On a blog, somebody said that if Obama is reelected, fracking (fracing?) will be banned. Do you think that is really possible? If so, the oil and gas industry is history, and oil price would go through the roof, as I'd think that over 90% of modern day exploration will not exist without the frac. If I thought the frac could really be banned, I'd sell all of my minerals.
I saw somewhere that Matt Damon has co-written and will star in a big budget Hollywood movie that is anti-frac. I guess it's going to be a battle. Seems to me that the frac process is generally very safe to the environment. But if somebody came out with something definitive that proves the frac to be harmful, yikes.
I agree with Neverbilly, except about selling minerals. I like Matt Damon as an actor and that will probably continue. I believe someone has created a fracking fluid using different less harmful chemical composition, which I believe is called Sterifrack. I have faith that the market will provide solutions as long as we need oil and we have oil to produce.
I don’t believe tracking will be banned under another Obama administration but
it will remain a hot political issue and the pro & con individuals will continue to spin the issue. I agree
with rw in that new ingredients will most likely enter the picture and hopefully satisfy the whole.
r w kennedy said:
I agree with Neverbilly, except about selling minerals. I like Matt Damon as an actor and that will probably continue. I believe someone has created a fracking fluid using different less harmful chemical composition, which I believe is called Sterifrack. I have faith that the market will provide solutions as long as we need oil and we have oil to produce.
I think the main issue where there may have been a problem with fracking was actually a poor job of casing [ I hope that is the correct word ] which allowed the fluids to escape. I don't think you can shut down an entire industry because a few people did poor work. It would be like abolishing motor vehicles because there are some bad drivers. I think the scope of what problems there are with fracking are known, that they are less than they are made out to be, and I agree with Charles that it will be a bone of contention and political bargaining chip for the forseeable future.
O.K. Gary, How bout we stay on topic. You complain about big oil out of one side of your mouth and whine because they haven't drilled in your section out the other. Sell your minerals and go join Greenpeace!
Olinghouse wake up and smell the coffee!
As you probably aware, fracking has been around for many many years. The theory started in the 1930's with the first actual application in 1949. Here's a link to information about fracking which I found to be helpful:
http://frack.mixplex.com/content/hydraulic-fracturing-history-enduring-technology
Montana Ag Live (on Montana PBS) last year had a very good presentation which was repeated this spring. According to their authority, the main issue was they type of chemicals that were being used, which according to him were not and have not been used in Montana. He said that he knew of fracking being used in Montana since the early 1960's without significant impacts. He said the main problem was when oil was shallow and conflicted with water wells; which is rare. In those cases some of the water wells have had to be sunk to deeper acquafirs (sp?). Hope this is helpful.
I wrote a blog on this forum months ago in regards to fracking. Pay close attention to my last paragragh as it reflects my view of the fracking process. I wrote this article based on past on hands experience in fracking wells as I worked as an oil and gas inspector witnessing these type of jobs for nearly 20 years.
Wilson,
I am not qualified to argue the merits of this product but this is obviously advertising disguised as a "news article". Not appropriate for this forum!
Michael Hutchinson,
I agree with you. The last paragraph was total advertising that I should have removed - apology to all - and now have. But I still find it interesting that this may be a better working solution. Here is the edited article. If this is still too much advertisment rather than informative I will remove it.
100% Green Fracking Solution - *
Pennsylvania’s Oil & Gas Industry Eco-Friendly Solution
DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Unleashing the natural gas from the Marcellus Shale is now safe for the environment due to a new EPA-approved fracking product called *. * is a 100% green biocide that will not harm ground water, area land or jeopardize the health of workers during the fracking process.
Traditionally the fracking process pumps a mix of water, sand, and toxic chemicals (a biocide) into a well at high pressure in order to create fractures in the shale allowing the gas and oil to escape.... *, a pH neutral fracking solution is non-toxic, non-combustible and non-corrosive, therefore eliminating any need for concerns that it might harm the environment. The product essentially mimics natural, bacteria killing biocide (hypochlorous acid) found in the human body.
The expansive Marcellus Shale natural gas deposit that extends through parts of Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and New York often applies fracking fluids to release the gas. * is an eco-friendly alternative that makes this process safe. Industry users can also use * for treating sour wells, flood injection water, water-treatment plants and gas storage wells to control the production of microorganisms that produce odors and slime....
Wilson, Thank you for your very polite reply, sorry if I sounded like an old grump! That is an interesting concept and I hope alternative solutions do in fact prove successful. Safer fracking means less governmental regulation, thats a good thing!
I agree that it would be nice to have restaurant quality fracing fluids.
The current administration is pushing (or has pushed and gotten) for disclosure of chemicals and higher standards on federal and Indian lands.
Fracing has been around a long time. However comparing the fracing on a vertical well to the process on a horizontal well is like comparing the initial flow rates on a vertical well and a horizontal well in the same formation.
One of my largest concerns is that if the shale is the "kitchen" where the oil is made and the migration occurs upward for millions of years until it is trapped, how do we really know that the migration will occur again since the formation had the huge stimulation? This time, it may not be trapped until it hits a fresh water aquifer. I really have not seen that question asked and answered anywhere.
The jury remains out for me on the safety of fracing. The jury does not remain out on fracing as a viable way to reduce our dependence on foreign oil.
Gary,
There is a place on the forum for political discussions. Please use that thread when addressing politics.
Yours,
Wes Luke