Fracking Regulations by State
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
There’s many facets to the fracking discussion including: economics, lawsuits, the environment and Chesapeake’s recent debacle. With so many states now participating in a practice that has, “revolutionized the U.S. energy industry,” it’s easy to get lost in the sea of regulations and requirements that a particular state has for drill sites and drilling companies.
Luckily, the RFF Center for Energy Economics and Policy, a non-profit organization that conducts independent research on environmental, energy and natural resource issues, has a website featuring maps that clearly display the status of regulations in the 31 states that have shale development.
Here’s two interesting maps from the site:
For more maps and information visit the RFF site.
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Marcellus & Utica Shale Well Map
Additional Shale Maps
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.