New idea for labeling fracking fluids involves dye
Monday, October 6, 2014
Amidst recent incidents involving wastewater spills, a new idea has been proposed to more easily identify water used for the oil and gas industry.
According to WOWK-TV, a man from Salem, West Virginia suggested that fluids that are transported with tanker trucks from fracking sites should be dyed to identify what they are. Tanker trucks are labeled with the type of fluid they transport.
The man explained that if there is an spill, law enforcement would easily be able to identify the fluids.
The plan will first be taken to the county commissioners, the Department of Environmental Protection and then to state legislators before it would be approved.
Via: WOWK-TV > Salem man introduces plan to dye fracking, oil & gas fluids
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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.