West Virginia DEP opposes bill to relax well drilling permits
Friday, February 26, 2016
The West Virginia Senate passed Senate Bill 565 Feb. 23 that would allow oil and natural gas drillers to begin building well pads and access roads without first obtaining a permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection. A second bill was also passed Feb. 23, diminishing the rights of neighboring property owners to sue oil and gas companies for pollution.
Charleston Gazette-Mail reports that the West Virginia DEP strongly opposes SB 565. DEP Secretary Randy Huffman stated that the bill is unnecessary, as the agency is now able to quickly review drilling permits. In addition, a 2011 horizontal drilling act addressed drilling issues and created more strict requirements for wells. Passage of SB 565 would more or less undo those requirements.
The bill will now head to the state House of Representatives.
Read more: Charleston Gazette-Mail > DEP’s Huffman opposes bill to relax gas drilling permits
Recent West Virginia shale news:
- Columbia Pipeline Group seeks tax alternative for compressor stations in several West Virginia counties Feb. 7, 2016
- West Virginia well’s 2014 output could power 77,322 homes for one year< Jan. 20, 2016
- Leases extended in some West Virginia counties Jan. 13, 2016
- West Virginia forced pooling bill comes up again in 2016 Jan. 12, 2016
- Opponents of forced pooling in West Virginia prepare for potential legislation Jan. 4, 2016
- Shale gas industry doing well in Marshall County, West Virginia Nov. 14, 2015
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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.