StatOil fined $223,000 for 2014 Monroe County well fire
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
The company that operated a Monroe County gas well that had a blowout and fire June 28, 2014 will be fined $223,000.
The Columbus Dispatch reports that StatOil North America, the company that operated the well, will be able to continue fracking once the fines have been paid. Up to $75,000 will be given to first responders to deal with any oil and gas emergencies in the future.
The blowout and fire contaminated a nearby stream and killed 70,000 fish, in addition to forcing a couple dozen people from their homes. The fine also includes about $41,000 for the fish that were killed and $132,000 for contaminating the stream.
Via: The Columbus Dispatch > StatOil fined $223,000 over Ohio fracking-well fire
Related: Gas well fire the largest Monroe County has seen July 1, 2014
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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.