To Drill or not to Drill
Monday, July 2, 2012
Fox News recently posted an article asking the question, “Is it ok to drill for natural gas under cemeteries?”.
The resting places for the dead seem to be the latest place energy companies are looking for natural gas. Cemeteries are now added to the list of potential drilling zones including playgrounds, churches and backyards.
Check it out:
Opponents say cemeteries are hallowed ground that shouldn’t be sullied by drilling activity they worry will be noisy, smelly and unsightly. Defenders say the drilling is so deep that it doesn’t disturb the cemetery and can generate revenue to enhance the roads and grounds.
Some people argue that the revenue generated from the drilling could be used to pave roads, maintain landscaping and beautify the cemeteries.
» Via: Fox News › Gas under cemeteries raises money, moral questions
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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.