Interesting thing happened last year, I wrote about the earthquakes in Oklahoma. There were a lot of others who wrote about such as well, some suggested that the concept of natural gas drilling called “fracturing” may have been the cause. But despite the fervor on this, the persistence on both sides is not willing to call it quits or state solid proof. Suggested by those who have read this aforementioned article I am going to try to state some critical facts. This is not an attempt to correct one side or the other, just to bring out what we do know.
First there is a proof that fracturing caused the local earthquakes, although the conventional actions of the drilling industry has caused many to be suspicious. The fracturing innovation process is to drill a hole into sedimentary rock areas then inject water, salt and other chemical mix. These acts to put pressure on the surrounding rock that fractures it, a hydraulic pressure is produced building until the rock breaks. Like any such pressure it will seek to escape by attacking the weakest point, breaking the rock as it goes through. This weak point can not be well defined, only an educated guess based on available information. This gets interesting, because it guess is paid for and the information comes from those wanting to get at the natural gas. This natural gas then can efficiently be removed along with the water mixture.
On the other side are those environmentalists who state this hydraulic pressure often breaks the rock and lets the water enter the aquifers. Thus they say the drilling is dangerous as prove they point to the many people with water wells the drilling companies buy water for after they sign non-disclosure and confidentiality clauses. But are the experts aware of this? The indications would say no, if they know they would want to find out what went wrong. Still with their reputations and the gaining of funds from this process there are accusations their opinions are already bought.
That is the short of it, but what are the facts? First fact the local earthquakes happened due to an old and very deep fracture in the Earth’s crust. This runs through the region into the Gulf, this area is suspected of aiding in creating the earthquakes. Second, hydraulic pressure can cause earthquakes; this has been proven in studies meant to relief rock stress and by accidental causes. Third this fault has erupted long before; it was expected to do so again and still in the future. Fourth, Oklahoma does have earthquakes but not to this intensity. Fifth, the water used in the fracturing process is contaminated and must be withdrawn to be disposed. This is generally done in old deep wells, as was being done at the time of the earthquakes some reports say. All of this we know, about the events that Mother Nature started, yet there is even more society has started.
Due to the fear present by the very thought of fracturing causing earthquakes, drilling has increased at a faster rate. The natural gas companies can see the writing on the wall, if they want to get money out of the fracturing process they have to do so quickly. The public may decide at anytime to call a stop to it, the drilling not done will have to halt and negligence may ensue upon them for what is already done. As the same industry is under belief there is 100 years of natural gas under the U.S. they can not just wait until the public looks the other way. The executives would consider such a reckless loss of investments, rather than cautious “full speed ahead.” Solar and other alternative sources are moving faster than every, they need to drill now to stay in competition. They are running scared; their objective is to hit a high profit of pockets before fracturing stops.
The environmentalist are also concerned, they see a lot of things happening in the area. The Gulf region has suffered from the BP spill last year; conditions are still on-going to return the sea and swamp areas to life. There are also the concerns pesticides, fertilizers and other chemicals in close proximity to the shorelines. This has been a growing threat for over a decade and is every increasing killing the oxygen levels near shore. There is also the loss of swamp lands themselves as the human civilization encroaches. These results in the loss of animals dependant upon that environment, they can not just more to another.
Each side is dug in, not willing to give to the other. Yet neither side has enough confidence to prove it case, both are concerned what this would result in. The facts are present for both, but the problem is the interpretation of them. Those with expert opinions can interpret them, but only for a price. The fact this industry has paid others in the past and may again sets the stage for bias. No opinion can be trust or will be by either side. The region will continue to have these two groups fight it out for a long time to come.
Contact: Michael Pulse [email protected] Author of: The Truth of Things
CEO of Stone Rose LLC Profile on Elance: http://mpulse-stone-rose.elance.com