Note: Photos used with permission by DRH (oil company my husband operates for). CAT equipment is being operated over the Eagle Ford Shale.
Within the last decade the Eagle Ford Shale (EFS) in south Texas has become every oil field workers' dream. Occupying the Western Gulf Basin, the EFS is one of the most actively sought locations for drilling oil and gas in the U.S.
The gas and oil are obtained by
a process called fracking. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a
process by which massive amounts of water, sand, and chemicals are
injected deep into the ground. Upon injecting this highly pressurized
mixture, the underground shale is broken apart and natural oil and
gas are forced to the surface.
Many recent controversies swirl over
whether the process of fracking is environmentally safe. Bulgaria and
France have recently banned fracking and our own states of New Jersey
and New York are under a temporary ban until further regulations are
put in place.
The good:
The economic opportunity and
growth of shales like Eagle Ford is unparalleled. Soaring tax
revenues and wages, as well as sinking unemployment rates are
evidence of how this shale has transformed the rural counties of
South Texas.
“It makes things a whole lot
easier when it comes to budget time next year, I guarantee you,”
said David Bird, the Gonzales County Judge.
EFS has been projected to
produce more than 67,000 full time jobs by 2020. Due to the influx in
oil field work, even restaurants and hotels are seeing a massive
boost in business. Given a time when our country is faced with
financial uncertainty, job figures like this are a diamond in the
rough.
The bad and the ugly:
Something is out of sorts when
citizens from the oil-booming town of Pavillion, Wyoming can light their own drinking water on
fire. No, they are not partaking in a college past time of doing
“fire" shots. Rather, they may possibly have groundwater polluted
with the likes of methane gas. Is fracking to blame? If so, Texas residents may be next in line to watch their water light up like Roman candles on the Fourth of July.
The majority of
geologists are convinced that the process of fracking is not a
contributing factor to groundwater pollution. They argue that ground
water is just below the earth's surface and the material obtained
from fracking occurs in the much deeper layers. Apparently, the large
gap in between layers acts as a buffer, preventing any contamination
from reaching the precious groundwater.
Due to limited scientific evidence, this theory has yet to be disproved. In other words, the organizations that potentially have the power to link fracking to water contamination (EPA) have been pressured by the oil industries and the government to take a vow in silence in interest of preserving the fiscal scheme of things.
Due to limited scientific evidence, this theory has yet to be disproved. In other words, the organizations that potentially have the power to link fracking to water contamination (EPA) have been pressured by the oil industries and the government to take a vow in silence in interest of preserving the fiscal scheme of things.
For example, in 2004 the EPA
published a study examining how the technique of drilling affected
water supplies. While the study included complaints from a handful of
people, the EPA never tested their water or investigated their cases.
Instead, the agency trusted answers it received from state
regulators. The study's final version was reviewed by a board that
included former employees such of Halliburton, BP, and other oil and
gas companies. Given who approved the reports, it is no small wonder
that the EPA has yet to find a link.
Overall:
Despite the economic benefits
brought on by fracking, it is not worth the risk to our environment.
Yes, the communities of South Texas are becoming financially robust, but
at the expense of polluting the water and destroying the soil.
Financial independence might be nice for the next 15-20 years ( the
amount of time the shale is expected to produce work) but what about
50 or 100 years from now? All of the money in the world can't repair
certain aspects of the environment.
Texans need to be thinking
long term about how fracking and drilling, in general, affect the
overall health of their state. Gone should be the times when we
depend upon nonrenewable resources. Bring on the solar and wind
energy. Take a trip to West Texas, as they have the right idea.
