Trump administration proposes expanded offshore drilling plan
Wednesday, January 17, 2018
A new five-year plan proposed by the Trump administration would expand offshore drilling, making leases available in the Atlantic and Pacific regions, as well as offshore Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Houston Business Journal.
Under the new draft proposal for the National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Program for 2019-24, more than 90 percent of Outer Continental Shelf acreage would be available for exploration and development. The proposal includes 47 potential lease sales — 19 off the coast of Alaska, seven in the Pacific Region, 12 in the Gulf of Mexico and nine in the Atlantic Region.
The proposal is a major change from the current program, which bans drilling in 94 percent of the Outer Continental Shelf.
Learn more: Houston Business Journal > Trump administration proposes opening nearly all of Outer Continental Shelf to offshore 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.