Canadians scrap offshore drilling extensions in Arctic
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Canada won’t offer extensions on existing Arctic offshore oil exploration licenses, balking on its original announcement last month, according to Splash24/7.
Last month Canada and the United State jointly announced that they would be suspending new oil and gas drilling leases in almost all of their Arctic waters. While President Barack Obama’s administration went for a permanent ban, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government decided to allow for a review after five years. That decision was revised in an online statement on the website of the department of Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), stating the lease extensions will not be granted.
When the joint announcement, regarding Arctic drilling, was made on Dec. 20 the Canadians said existing leases would not be affected without consulting the industry.
Learn more: Splash24/7 > Canadian government scraps Arctic offshore drilling extensions
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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.