Europe drafts ban on Russian oil imports
Friday, April 15, 2022
European Union officials have begun drafting an embargo on Russian oil products, which is considered its most contested measure to date to punish Russian for invading Ukraine, according to The New York Times.
The ban faces resistance because of its heavy costs for Germany, its potential to disrupt politics around the region and the possibility of increased energy prices.
Officials and diplomats say the European Union is leaning towards adopting a phased-in ban to give Germany and other countries time to arrange replacement suppliers. It took a similar approach when it banned Russian coal earlier this month, allowing four months to transition.
Learn more: The New York Times > Europe starts drafting ban on Russian oil imports
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Marcellus & Utica Shale Well Map
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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.