Could Arctic Ocean drilling benefit Ohio?
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
[Shell Oil’s Polar Pioneer Arctic Drilling Rig – West Seattle, Seattle, Washington by Chas Redmond from Seattle WA, USA (IMG_2552) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons]
In May, the U.S. government ‘conditionally approved’ drilling in the Arctic, but there are varying opinions about extracting oil and gas from the vast reserves believed to be located beneath the ocean’s waters.
Guest writer Jim Samuel explains for Crain’s Cleveland that the government’s approval of limited exploratory drilling in the Arctic can help Ohio, believe it or not. Further exploration of U.S. shale plays could lead to less dependence on foreign oil, and since Ohio is the second-largest raw steel producer, the state’s steel industry would benefit from the manufacturing demand for various steel drilling products.
Via: Crain’s Cleveland > Arctic drilling could benefit Ohio
More about Arctic drilling:
- Hilcorp sizes up Arctic drilling opportunity Jan. 12, 2015
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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.