The info for the first part of this post was sent to me by "Mystic Rover" on December 10, 2011
"The US Environmental Protection Agency has announced for the first time that fracking — a controversial method of improving the productivity of oil and gas wells — may be to blame for causing groundwater pollution. The draft finding could have a chilling effect in states trying to determine how to regulate the process.
"The practice is called hydraulic fracturing and involves pumping pressurised water, sand and chemicals underground to open fissures and improve the flow of oil or gas to the surface. The EPA's found that compounds likely associated with fracking chemicals had been detected in the groundwater beneath a Wyoming community where residents say their well water reeks of chemicals.
"Health officials advised them not to drink their water after the EPA found hydrocarbons in their wells."
Posted on Dec 1, 2011
"Canterbury residents can see the exact areas that the two gas exploration permits cover. Permit 52605 covers mid and South Canterbury, whilst 52614 covers North Canterbury. Basically, it’s the whole of Canterbury.
"Click here to see the permit areas overlaid on Google Maps.The map allows you to zoom in to see just how close it is.
"So if you thought you were leaving the city to get away from earthquakes - be very careful. None other than the US Government has now linked fracking to earthquakes. And watch out for pollutants and toxins in your water and your ground. Or fight it !"
http://www.celsias.co.nz/article/fracking-canterbury-its-most-canterbury/
Bronny NZ: Do we really want Canterbury turning into this ??
If you are up with the fracking play you will have long ago heard the stories of folks in parts of the US being able to set their tap water on fire (or at least the fumes from the water). The locals attributed this to fracking taking place on their surrounding land.
NZ has several places that are being fracked. Of course they are telling us it is safe.
Please note the timing of the above December 1, 2011 permit (pending) was publicised. It was straight after the 2011 General Election when parliament had taken recess over Christmas when the public were taken up with family and holiday interests.
Shame on the National Party for giving permissions for fracking to be carried out in Canterbury, of all places !!
Fracking is linked to increase in earthquake activity. This permit was issued AFTER the big earthquakes in Christchurch.
Fracking is linked to increase in earthquake activity. This permit was issued AFTER the big earthquakes in Christchurch.
Shame. Shame. Shame...
24 November 2011
Report gives green light to fracking - Straterra
Taranaki Regional Council’s report on hydraulic fracturing (fracking) provides a sensible approach to regulating this technology for increasing gas production, Straterra says.
Straterra CEO Chris Baker was commenting today on “Hydrogeologic Risk Assessment of Hydraulic Fracturing for Gas Recovery in the Taranaki Region (2011)”, a report released today by Taranaki Regional Council.
http://www.trc.govt.nz/Fresh-water-2/
http://www.trc.govt.nz/Fresh-water-2/
The report was peer-reviewed by the Crown research institute, GNS Science.
"The TRC report puts to rest the debate on fracking," Mr Baker said.
“It concludes fracking can be done with little risk using good well design and proper disposal of used water, in the right geological conditions.”
“It concludes fracking can be done with little risk using good well design and proper disposal of used water, in the right geological conditions.”
“Unlike the naysayers on fracking, TRC did their homework, and got their report independently peer reviewed by a reputable scientific research institution. We are gratified that the report finds - as we have said all along - that properly regulated and monitored, and using the proper technology and methods, fracking poses little risk to the environment,” Mr Baker said.
The report found that 43 fracking operations between 2000 and mid-2011 in Taranaki led to no adverse environmental effects, that fracking poses little risk to the environment if properly done, and that resource consenting for fracking under the Resource Management Act 1991 is the appropriate level of regulation.
30 November 2011, NZ Herald
Greens rise forces rethink from oil, resources sector
The resources and oil sector says the rise of the Greens is forcing a change in its approach.
While the return of a National-led Government meant initiatives under way would continue, the success of the Green Party at the election was a "major" consideration.
"It's a signal that environmental issues are gaining in importance among some sectors of public opinion and in New Zealand generally. That's something we in the resource sector are taking account of and will be working more on across a broad front," said Bernie Napp, a senior policy analyst at resources umbrella group Straterra.
Several law changes affecting the sector were looming including Resource Management Act reform shortening the approval period for medium-scale projects, offshore drilling rules and a review of the Crown Minerals Act.
"It's business as usual, which is positive from our point of view. If you look at their post-election action plan anything there that relates to the resource sector is consistent with what the Government's been wanting to do over the past three years," said Napp...
"Even if there's a coalition with the Maori Party - with their views on offshore drilling - I don't think that will make much of a change to the way in which National approaches the issue."
Pfahlert also said the industry needed to be mindful to the growing support for the green cause.
Published on Mar 24, 2012
It has the oil industry very excited, but could fracking in New Zealand affect our drinking water and cause earthquakes?
The process of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves pumping a high pressure mixture of chemicals, sand and up to three hundred thousand litres of fresh water deep into the earth to fracture the rock and release the oil and gas.
The oil industry claims the process is perfectly safe, but concerns about the practice have been great enough to have fracking banned in France, Bulgaria and parts of Australia and America.
Now, as the East Coast prepares for the arrival of the oil and gas industry and their modern mining techniques, Guyon Espiner investigates whether we can have the oil industry and a clean environment or do we need to choose?
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