Frack water spill might result in fine for Consol Energy
Friday, September 26, 2014
A flowback water spill that occurred in August may result in fines for one energy company, according to Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
On August 10, Consol Energy workers were draining a storage tank into a containment area in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The containment area’s liner had a tear that allowed some water to seep into the soil. The spill was cleaned up quickly and the soil was replaced.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection may issue a civil penalty to Consol Energy for the spill, in order to compensate the state for damages sustained during the incident.
Via: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review > Consol Energy might be fined for spill from Marcellus shale well
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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.