Many people in North Central Texas are up in arms about the concern that oil company fracturing operations are causing earthquakes in and around Azle, Texas. At the same time, there has been an increased activity in earthquakes in the Cap Rock area of the Panhandle, and in West Texas near the cities of Snyder and Rotan...not to mention a list as long as your arm of earthquakes in southern Oklahoma. The general consensus of the "alarmists" is that oil production methods used in these areas are the cause of these of earthquakes. There is another concern, too; how safe can it be to pump thousands of gallons of contaminated water into disposal wells when these wells are in danger of being compromised by the earthquakes?
I, for one, also believe that "fracking" operations are behind some, if not all, of this new seismic activity. By the way, I apologize to my brother-in-law for the use of the slang word "fracking" instead of HIS slang word "fracing," which I think looks too much like it should rhyme with "racing," but which HE believes should be pronounced 'fracking.' But I continue to have an open mind. After all, there has not been a lot of seismic activity of note in North Texas in some years...or centuries. It could be that the time is ripe for seismic activity in North Texas. But...there is the pesky observation that the clusters of earthquakes seemed to follow new and increased oil exploration and production in the area. Not to mention the same scenario is occurring in that area of Oklahoma corresponding to the North Texas oilfields.
In West Texas, there have been several minor earthquakes in the past few months, especially in the area around Snyder, the northern boundary of the Big Country. In the lower southern plains, near Levelland and Hereford, earthquakes have also occurred, again, concentrated in the areas where "fracking" operations are in progress. There are those connected with the petroleum industry who insist that "fracking" is safe and harmless to the environment. These assertions are backed by scientists in the oil companies' employ, who insist that fracturing operations are both safe and do not effect seismic activity. On the other hand, "independent" scientists consulted by environmental organizations and by citizens' groups provide "hard data" proving that oil exploration operations are directly responsible for the new seismic activity, and that waste water from fracking operations could eventually drain into our drinking water.
Whether or not fracturing operations cause earthquakes, whether or not pumping contaminated water ten thousand feet into the ground causes increased seismic activity in a given area, there is a point that seems to have gotten lost. Whatever the cause of the seismic activity, there is a great possibility that the "safe storage" of the contaminated water from fracking operations is not safe at all. If the rock formations underground that are supposed to contain the waste water are compromised, it follows that the contaminated water will leak (or POUR!) into the surrounding geography and eventually make its way into the aquifers that supply much of our drinking water. So far the earthquakes themselves have caused little property damage and no loss of life. But, can we really say all the disposal wells in the effected areas are still intact?
It is not popular to be a Texican in West Texas and be opposed to oil producing operations of any kind. The petroleum industry has been the bread and butter of the Permian Basin for nearly a hundred years. Oil booms are also booming in South Texas, in southern Oklahoma, and in states around the nation. But more and more people, organizations, and communities are starting to question the safety of fracturing operations and the impact these operations have on the drinking water supply. Unfortunately, at this point in time the desire to "make a buck" and the desire for high paying jobs creates a force that has proven time and again to be stronger than all the might the grassroots can muster. If politicians receive enough contributions from the oil companies, you can bet fracturing operations will continue to be "safe" in Texas and Oklahoma. If state regulatory commissions continue to be staffed with oilfield "alumni" we will see the proverbial "fox guarding the hen house" effect. No matter how dangerous the data show fracturing operations to be, you can bet that oil companies will continue to get the green light from politicians and state bureaucracies while the people who live around the "booms" will find they are up to their ears in contaminated waste water, but have precious little drinking water to speak of.
I do not have all the answers. I do not even have SOME of the answers, but I doubt that the oil company scientists do, either. But while the debate goes on, who will protect the state's drinking water, especially where water is already in short supply anyway, such as here in the Permian Basin? I realize that "environmentalists" produce studies which cannot always be relied on for sound information either. But at present, we do not know if the fracturing operations are causing the earthquakes around the area, nor do we know if the disposal of contaminated wastewater can be done safely when the underground disposal wells are subject to be compromised by the seismic activity of late in the oil boom areas. I hope, though, that more people will become interested in these questions, and demand answers before we "frack" ourselves right out of drinking water and right into earthquakes like we have never seen before in Texas.
I, for one, also believe that "fracking" operations are behind some, if not all, of this new seismic activity. By the way, I apologize to my brother-in-law for the use of the slang word "fracking" instead of HIS slang word "fracing," which I think looks too much like it should rhyme with "racing," but which HE believes should be pronounced 'fracking.' But I continue to have an open mind. After all, there has not been a lot of seismic activity of note in North Texas in some years...or centuries. It could be that the time is ripe for seismic activity in North Texas. But...there is the pesky observation that the clusters of earthquakes seemed to follow new and increased oil exploration and production in the area. Not to mention the same scenario is occurring in that area of Oklahoma corresponding to the North Texas oilfields.
In West Texas, there have been several minor earthquakes in the past few months, especially in the area around Snyder, the northern boundary of the Big Country. In the lower southern plains, near Levelland and Hereford, earthquakes have also occurred, again, concentrated in the areas where "fracking" operations are in progress. There are those connected with the petroleum industry who insist that "fracking" is safe and harmless to the environment. These assertions are backed by scientists in the oil companies' employ, who insist that fracturing operations are both safe and do not effect seismic activity. On the other hand, "independent" scientists consulted by environmental organizations and by citizens' groups provide "hard data" proving that oil exploration operations are directly responsible for the new seismic activity, and that waste water from fracking operations could eventually drain into our drinking water.
Whether or not fracturing operations cause earthquakes, whether or not pumping contaminated water ten thousand feet into the ground causes increased seismic activity in a given area, there is a point that seems to have gotten lost. Whatever the cause of the seismic activity, there is a great possibility that the "safe storage" of the contaminated water from fracking operations is not safe at all. If the rock formations underground that are supposed to contain the waste water are compromised, it follows that the contaminated water will leak (or POUR!) into the surrounding geography and eventually make its way into the aquifers that supply much of our drinking water. So far the earthquakes themselves have caused little property damage and no loss of life. But, can we really say all the disposal wells in the effected areas are still intact?
It is not popular to be a Texican in West Texas and be opposed to oil producing operations of any kind. The petroleum industry has been the bread and butter of the Permian Basin for nearly a hundred years. Oil booms are also booming in South Texas, in southern Oklahoma, and in states around the nation. But more and more people, organizations, and communities are starting to question the safety of fracturing operations and the impact these operations have on the drinking water supply. Unfortunately, at this point in time the desire to "make a buck" and the desire for high paying jobs creates a force that has proven time and again to be stronger than all the might the grassroots can muster. If politicians receive enough contributions from the oil companies, you can bet fracturing operations will continue to be "safe" in Texas and Oklahoma. If state regulatory commissions continue to be staffed with oilfield "alumni" we will see the proverbial "fox guarding the hen house" effect. No matter how dangerous the data show fracturing operations to be, you can bet that oil companies will continue to get the green light from politicians and state bureaucracies while the people who live around the "booms" will find they are up to their ears in contaminated waste water, but have precious little drinking water to speak of.
I do not have all the answers. I do not even have SOME of the answers, but I doubt that the oil company scientists do, either. But while the debate goes on, who will protect the state's drinking water, especially where water is already in short supply anyway, such as here in the Permian Basin? I realize that "environmentalists" produce studies which cannot always be relied on for sound information either. But at present, we do not know if the fracturing operations are causing the earthquakes around the area, nor do we know if the disposal of contaminated wastewater can be done safely when the underground disposal wells are subject to be compromised by the seismic activity of late in the oil boom areas. I hope, though, that more people will become interested in these questions, and demand answers before we "frack" ourselves right out of drinking water and right into earthquakes like we have never seen before in Texas.
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