West Virginia creek affected by condensate spill
Monday, April 20, 2015
The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register reports that the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection is fining Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Williams Energy for a spill that contaminated a Marshall County creek.
The newspaper states that a pipeline operated by Williams burst April 9, spilling 132 barrels of condensate. A few hours later, a natural gas pipeline, also operated by Williams, failed. Company officials speculate that unstable soil caused by recent heavy rains contributed to the pipeline failures.
About 6 miles of Little Grave Creek was contaminated. The creek feeds into the Ohio River. Independent experts hired by Williams have taken water samples to determine the effects of the pipeline incidents. A West Virginia DEP spokeswoman said that no drinking water intakes were affected.
Via: The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register > DEP: 132 Barrels Spilled Into Marshall County Creek
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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.