An Historic Overview

Most people have never heard of hydraulic fracturing, despite the fact that the industry estimates that 90% of operating natural gas wells in the United States rely on it.  With more than 450,000 wells, that's a lot of hydraulic fracturing going on!  Enormous formations of shale found under Texas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Ohio, Wyoming, West Virginia, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, New York and more all contain deposits of natural gas.  By extracting these deposits through the process of hydraulic fracturing (also called "fracking" or "hydrofracking"), companies are able to tap an energy resource that is much cleaner than other major sources, such as the burning of coal and oil.  Some also argue that drilling for natural gas can boost the economy of areas otherwise in financial hardship.  This sounds great, right?  Well unfortunately, fracking has become a controversial issue due to complaints about contamination of drinking water and lack of proper regulation.

This blog attempts to provide the reader with a sound overview of the issue, the major stakeholders, and news about developments in the current decision New York faces of whether to allow hydrofracturing in the state.  By analyzing popular, scientific and media texts that deal with this issue, my aim is to inform anyone with an interest and make information that might otherwise be difficult to find within easy reach.

Though the theory surrounding hydraulic fracturing of shale formations has been in existence since the mid-1900s, recent technological advances has caused an explosion of wells that utilize the process.  Between 1998 and 2007, the Barnett Shale play in Texas has experienced a 3000% growth rate.  This is just one example among many of the shale plays in the mid-west and west that have grown staggeringly active in the last decade.  The Barnett Shale is extremely productive, despite its relatively small size of roughly 5,000 square miles.  The Marcellus Shale, which extends from Ohio and West Virginia all the way through Pennsylvania to western New York, has a 95,000 square mile area.  Estimates of maximum recoverable gas volumes, therefore, are six to eight times greater than that of the Barnett Shale.  Consequentially, the Marcellus Shale is of principle interest to natural gas companies.

Source: Arthur, J. Daniel.  "Hydraulic Fracturing..." (See below)

Due to its geographic location, the Marcellus Shale is particularly important in its potential to supply energy to large cosmopolitan areas.  Cities such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and New York are extremely close to where potential drilling is possible, while Washington D.C. and Boston are not much further.  As energy costs continue to rise, it seems logical to look for sources of energy that are as close to home as possible.  Likewise, with the threat of climate change growing more grievous every day, finding cleaner sources of energy should be of prime importance.

Drilling for natural gas has existed for years in the region.  The shoreline of Lake Erie, for instance, had abundant shallow wells by the turn of the 20th Century that supplied lighting and heat to residents there.  Hydraulic fracturing, however, is a necessary process in order to produce economic volumes of natural gas.  The process of horizontal drilling, posed to become even more widespread should NYS allow drilling, is also a key factor in obtaining vast amounts of gas from the formations.  Both of these terms will be given in-depth, scientific consideration in the next entry.

In recent years, hydraulic fracturing has come under considerable criticism, particularly in regards to the pollution of ground water.  Though the 2004 study conducted by the EPA concluded that the process posed no risk to public health (a fact which is cited over and over on industry-supported sites such as this), many reports have indicated otherwise.  In June 2010 HBO aired a documentary called Gasland, which provides numerous examples of individuals and families that have become seriously affected by the explosion of natural gas drilling.  That film will be analyzed in greater detail in entries to come.  As a result of this backlash, the EPA is set to conduct a more thorough investigation of the chemicals employed by drilling companies, and of the environmental risks associated with the process as a whole.

With these concerns in mind, the New York State Senate recently passed a moratorium which prevents new licenses to drill from being issued until May 15, 2011.  The hope is that a more comprehensive study of the ecological and safety concerns will be carried out before that date.  Sadly, the EPA estimates that their new study will likely not have publishable results until 2012.  As the issue becomes more urgent and timely, the need for the public to understand the potential risks and benefits does as well.  All humans and animals within drilling areas could be affected if fracking does indeed pose a danger to drinking water and public health.   It is, therefore, a universally important issue.

Bibliography:

Arthur, J Daniel, Bohm, Brian, Layne, Mark, et all.  “Hydraulic Fracturing Considerations for Natural Gas Wells of the Marcellus Shale.”  The Ground Water Protection Council 2008 Annual Forum.  21-24 September 2008.  Presentation.  Web. 12 October 2010.

Spigelmyer, Dave.  “An Open Letter to the State of New York.”  Elmira Star Gazette.  Web.  12 October 2010.

Wiseman, Hannah J.  “Untested Waters: The Rise of Hydraulic Fracturing in Oil and Gas Production and the Need to Revisit Regulation”  (September 23, 2008). Fordham Environmental Law Review, Vol. 20, p. 115, 2009. Available at SSRN: http://ssrn.com/abstract=1595092 

Zeller, Tom.  “E.P.A. to Study Chemicals Used to Tap Natural Gas.”  The New York Times.  9 September 2010.  Web. 10 October 2010.