Fracking as a Gas Exploration Technique 1

[CPENG78]

Someone in my family has been approached to obtain permission to go into their property along with adjacent properties (from their respective land owners of course) and carry out gas exploration. From what I understand, they plan to drill approximately 6,000 ft below existing grade and use "Fracking" as the technique to force gas pockets out of their current confinement in shale formations. I have done some preliminary research regarding this technique and came across different information. However, anyone outer with an expertise in this area that can provide their input? Water quality issues? Should settlement even be a concern at such depth? Tnank you

 

[dgillette]

Settlement of buildings is not an issue. However, there are plenty of issues out there. There have been reports of water wells being fouled up, surface leaks of gas, etc., though primarily in deposits much shallower than 6000 ft. For example, see

http://www.hcn.org/issues/261/14334

http://www.hcn.org/blogs/goat/what-the-frac-is-in-those-fluids

I have no idea how common these problems are. I will, however, say that I don't consider "trust me" to be an adequate response to disclosure of the chemical content of fracking fluids (which the industry has successfully resisted thus far, claiming they are proprietary).

I would not advise for or against. All depends on how much they need the money versus risk to water wells, ground disturbance at the well head, brine disposal, etc.

Regards,
DRG

 

[CPENG78]

dgillette,
From what I understand, contamination of water wells is a big concern to the residents of the site that I am referring to. In doing my research, I came across some of the history of how legislation has regulated this practice. It seemed to me that it varied depending on the government agency or official.

Now when you mentioned the money, were you referring to the home owners or to the drilling company itself?

 

[dgillette]

The homeowners, whom I was assuming are being offered some compensation in exchange for the site access, and further assuming that this isn't a case of "split estate" where your relatives own the surface rights and someone else owns the mineral rights. With split estate, the mineral owners don't have a lot of restrictions on what they do at the surface, at least here in CO.

 

[CPENG78]

Just needed clarrification. Your assumptions were correct, this is not a split estate. My relatives and other homeowners in the immdediate vicinity own both the mineral and surface rights to their property. I haven't read the whole contract but I recently found out that the mineral access described in the contract issued to the homewoners (for their review and approval) was for a length of 100 years. Imagine that. Its unfortunate how these companies can many times get away certain stuff. I have other family in Texas that went through the same thing, unfortunately I did not get involved enough to find out what the terms of the contract were before they were actually signed. The more I reaserch into this, the more I lean against it.

 

[dgillette]

Again, posting this link without comment because I don't really know whether these problems are very common. I do know that the brine has created some atypical alliances between cattlemen and environmentalists in Wyoming.

http://kai03.qwest.com/WindowsLive/...t=gadget&qid=A4E33AFF82AE0047A9A5F0B1FFFFFFFF