Gas Drilling in NYS

Berlin wrote:somtimes people like to take a side on an issue because of an anticipated adverse effect that could create a problem for them. but i think it's important to concentrate on the "adverse effect" rather than automatically prohibiting the potentially beneficial behavior that MAY cause the adverse effect. Quite simply, if you have concerns about "fracking" affecting your well water, you should have two serious questions: 1. What protections are the drillers going to put in place to reduce/eliminate well contamination? 2. If those protections fail, and my well develops a problem, what system will be put in place to fully cover the drilling/associated costs of new well etc.?

NYS needs 1. Jobs 2. Cheap/local natural gas 3. clean well water <----concentrate on what will achieve these things, don't just jump on one bandwagon or another and be "for" or "against" without looking at things rationally.

I agree but this is where my concern comes in. When they did a news article on the situation, the article cited a guy who's well water was ok before they started fracking near him. After they drilled, he was able to actually ignite the water coming out of his faucet with a match. The drilling company denied any connection or responsibility. Seems like there's a connection to me. After all, the design is supposed to do just that, free up little bubbles of gas and create paths for them to migrate upwards to be collected by the perforated well casing. Is it so hard to understand that some of this gas may migrate into water veins and then into water wells?

I saw a film from out west where a cattle rancher(they are ranchers out there not farmers)had a stream that his cattle used as their water supply--beefers,outside all winter--the stream ran all year--good moveing stream I'd say--but his only water supply--bubbles were comeing up in the strean & he took a bic lighter to above the bubbles & the air ignited--I wonder what the FDA has to say about that one--edible????? good lord,I'm already on prilosec---probably one in a thousand chance--but it can happen

Natural methane venting can and does occur in numerous places all over the globe. It is doubtful that any drilling had an impact. Natural gas migration through water wells is not uncommon because wells are sometimes drilled through gas bearing yet consolidated strata uncased; It can also happen due to drilling a well through coal beds and as a result of mining, coal mining, and in limited cases gas/oil production. The more I research this, the more I realize that fears appear to be grossly unfounded, and seem to be seeded by numerous overzealous environmental organizations. The depth of the marcellus shale is such that fracking fluid is unlikely to have any affect on water wells in NYS. With all that said, I do feel that there needs to be some bonds, insurance etc. required of the industry to pay for damage in the extremely unlikely event that something unfortunate happens. good write-up on the shale: http://geology.com/articles/marcellus-shale.shtml

Berlin,I agree w/what your saying--it is a rarity that these things happen--I should of been more clear about the rancher out west--his family has had the ranch for 4 generations w/ no problem--his neighbor contracted w/ a gas company who used hydrofracking & horizontal drilling--that is when the problem occured---overzealous,you bet--I could have come out w/more descriptive wording,but,I know it would be censored--it strikes me that every retired HIPPY in NYS is comeing out of the woodwork & as usual,haveing tunnel vision on this whole topic--my main concern is--the fracking fluid that they don't get to their holding ponds has to go somewhere--you used the word unlikely--the water table,if contaminated,affects,who knows what area--we all have wells in my area--some 200 ft others 75 ft--what our Town is proposing w/ the Bond issue & all that is just to cover our butts in the case that something bizzare does happen---I know I can't afford to move & start over--even if I was compensated money wise--I'm to old & I've been told by my wife--TO GRUMPY

Berlin wrote:Natural methane venting can and does occur in numerous places all over the globe. It is doubtful that any drilling had an impact. Natural gas migration through water wells is not uncommon because wells are sometimes drilled through gas bearing yet consolidated strata uncased; It can also happen due to drilling a well through coal beds and as a result of mining, coal mining, and in limited cases gas/oil production. The more I research this, the more I realize that fears appear to be grossly unfounded, and seem to be seeded by numerous overzealous environmental organizations. The depth of the marcellus shale is such that fracking fluid is unlikely to have any affect on water wells in NYS. With all that said, I do feel that there needs to be some bonds, insurance etc. required of the industry to pay for damage in the extremely unlikely event that something unfortunate happens. good write-up on the shale: http://geology.com/articles/marcellus-shale.shtml

I know there is a small town Versailles, Pa. that I`m guessing back in the 20s or 30s was going to be the greatest gas produceing area anywhere, I saw some old pictures where there was barely enough room to walk in between the derricks. Anyway it turned into a bust, probably lost most of the gas into the air. But now there are several homes that had to be vacated because of methane coming in thru the basement foundations. They even have a methane powered ford engine running a pump to try & get the methane levels down & I believe they are selling off the excess gas. Gas being gas I guess I`m more worried about after fracturing the shale & what ever else is going to happen that sooner or later this gas & what ever is left is going to find its way to the surface.
Also a lot of these areas have been heavily mined, some real shallow & what are the vibrations from this process going to do to what little intergrety of whats left of the mines.

Once again--this is not the NORM--but,there have been documented reports of sinkholes,way down the road,after the drilling rigs have left the area---again,these things have to be addressed before letting the gas companies go at it--& your right,it's gotta go somewhere & at this point I don't think anybody knows where that might be or they're just not stating the possible impacts---the gas companies aren't any different then the fanatics--all I'm doing is researching the tears out of this--coming up w/ a total,subtracting 4 & dividing it by 9--I think the answer is somewhere in there

Chiming in on a week old topic, I think that show was called "Split Estate". http://splitestate.com/ Eminent domain and not having the mineral rights to your own property pretty scary. Berlin I can see your point. I've heard second hand accounts about people's land being trashed, haven't heard much positive about those companies being careful or keeping their promises. I never in my life would have guessed that my neice's fine country home would be disrupted for a whole summer. Now there's a big swath carving up the hills right next to her house.
Positive thing is being able to have your own gas well I guess, or royalty checks coming in.