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  • Fracking

    Fracking or hydraulic fracturing has become a very controversial method of obtaining "natural" gas from deep shale beds in the USA and elsewhere in the Americas. New York State has promulgated a moratorium on the process for fear that the drinking water of NYC may become saturated with methane and potentially other pollutants. The Province of Quebec has followed and there is a movement in Canada to ban fracking in all Provinces. There is an obvious conflict here between environmental safety (drinking water and greenhouse gases) and big energy business, not helped by the Halliburton Loophole in the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

    Up to now, fracking has not touched Europe to any great extent but it's on its way. Three experimental wells have been bored in a densely populated part of England, near Preston, Lancs. with fear that the drinking water for a population of about 335,000 may become contaminated. Other proposals are being made in Germany, Poland and other EU countries.

    I have written a referenced essay on fracking, mainly describing, in easy terms, the process of how gas can be exploited and outlining its potential environmental impact. It bears the title "Shale Hydrocarbons"
    Brian (the devil incarnate)

  • #2
    They've held off on new commercial wells here in France, but prospecting is allowed in certain areas.

    They have some existing wells up by Lille, and some down by Nice ( They have some in the Paris region also). I remember seeing a map of France with the shale deposits, and it was very large. Commercial entities are rubbing their hands at the prospect of tapping into it.

    Just to push the button further, on the BBC yesterday, One of the Scottish Gas companies is increasing gas prices by 19%, after already having increased them in January.
    I think they will all (gas companies) hike up the price of gas, and then say "If we Frack, the prices can go down". In other words, they are basically going to blackmail the populace into accepting Fracking.

    Corporate greed rules the world.
    PC-1 Fractal Design Arc Mini R2, 3800X, Asus B450M-PRO mATX, 2x8GB B-die@3800C16, AMD Vega64, Seasonic 850W Gold, Black Ice Nemesis/Laing DDC/EKWB 240 Loop (VRM>CPU>GPU), Noctua Fans.
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    • #3
      Interesting, ED666, thanks!

      I would have thought the Paris region, with its Artesian wells supplying much of the city's water, would have been about the worst place to frack!
      Brian (the devil incarnate)

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      • #4
        This is a map of France with some of the existing plots, and where they have asked for more plots to prospect.


        This one is Paris region:


        The Yellow parts are where exploration and testing of the process is allowed.
        The Pink parts are existing wells, where Fracking/Testing has already been done, without informing any of the local population or politicians.
        The Grey parts, are where they have asked for permits to explore and test some more.
        They don't say what the Green parts are.
        edit:The light green and green are like the yellow, 1st period yellow, 2nd period light green, 3rd period green.
        The light pink parts are where they are about to give permits.

        This is one of my local area, which suprises me, since at Beynes (middle of map) is the GDF gas company, and under this whole sector (many Sq Km), is massive natural gas storage. IIRC it supplies gas to the whole Paris region, and is one of the largest in France.
        I don't see how they can drill through an existing storage area. Its pumped into the natural cracks in the rock.


        No-one here is really allowed to drill for a water well or anything, due to this natural gas storage facility. Mind Boggling.
        Blue dots are apparently already open wells, and it doesn't say what the red dots are, maybe ones on their way.

        Just gonna get in the car and have a pop down the road and have a look at that one just outside Beynes. To think I was talking with someone who works there a couple of weeks ago, and I understood it was work at the storage facility, not drilling fracking wells.
        Shall soon see.

        edit : That last map is not of existing wells, and the work in Beynes is for storage, not drilling. Maybe it just shows where the storage wells are, or where projected wells are to be.
        Last edited by Evildead666; 8 June 2011, 09:43.
        PC-1 Fractal Design Arc Mini R2, 3800X, Asus B450M-PRO mATX, 2x8GB B-die@3800C16, AMD Vega64, Seasonic 850W Gold, Black Ice Nemesis/Laing DDC/EKWB 240 Loop (VRM>CPU>GPU), Noctua Fans.
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        +++ : FSP Nano 800VA (Pi's+switch) + 1600VA (PC-1+Nas)

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        • #5
          EPA recently reported there have been no cases in the US where water has been affected by the fracking itself. Those incidents where contamination was present were found to have been caused by degraded/faulty pipes or other intermediate gear, or by natural sources like nearby bogs or disposal sites. The infamous clip of a guy setting fire to water in his sink was due to a natural methane source leaching into his well.
          Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 8 June 2011, 13:12.
          Dr. Mordrid
          ----------------------------
          An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

          I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

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          • #6
            If that was the case, why would the drilling company pay people off to keep their mouths shut, and pay for water to be transported to their homes ?
            If the companies were innocent, they wouldn't have spent a dime.

            They also wouldn't have had a clause added to the clean water act, since there is no problem.

            I call BULL$HIT.
            PC-1 Fractal Design Arc Mini R2, 3800X, Asus B450M-PRO mATX, 2x8GB B-die@3800C16, AMD Vega64, Seasonic 850W Gold, Black Ice Nemesis/Laing DDC/EKWB 240 Loop (VRM>CPU>GPU), Noctua Fans.
            Nas : i3/itx/2x4GB/8x4TB BTRFS/Raid6 (7 + Hotspare) Xpenology
            +++ : FSP Nano 800VA (Pi's+switch) + 1600VA (PC-1+Nas)

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            • #7
              Originally posted by Evildead666 View Post
              If that was the case, why would the drilling company pay people off to keep their mouths shut, and pay for water to be transported to their homes ?
              >
              I call BULL$HIT.
              I call ignorance of US Tort Law.

              In the US even if a company or individual is innocent in a civil case they'll make such a settlement because it's cheaper than fighting it out to conclusion, even if they ultimately win.

              This is because of the ridiculous duration of such cases, sometimes 5-10 years or more, and most US jurisdictions not having a "Loser Pays" standard (AKA "the English Rule") like most other countries do.

              Under the English Rule the loser pays both their own and the winners legal expenses. We operate under the "American Rule" where each party pays its own legal expenses, thus a "winner" can still end up acruing more expenses than even a generous settlement would cost. As for a cofidentiality clause, that's pretty standard. No need to give other ambulance chasers tips.

              Then there is the "Courtroom Lottery." This is where a given district courts jury pool is drawn from a population more likely to find for the perceived underdog than the evidence would indicate. Some courts are of course worse than others. Detroit's is insane in this regard - one of many reasons why businesses left.

              Damned if you do, Damned if you don't - so the strategy is end it fast.
              Last edited by Dr Mordrid; 8 June 2011, 15:54.
              Dr. Mordrid
              ----------------------------
              An elephant is a mouse built to government specifications.

              I carry a gun because I can't throw a rock 1,250 fps

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              • #8
                I also call bullshit. There are many cases of "flammable water", not just one and they have all happened subsequent to fracking. Even one of the energy companies has given a technical explanation of how longitudal canals formed in the cement casing allowing ingress of gases into water tables.

                Also, you must have access to EPA info that the EPA themselves will not have the results for their initial study for another 18 months, or a bloody great crystal ball interfaced to your computer. See what the EPA have published on the matter:
                EPA announced in March that it will study the potential adverse impact that hydraulic fracturing may have on drinking water. To solicit input on the scope of the study, EPA is holding a series of public meetings in major oil and gas production regions to hear from citizens, independent experts and industry. The initial results of the study will be announced in late 2012. EPA will identify additional information for industry to provide – including information on fluid disposal practices and geological features – that will help EPA carry out the study.
                (My emphasis) Link: EPA Formally Requests Information From Companies About Chemicals Used in Natural Gas Extraction / Information on hydraulic fracturing chemicals is key to agency study of potential impacts on drinking water

                In addition, various people have sent me many snippets of info. I'll substantiate some of these and incorporate some additions to my essay, hopefully later today.

                In the meanwhile, I respectfully request substantive info without BS propagated by the energy industry or the antifrack activists.
                Brian (the devil incarnate)

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                • #9
                  I've received through forums, netlists and e-mails some 30 reactions to my essay from various persons of all sorts and nationalities. Most of these were positive, pointing out my sins of omission and commission. Very few were negative.

                  I have added an Appendix and 8 new references to the original document, mainly reporting what others have said but also putting the church back into the middle of the village to confess my sins. In particular, I've added a section on seismicity and perceived earthquakes.
                  Brian (the devil incarnate)

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