Drilling leases in Arctic wildlife refuge largely go to Alaska state agency
Friday, January 8, 2021
Of the 16 bids the Trump administration received during its sale of oil and gas drilling leases in an Arctic wildlife refuge in Alaska, 11 came from a state agency, according to Reuters.
The lease ale generated more than $14.4 million in high bids, Kate MacGregor, deputy secretary at the U.S. Department of the Interior, said in a live broadcast that also revealed the bids.
Learn more: Reuters > U.S. says Alaska state agency wins most drilling leases in Arctic wildlife refuge
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Marcellus & Utica Shale Well Map
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.