Report states drillers average 2.5 violations per day
Monday, April 6, 2015
According to a report released by the Natural Resources Defense Council, oil and gas drillers in Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Colorado average 2.5 violations each day.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that from 2009 to 2013, 4,000 of the 4,600 total violations were issued to drillers in Pennsylvania alone. The violations include wastewater spills, well leaks and pipeline ruptures.
Opinions about the NRDC report vary, with spokesmen from some industry-backed groups and drilling companies stating that the report contains data that is influenced by paperwork and administrative issues, or that the report is vague and put out by anti-industry groups.
Via: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette > Report: Frackers average 2.5 violations a day
Leave a Comment
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.