Ashtabula County holds off on fracking
Friday, November 14, 2014
Shale drilling is on hold in Ashtabula County due to lack of demand and low oil prices, according to Star Beacon.
Studies have shown that there are shale deposits in Ashtabula County, and some residents have sold drilling rights in anticipation of drilling. Also, county officials have worked to prepare laws and regulations regarding roads for increased truck traffic that could result from fracking in the future.
For now, most of the fracking activity is in southeastern Ohio while officials in Ashtabula County weigh the financial implications of drilling.
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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.