Saturday, February 11, 2012

DEP Halts Fracking Job After Gas Well Failure in PA

Two weeks ago a natural gas well being fracked by Carrizo Oil and Gas went out-of-control, causing a spill of waste fluids on a well pad in Forest Lake Township, Susquehanna County, according to a newspaper report by Laura Legere:

http://thedailyreview.com/news/dep-halts-fracking-at-site-after-gas-well-failure-dep-halts-carrizo-fracking-at-susquehanna-county-site-after-gas-well-failure-1.1270279

Two valves failed at the Baker 4H well the afternoon of January 30th.  Here is the DEP violation report:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/48182083/drilling/nov.pdf

There were three violations in these areas: Oil and Gas Act, Solid Waste Management Act, and the Clean Streams Law.  There was an "unpermitted discharge of residual waste onto the ground."  The residual waste is another phrase for frac fluid.  There are big fines for each of these violations.  However, no fines have been levied yet, and most likely will never be imposed.

Natural gas drilling cannot not be done safely.  There will always be spills, leaks, and explosions- always.  The ground is always contaminated- always.  The air is always contaminated- always.  The degree of contamination varies, but there are always chemicals getting into the air, soil, and water.

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