Gas Executive Sounds Warning On Cementing Of Gas Wells

This isn't the first time a gas executive has expressed concern about cement failure for well casings. We have posted info on this before. Lee Fuller, Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Association of America admits that even with best practices that contamination may occur. He said the cement casing will deteriorate over time, wells will need to be re-worked periodically and even when it done the cement may be flawed and there may still be failures.


Now Paul Smith, Executive Vice President of North American Operations for Talisman Energy gave this warning during a speech to industry group Marcellus Shale Coalition.


Smith said....
“However, industry must recognize that reported cases of gas migration into water tables can occur as the result of ineffective well design and cementing practices.”


Click here to read a great piece on cracking cement.

Since we don't have any long term studies, how do we really know what the life of a "cement casing job" is?

EPA Proposed New Air-Emission Rules For Oil and Gas Drilling

The EPA has released their proposed New Air-Emission Rules for Oil and Gas Drilling to the Federal Register. This is the time to comment. We have posted some links below for you to read the proposed rules and a link to the page for commenting.

If you have a whole lot of time, click here for proposed rules doc.

If you just want the important stuff, click here for the fact sheet.

Click here for a nice EPA presentation.

Click here to read the Regulatory Impact Analysis.

And the most important of all....click here to submit a comment.

Industry downplays benefit of tighter ozone standards

It didn't take long for the industry to get their panties in a bunch about the EPA's proposed air pollution standards for gas and oil production. Anyone surprised the industry is trying to downplay the EPA statements about the benefits of tighter ozone requirements? It's all about money folks! 

They don't think our health has value.

Click here for the article.

EPA Proposes Air Pollution Standards for Oil and Gas Production

Hallelujah. There is hope for cleaner air in the future!!
See press release from the EPA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



July 28. 2011


EPA Proposes Air Pollution Standards for Oil and Gas Production


Cost-effective, flexible standards rely on operators' ability to capture and sell natural gas that currently escapes, threatens air quality


WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today proposed standards to reduce harmful air pollution from oil and gas drilling operations. These proposed updated standards - which are being issued in response to a court order - would rely on cost-effective existing technologies to reduce emissions that contribute to smog pollution and can cause cancer while supporting the administration’s priority of continuing to expand safe and responsible domestic oil and gas production. The standards would leverage operators' ability to capture and sell natural gas that currently escapes into the air, resulting in more efficient operations while reducing harmful emissions that can impact air quality in surrounding areas and nearby states.

"This administration has been clear that natural gas is a key component of our clean energy future, and the steps announced today will help ensure responsible production of this domestic energy source," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "Reducing these emissions will help cut toxic pollution that can increase cancer risks and smog that can cause asthma attacks and premature death - all while giving these operators additional product to bring to market.”


Today’s proposal would cut smog-forming volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from several types of processes and equipment used in the oil and gas industry, including a 95 percent reduction in VOCs emitted during the completion of new and modified hydraulically fractured wells. This dramatic reduction would largely be accomplished by capturing natural gas that currently escapes to the air and making that gas available for sale through technologies and processes already in use by several companies and required in some states.


Natural gas production in the U.S. is growing, with more than 25,000 new and existing wells fractured or re-fractured each year. The VOC reductions in the proposal are expected to help reduce ozone nonattainment problems in many areas where oil and gas production occurs. In addition, the VOC reductions would yield a significant environmental benefit by reducing methane emissions from new and modified wells. Methane, the primary constituent of natural gas, is a potent greenhouse gas - more than 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Today’s proposed changes also would reduce cancer risks from emissions of several air toxics, including benzene.


EPA’s analysis of the proposed changes, which also include requirements for storage tanks and other equipment, show they are highly cost-effective, with a net savings to the industry of tens of millions of dollars annually from the value of natural gas that would no longer escape to the air. Today’s proposal includes reviews of four air regulations for the oil and natural gas industry as required by the Clean Air Act: a new source performance standard for VOCs from equipment leaks at gas processing plants; a new source performance standard for sulfur dioxide emissions from gas processing plants; an air toxics standard for oil and natural gas production; and an air toxics standard for natural gas transmission and storage.


EPA is under a consent decree requiring the agency to sign a proposal by July 28, 2011 and take final action by Feb. 28, 2012. As part of the public comment period, EPA will hold three public hearings, in the Dallas, Denver and Pittsburgh areas. Details on the hearings will be announced soon.


More information: http://epa.gov/airquality/oilandgas/

UPDATED....EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced a strong new clean air rule

This is the first article we have found but I am sure there will be plenty.

Favorite paragraph from this article.

Texas, by contrast, will have to reduce more pollution than in the initial proposal, which required the state's power plants only to address summertime smog-forming pollution.

Click here for article but more info to come.

Here is an article in the New York Times. Click here.

Click here to read rule.

EPA Webinar June 15 - Guidance Development on Permitting the Use of Diesel Fuels in Hydraulic Fracturing

EPA is hosting a public informational webinar on June 15, 2011, from 2:00 - 5:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time, to discuss and to solicit input on a guidance the Agency is developing to assist the Underground Injection Control Program in issuing permits for the use of diesel fuels in oil and gas hydraulic fracturing. The webinar is open to the public, and all interested stakeholders are invited to attend. Stakeholders interested in attending the webinar are invited to pre-register at this website, https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/854776506  at least three (3) days in advance. Pre-registering for the meeting will allow EPA to improve meeting planning.

The webinar will begin with a presentation by the EPA Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water on the Underground Injection Control program and possible approaches the Agency may recommend in a guidance for permitting the use of diesel fuels in hydraulic fracturing activities related to oil and natural gas extraction. EPA will answer questions and take comments submitted by webinar attendees for the remainder of the webinar.

Persons who are successfully registered for the webinar via the website, https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/854776506, may (1) submit questions and comments to EPA during the online registration process and during the webinar, or (2) submit written comments to mailto:thydraulic.fracturing@epa.gov by June 29, 2011. Due to time limits, EPA may not be able to answer every question submitted during the registration process and during the webinar. Persons wishing to contribute written comments to EPA regarding the development of permitting guidance for oil and gas hydraulic fracturing activities using diesel fuels may also send written comments mailto:hydraulic.fracturing@epa.gov with the words "Diesel Fuels Guidance Comments" in the subject line by June 29, 2011. EPA will not provide individual responses to written comments received by email.

For more information and registration link, please see http://www.epa.gov/hydraulicfracturing.

A Fracking Musical Interlude

Thanks to our friends at The Marcellus Effect for sending us The Fracking Alphabet.

The Marcellus Effect: A Fracking Musical Interlude:

Dr. Armendariz: Watching out for all Texans

The Houston Chronicle printed a great article about EPA Region 6 Administrator, Dr. Al Armendariz. It gives some great background on Dr. Al and why he is working so hard to protect the citizens of Texas

Dr. Al was born and raised in Texas. He is a Texan through and through. Which shows just because you are a real "Texan", you don't have to let the Oil and Gas Industry stomp all over our great state and the people of Texas.

Thanks Al.

Click here to read the article

Attorney General's office says it will continue to fight EPA

Yesterday, Governor Perry and Co. lost another quest to force Texans to breathe toxic air!!!! For those of you that don't know the story, Governor Perry doesn't want the EPA to takeover the state's greenhouse gas permitting program.

But in an article in the Dallas Morning News, Lauren Bean, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Abbott, said that Texas will continue with several lawsuits that will challenge the EPA.

"While the court declined to proactively prohibit the EPA from continuing its federalization effort, today's ruling did not reach the heart of the State's claim and does not affect Texas' ability to continue pursuing its legal challenge against the agency," Bean said. "With the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of Texas families and businesses at risk, Texas will continue to challenge the EPA's unlawful overreach."

Great.... lets waste more taxpayer money when the state is facing a huge deficit!

IMPORTANT: Public Hearing on EPA taking away authority from Texas

This hearing is on the EPA taking away the authority to enforce a portion of the Clean Air Act as it applies to Greenhouse Gases from the State of Texas. Texas is the only state refusing to abide by the law.

Governor Perry and the State of Texas have filed a stay and lawsuit to prevent the EPA from taking the authority away.

Texans have a right to breathe clean air like the rest of the nation.

This is your chance to comment and voice your opinion on this very important issue. Here is the info:

• Date: January, 14, 2011, Friday
• Time: 10:00 am to 7 pm or until the last registered speaker has spoken.
• Place: Crowne Plaza Hotel in Downtown Dallas, 1015 Elm Street, Dallas, Texas
• Phone: 214 742–5678

To request a speaking time slot, contact Pamela Long at EPA long.pam@epa.gov or call her at 919-541-0641.)

487 measurable earthquakes near Guy, Arkansas since September 20th!

Arkansas State Geological Survey is investigating whether there is a connection between the earthquakes and the half of dozen salt water injection wells in the area. Since September 2oth, there have been 487 measurable earthquakes near the town of Guy, Arkansas. Last year at this time there were only 39 earthquakes in the whole state!!!

Click here to read the article from cnn.com

Remember DFW had earthquakes and a SMU study pointed to salt water injection wells.

Click here for more info on earthquakes and salt water injection wells.

Austin....We have a problem

Yes we have a big problem. The agency that is trusted with the job of protecting all Texans from breathing toxic air isn't doing their job. This letter from Melanie Sattler, Ph.D., P.E. and Associate Professor at the University of Arlington tells it like it is.

She conducted air quality studies of 3 large compressor sites in Tarrant and Denton County and found that all of them had esl's that exceeded the TCEQ standards for a number of chemicals and toxins .

Sunset Committee members please take note. You must do something to change this. We can't let these problems go another 10 to 12 years until the next Sunset Review!!

Click here to read the letter.

Click here for all the info on the Sunset Review.

Bartonville Mayor Letter to Senator Nelson

It is nice to see our neighbors take a stand and demand our State Senators and Representatives earn their keep this legislative session.


Bartonville asks Senator Nelson to help.
Click here for letter.


We need to remind them that they are representing the Barnett Shale. Any fallout down the road from the lack of regulations and best practices will land on their shoulders. We have begged them to protect us. Let's hope they do.

UPDATE: 60 Minutes will air the story of Tim and Christine Ruggiero

On Sunday, November 14th, Tim and Christine Ruggiero's story will air on 60 minutes with Lesley Stahl. They will also air the story of "Shaleionaires" in the Haynesville Shale. Louisiana residents who have made money on leasing their minerals.

From the 60 Minutes website:

SHALEIONAIRES - While some complain that extracting natural gas from shale rock formations is tainting their water supply, others who have allowed drilling on their property are getting wealthy and becoming "shaleionaires." Lesley Stahl reports. Shachar Bar-On and Meghan Frank are the producers

I can't wait to see how they will tell both stories since Tim and Christine suffered at the hands of a mineral owner and a gas company.

If you don't know about their plight, click here.

EPA Press Release on mandatory reporting of methane

Press Release
Finalizes Greenhouse Gas Reporting Requirements for Petroleum and Natural Gas Industry

Reporting targets methane, a potent greenhouse gas and valuable fuel WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized greenhouse gas (GHG) reporting requirements for the petroleum and natural gas industries as part of the mandatory reporting program. The petroleum and natural gas industries emit methane, carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, and are one of the largest human related sources of methane in the United States. Annual methane emissions from intentional venting and equipment leaks from these industries are comparable to annual emissions from more than 40 million passenger cars.

The data collected through the reporting program will provide important information about GHG emissions from petroleum and natural gas facilities. While methane is a potent greenhouse gas, trapping more than 20 times as much heat as carbon dioxide, it is also the primary component of natural gas, a valuable fuel. The data collected by the companies will help identify cost effective ways to minimize the loss of methane.

Beginning in 2011, petroleum and natural gas facilities that emit more than 25,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent a year are required to monitor and report all greenhouse gas emissions to EPA. Data collection for petroleum and natural gas sources will begin January 1, 2011, with first annual reports due to EPA March 31, 2012. EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program, launched in October 2009, requires the reporting of GHG emissions data from large emission sources and fuel suppliers across a range of industry sectors. The data will help guide the development of programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information on this rulemaking: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/subpart/w.html

For more information on the GHG Reporting Program: http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ghgrulemaking.html

Rob Lawrence
Senior Policy Advisor - Energy Issues
lawrence.rob@epa.gov
214.665.6580 (Desk)
214.665.7263 (FAX)

Important: Sunset Town Hall

Sorry for the late notice. This is a very important Town Hall Meeting.

SUNSET TOWN HALL
A public dialogue regarding the Sunset of two critical agencies that affect environmental regulation: the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and the Railroad Commission.
DATE: Monday, November 8
TIME: Registration: 6:30 pm Town Hall: 7:00 pm
PLACE: Sheraton Arlington at 1500 Convention Center Rd. (next to the> Ballpark)

CONFIRMED PANELISTS:
Senator John Carona
Representative Lon Burnam
Representative Carol Kent
Representative Allen Vaught
Former TCEQ Commissioner Larry Soward

WHAT: Two important agencies, the TCEQ that oversees land, air, and water quality issues and the Texas Railroad Commission which oversees oil and gas drilling are the focus of this public policy event.

Citizens can learn more about these agencies and how to participate in the Sunset review process. Voicing comments, questions, and concerns to local state officials regarding possible agency reforms in the upcoming legislature. Sunset review only happens once a decade...this is a rare opportunity to have a meaningful dialogue with your officials before they vote on these agencies' futures.

SPONSORS: ACT, a coalition of statewide and local DFW environmental groups, Dallas Sierra Club, Ft. Worth Sierra Club, Public Citizen, Texas Campaign for the Environment, Interfaith Environmental Alliance, Physicians for Social Responsibility, the Dallas League of Women Voters, League of Women Voters - Richardson, and the Arlington League of Women Voters.
CONTACTS: Call Rita Beving, at 214.557.2271, email rita.beving@gmail.com or email Peter Wilson at peter.wilson@sierraclub.org for more info.

"Toxic Soup" in Colorado and New Mexico

This press release states residents in Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico are breathing a toxic soup near their homes and schools.

Could this happen here? You betcha!

TCEQ Odor Complaint System Meeting

About 50 people showed up in Dish last night to share their stories and comment on the TCEQ 12 Hour Odor Response System.

Representatives from the EPA and the TCEQ were present. It appears that neither agency can really do enough in the immediate future to help. TCEQ and EPA tried to answer questions but it is clear that each agency has their hands tied in some way. The system set up here in Texas allows too many holes when it comes to enforcement and action needed to remedy the problems and health issues we face here in the Barnett Shale.

The TCEQ and the Texas Railroad Commission do not work well together. Each agency oversees different issues that are connected in so many ways. This allows these complaints, health issues, and problems to fall through the cracks.

Many residents living near natural gas production sites, from Rural and Urban areas of Wise County, Denton County and Tarrant County, are experiencing health issues. These health issues include, numerous cancers, child leukemia, nose bleeds, respiratory issues, headaches, chemicals in their blood and organs etc. The list goes on.

Change needs to be made on the State and Federal level. Unfortunately, it may not happen soon enough to save some of the Citizens of the Shale.

Click here for a great report from TXSharon.

TXOGAP Public Meeting: State Officials Snub Angry Residents' Town Hall Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 11, 2010
Records Show Texas Takes No Action on 99% of Barnett Shale Complaints

State Officials Snub Angry Residents’ Town Hall Meeting

DISH, Texas, Oct. 11 –State inspectors cited no violations in response to almost 99 percent of citizen complaints about natural gas drilling and hydrofracking operations in the Barnett Shale region in the first seven months of 2010, according to documents obtained through the Texas Public Information Act.

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) records show 256 complaints – more than one a day – about odor and health effects from January 1 to July 23 ­in Tarrant, Denton, Wise and other counties in the Barnett Shale formation. Yet only three violations were found, all at the same site in Wise County.

Further details of the documents obtained by EARTHWORKS’ Texas Oil & Gas Accountability Project will be released Wednesday, Oct. 13 at a town hall meeting in Dish, Denton County. The meeting is at 7 p.m. at the Dish Town Hall, 5413 Tim Donald Road.

The meeting was called to discuss TCEQ’s complaint response system, seven months after it was instituted in response to a community health survey that found hundreds of residents are suffering from headaches, nausea, breathing problems and other symptoms associated with exposure to the chemicals used in drilling and fracking. Dr. Wilma Subra – a Louisiana chemist and recipient of a MacArthur “genius” award – will discuss her analysis of the TCEQ documents.

TCEQ will be notably absent.

Executive Director Mark Vickerey was repeatedly asked to attend or to send a representative to hear residents’ concerns. He declined, even though the agency is holding its own “open house” in Arlington – 43 miles away – on Sunday, Oct. 16, to show off the equipment it is using to monitor the air in the Barnett Shale Region. There’ll be an empty chair at the town hall meeting in case anyone from TCEQ shows up – and to remind residents of the agency’s lack of response to complaints.

“I’m not sure what good the equipment does when their response to a complaint from a real person is to take no action,” says Sharon Wilson of the Texas Oil & Gas Accountability Project. “Not showing up to the meeting is in keeping with their lack of response to the problems we have documented.”

One of the complaints received by TCEQ reads: "The odor was so strong my 7-year old was vomiting." Another says: "We were surrounded by horrible odors that caused headaches and heart palpitations. We had to leave home for the night." In both cases, the state’s investigation found no violation.

“Such a small number of citations and violations when compared to the more than 250 complaints, odor complaints and health impacts are unacceptable,” says Subra’s analysis of the complaints. “A mechanism needs to be devised to reduce and address the human health impacts associated with the operations of the Barnett shale gas.“

Click here for flyer.

Citizens of the Shale: Please document odors, health effects, possible water and soil contamination

Timelines and odor logs are considered evidence. If you want the EPA's ear please do the following:

• Keep timelines and daily logs of odors, health effects, water and soil contamination.


• Make odor complaints to the TCEQ (you may feel this is a waste of time but the data the TCEQ collects can be used to create the logs and timelines.)


• If you have health effects you believe are caused by natural gas extraction activity in your area, please get environmental testing. Click here for a list of Environmental Doctors in the area.


• Send documentation to Texas OGAP at texas.ogap@earthworksaction.org

Click here to read Pavillion Study.