Chip Groat, a prominent geologist at the University of Texas, released yesterday preliminary results of a study underway that is examining impacts of drilling and hydraulic fracturing on drinking water and ground water. See http://www.statesman.com/news/local/preliminary-study-says-minimal-imapct-from-fracking-1960103.html. The UT team states that its review of data so far indicates that spills and leaks at the surface are the major source of impacts on water and that the rate of these problems appears greater at shale gas operations than conventional gas drilling sites.
Professor Groat is quoted as saying: "Hydraulic fracturing doesn't seem to be of concern to groundwater."
The UT study will cost $300,000 and is being paid for completely by the University of Texas. Final results from the UT study are expected in the coming months.
It sounds like it is just a review of data. Are they actually conducting a case study and monitoring groundwater before and during fracturing? I would like to see a copy of their Study Plan to see exactly what it is that they are doing.
ReplyDeleteIt does seem an enforcement data review. Not sure if it is more than that I too would like to see the study plan but have not.
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