‘Fracking’ Can Work Well in West Virginia
Morgantown Dominion Post
7 November 2010
By Chris Kulander
Recent nationwide economic problems have not dampened the new natural
gas boom sweeping through the Appalachians. Until recently, natural gas
could not be economically produced from “tight” rock formations like
the Marcellus shale that lies under West Virginia. The widespread use
of modern hydraulic fracturing techniques has changed all that.
Tight rock formations only allow gas to be produced through cracks in
the rock. These cracks are called fractures. Hydraulic fracturing,
sometimes called “fracking,” involves injecting fluid into these tight
formations at very high pressures to create manmade fractures.
Generally, the more fractures created, the more gas production.
Fracking has made production from the Marcellus shale possible, raised
revenue for the state and created thousands of jobs.
Like mining, where the positives of West Virginia’s vital and strategic
mining industry are leavened with negatives such as pollution and
accidents, this gas bonanza comes with a cost. With increased drilling
come more chances for spills and accidents. Fracking is noisy, requires
huge amounts of water and increases heavy trucks on rural roads. The
biggest concern, however, is the potential for water pollution.
Fracking fluids vary, but usually are more than 99 percent water and
solids. The remainder are additives that promote the fluid’s flow
through pores in the rock and corrosion inhibitors. The solids are the
“proppant,” typically sand and ceramic pellets that prop the crack open
and allow oil or gas to flow to the well.
No evidence directly connects injection of fracking fluid into shale
with aquifer contamination. In 2004, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency released a study finding no confirmed instances of drinking
water contamination by fracking fluids in the ground. This finding is
not surprising, as fracking fluid is pumped through a concrete-lined
borehole to formations thousands of feet below aquifers. After
environmentalists criticized the 2004 study, another study by the EPA
is planned for completion by 2012 or later.
The potential for water contamination comes after fracking has
occurred. Industry sources say that operators receive back 30-50
percent of the fracking fluid when they pump it back to the surface. If
improperly handled, this fluid could potentially harm surface water
just like other liquid waste from drilling operations. Methods are
being further developed to reuse, treat or contain used fracking fluid.
Unlike other states that banned fracking entirely, West Virginia
instead began development and enforcement of a rigorous set of
regulations specifically tailored to fracking. Now, applications for a
permit to stimulate a well through fracking must be accompanied by a
bond, a plat describing the proposed drilling site and a corrective
action plan that will prevent movement of fluid into underground
sources of drinking water in the event of an accident.
The state Department of Environmental Protection’s director then
conducts a review of the application and wellsite. Similar rules govern
lining of fluid pits and wastewater disposal. In addition to state
laws, towns and counties know best the ordinances necessary for
managing noise, road traffic and times of operation. With images of the
BP spill fresh in our memory, it is clearer than ever before that a
responsive state regulatory framework and vigorous, impartial
enforcement of those regulations are necessary for sound natural gas
development. However, draconian measures such as drilling moratoriums
or federal oversight of fracking are not. West Virginia, with its
history as a leading coal supplier, can shoulder the mantle of natural
gas giant and enjoy the jobs and revenue it brings without federal
intrusion.
Chris Kulander is an attorney in Houston, He is former resident of
Morgantown. He received his Ph.D. in geophysics from Texas A&M and
served as a geophysicist for the U.S. Geological Survey. This
commentary should be considered another point of view and not
necessarily the opinion or editorial policy of The Dominion Post.