Thursday, April 1, 2010

Lewisville receives applications for gas wells from Williams

The City of Lewisville received applications for 6 wells near 3040 and Ace Ln. There is a large apartment complex going up near here.

The property owner signed a lease with Williams Production back in 2008. We have to assume that Williams is the applicant.

This area is just over the Flower Mound border. Remember one of the points in Williams' pledge from their website?

Limit our new drilling locations – based on our acreage, we will not expand our drilling pads eastward in the town of Flower Mound beyond an existing pad site we have just south of 1171, near Lusk Lane.

It is hard to tell how close these wells will be to the new apartment complex. The developer better get those apartments built and rented before the rigs go up. Lewisville has shorter setback distances than Flower Mound.

Watch out Lewisville, if Williams doesn't get to put the Centralized Collection Facility in Flower Mound, you may be next on the list.

25 comments:

Barb said...

Even though I am not a resident of Lewisville I emailed the Lewisville Mayor and town council asking them to show wisdom and not allow Williams to drill so close to a school and ball fields. I said that even though I am not a resident of Lewisville I see all the surrounding towns as my community. I also said that Lewsiville and Flower Mound residents will be effected by these wells, especially at the LISD school and Bakersfield park.

FMCAUD said...

Barb, you are so right. Our neighbors are important. Bad air and water does not recognize borders. We are a community and should watch out for each other.

Anonymous said...

Interesting, the same day Williams puts a link out to Flower Mound stating we "are listening," they put 6 applications into Lewisville. The CCF's could easily resurface there.

Anonymous said...

Interesting, I wonder if the laterals will stretch to the west in Flower Mound. Of course they won't, because that would make Kelly a liar, right Kelly? No laterals on the other side of Duncan right?

Anonymous said...

Jsut trying to understand this...is the concern that Williams will put a centralized wastewater collection facility at this site in Lewisville and pump the wastewater from their wells in western Flower Mound to this facility?

Anonymous said...

The point is Williams appears to be moving west of Flower Mound, which is Lewisville. In the future, Williams could submit applications in Lewisville for the CCF, pipelines, or go to any other town they choose. I don't know. It appears by their actions, as well as the timing of their actions, they have focused on Lewisville. If Lewisville welcomes Williams with ease, then again, in my opinion, I think Lewisville may be targeted for the CCF, pipelines, etc. Before Williams even opened up the site to communicate with Flower Mound residents, the residents had to organize a petition, create blogs, facebook page, write numerous articles published in the paper, etc. I am sure Williams will be charming as they approach Lewisville, just as they began in Flower Mound. In other words, if Lewisville does not show objections, Williams could strategically take over. Williams is not stupid. Everyone has an opinion, this is just one more.

Anonymous said...

Last time I checked, Lewisville was east of Flower Mound, not west...or...have the drilling-induced earthquakes moved the earth that much???

Actually, a CCF in western Lewisville is starting to sound pretty interesting. We reduce the truck traffic on Shiloh Road and get the wastewater piped out to a facility far, far away. Sounds like a win/win for western FM. That's assuming it is financially viable for Williams to lay the pipeline across town and pump the water through it.

Anonymous said...

The idea is not to burden Lewisville with a CCF, it is to either eliminate it or worse case force recycling and other regulations that Williams must already meet in states like Colorado and elsewhere. Moving the problem to some other location is not a resolution, it is just throwing the problem over the cube wall.

Anonymous said...

Lewisville may not view the CCF as a burden, just as the residents near Shiloh view the CCF as a safer alternative to trucking the water from each well site.

Anonymous said...

You seem to think emissions, and all the other nasty stuff that comes with gas wells cares about imaginary boundary lines. Good luck with that! Oh, April 5th 6:37 - I know Lewisville is east of Flower Mound. I appreciate you pointing that out, however you were rude about it. You should file a complaint for my typing mistake. I am confident you, or your friends know who to contact.

Anonymous said...

I was rude for making a little earthquake joke? I thought it was pretty funny. You seem a little sensitive and I really do not understand your comment regarding contacting someone about the mistake...

Regarding the CCF, I think you missed my point. To many of the folks who live near where the CCF would be located on Shiloh, we view it as a better and safer solution than trucking the wastewater from the well sites. I think the basic difference in our views is that we do not believe that the CCF would release dangerous emissions into the air or ground, whereas the significant increase in truck traffic that we already see does present a safety hazard.

Anonymous said...

You are trying to cover your rudness as a joke, then blaming me as being sensitive. This is a basic 101 bullying tactic. As far as the comment about reporting the typo, you are a smart person, you know exactly what I am talking about. Being coy does not become you. Let's stop this now.

In reference to your second comment. Now we can actually talk as adults. Thank you for a mature and thought out response.

Now for my response:

It is my opinion you completely "believe" the CCF is safe. There has not been an independent study in Flower Mound on the wastewater here to verify your belief. The same thing happened with asbestos, and the tobacco companies. They had lobbist too. Years later the truth comes out, but not until numerous people became sick or died. The operator knows citizens want the wastewater analyzed in an independent study. Why do they remain silent; and the bigger question is what are they hiding if it is just saltwater. What is the secret? There are other factors just like this that need independant researched. You and I both know words do not mean a thing. My words to you have not changed your mind, nor yours to me. Some spills that have occured in other areas of the Barnett Shale, had independent testing done and the results concluded nasty, toxic stuff was in it. This is concerning as it is a fact.

The other question is would you of welcomed gas drilling, with or without a CCF on that spot if you were not receiving one dime. It is my opinion the reason you are "blindly believing words" told to you by an operator is for money. Money clouds rational and emotional judgement. If you were not receiving funds, would you of wanted that gas drill?

Have a Good Day -

Anonymous said...

I'm was absolutely sincere when I told you that I did not understand your reporting reference - still don't get it. Regarding financial returns and a CCF, mineral owners that have leased their rights to Williams to not gain or lose one dime if Williams utilizes a CCF. The royalty payment to the mineral owners is a function of the price of natural gas when extracted, the amount of natural gas extracted and the royalty rate. There may well be financial benefits to Williams from using a CCF, but those do not flow through to the mineral owners.

Anonymous said...

Again, the question is would you of welcome gas drilling at "that spot" (location), if you were not receiving one dime from it. Please re-read the question above. I understand the CCF situation and I understand how and what drives royalty payments. I own some.

Anonymous said...

I'm assuming you're referring to the Smith property as "that spot". If so, the answer to your question is that I would have no issue with a well site or CCF on that site whether or not I received any royalties. I do not believe that gas drilling is an inappropriate activity for that location.

As I said earlier, I prefer a CCF to having the wastewater stored at each will site because I believe that is the safer approach for the residents in the area.

Anonymous said...

My recommendation is for the operators to recycle the wastewater at each well site on the site pad. That would take the trucks off the road and would improve safety too. Operators could re-use the treated water for their wells, etc. Our water is needed or we would not have water restrictions every summer. Couple that with a vapor recovery system to protect the air, and that would be great!

The technology is currently available to impliment these 2 items for all our safety. It is already being done in other states, even by Williams. Operators need to do it here too. We are all worth it!

Anonymous said...

I do think that recycling systems are the best longer-term solution to the wastewater problem. Certainly makes environmental sense and the economics will improve as the technology develops and water becomes more expensive. I suspect that there are limitations associated with the existing recycling technology that prevents more widespread usage of these systems, or perhaps the technology is best suited for certain types of sites. I know that the federal government gave a $1 million grant to a professor at my alma mater to research enhanced well-site recycling technology, so hopefully that will prove to be a fruitful use of our stimulus dollars.

Anonymous said...

Appears you and I are on the same page. All I want is for the operators to do this safely with those measures in place and independant assessments for proper accountability.

It would be great if we all pulled together to enforce this measure. That would be a win-win situation for all.

Take Care -

ln said...

I found your blog by accident. I live in Lewisville on 3040 and Old Orchard. I didn't know about the new wells. That's pretty surprising as Lewisville is building a new high school of ninth and ten graders at the SE corner of 3040 and Old Orchard.

For the last two years, I've been receiving letters of Cherokee Horn. I guess I'm one of the last hold outs. CH claims that they have signed 98 percent of whatever. And that I will miss out if I don't sign. And that "permitting date" is fast approaching. All I know is that their offer is $500 and promise of future royalties. To me something doesn't sound right. And I'm also depressed that my neighbors have apparently all signed. I had called the Lewisville City Asst Manager a year ago. I appreciated talking to him but am still bewildered about why/how people are willing to accept urban gas drilling. When I was a kid, I lived in the Beaumont - Port Arthur region of SE Texas. I remember going to the beach and seeing the sand covered in oil. And the smell from the refineries were terrible. Maybe, I should sell and move.

Rita said...

Re: "Anonymous" 4/6/11 11:03 am

I am a Lewisville resident and CCF and gas drilling is NOTHING I want in my neighborhood. I was relieved to find your organization exists. I thank STAND for caring about Lewisville while "Anonymous" & Williams & Gas Drilling Companies in general do NOT. I wish they were better informed. How can we better inform other Lewisville residents?

Rita said...

Re: "In"
I'm in your boat. I know many folks that are happy to sign for something that appears too good to be true. They haven't grown up with your experience, they haven't watched the PBS Documentary "Gasland". If you can light water coming from your facet on fire, it's NOT good, in fact its horrific. Once our air, water and land safety is in the dumpster, we will all have to move with any accompanying illnesses we have acquired because of the drilling. All for an owner of a gas drilling company to make a cheap buck on our backs. I will speak with the city manager as well.

-- Also, again re: Anonymous 4/7/10 at 8:29 am [i.e., Williams employee reported for work] you are Bully 101, when you're NOT looking for a solution you are part of the problem.

Rita said...

Re: "Anonymous" 4/6/11 11:03 am

I AM a Lewisville resident and CCF and gas drilling is NOTHING I want in my neighborhood or on this earth. I was relieved to find your organization exists. I thank STAND for caring about Lewisville. How can we better inform other Lewisville residents?

FMCAUD said...

In the beginning, we went door to door and explained exactly what is involved with gas drilling production sites. There is a lot of articles on this blog to back up your concerns.
You have to get people to at least do some research and then show up to your council meetings.

Rita said...

Thank you so much : )

Rita said...

Thank you so much for the info : ) I'm probably way behind on this but better late than never.