additives.

While depletion is an issue, the bigger issue is that Illinois Basin Crude is harder to refine into fuels that meet today's environmental regulations compared to other national and international sources. Thus IBC commands less on the open market while costing just as much to extract as its easier-to-refine counterparts.

But as long as the market has other uses for oil besides just fuel -- such as lubricants and other industrial uses -- there will still be at least some demand for IBC, and at least some grasshoppers will still be bobbing up and down here in Illinois.