Keystone XL Pipeline passes House, onto Senate
Saturday, November 15, 2014
The controversial Keystone XL Pipeline has been passed by the House of Representatives and now awaits the Senate’s approval or disapproval next week, according to The New York Times.
If approved by the Senate, President Obama will have to make a decision on the pipeline, pending formal reviews of the project, including a ruling on the pipeline’s path since it crosses an international border.
The pipeline would originate in Alberta, Canada’s oil fields and travel through Montana and South Dakota, then connect with existing pipeline in Nebraska that transports oil to refineries on the Gulf Coast.
Via: The New York Times > House Passes Bill Directing Obama to Proceed on Keystone Pipeline
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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.