Fracking in Wayne National Forest being considered again
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
The possibility of hydraulic fracturing in the Wayne National Forest was shot down in 2011, but oil and gas companies have requested to drill there again.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is reviewing requests from oil and gas companies to drill on 31,900 acres beneath the forest to determine if the mineral rights belong to the federal government, and to consider environmental risks.
Located in southeastern Ohio, Wayne National Forest spans 240,000 acres.
Via: The Columbus Dispatch > Feds consider fracking plan in Wayne forest
More about fracking in Wayne National Forest:
- No fracking in Wayne National Forest; changes to BLM rules Aug. 22, 2014
- Wayne National Forest is now open for Fracking Aug. 30, 2012
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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.