Oil spill renews debate over offshore oil and gas drilling
Wednesday, December 29, 2021
The underwater pipeline that ruptured and spewed tens of thousands of gallons of crude oil into the ocean just two months ago has renewed debate over banning offshore oil and gas drilling, according to Yahoo News.
After the 25,000-gallon spill, several California Democratic lawmakers announced they would propose a ban of all existing oil and gas drilling in state-controlled waters, three miles closest to shore.
However, the path to officially banning the extraction of fossil fuels from the seafloor would require navigating federal and state jurisdictions, voiding old contracts and potentially paying billions to decommission the process.
Learn more: Yahoo News > California Oil Spill Prompts New Push to Ban Offshore Drilling
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.