Gas Fracking

Geuze

Indeed, it's time on the horizontal axis, and the price on the vertical axis.

The gas price is converted into the oil-equivalent, to allow comparisons.

You could say that natural gas prices have perhaps fallen too low in the USA, due to a rush into shale gas production.

Maybe signs of a bubble, or exuberance.


Anyways, the longer-term promise is cheaper energy thanks to shale gas.

Less dependence on foreign imported fossil fuels.

Geuze

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/finance/2012/0321/1224313630174.html


Link to IT article on Wed 21 March about shale gas.

Geuze

http://205.254.135.7/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=5410

US gas imports are falling.

US gas exports are rising.

Both a reflection of more production of shale gas.

Geuze

http://205.254.135.7/naturalgas/weekly/

Another EIA update from the US.

Nat gas prices falling towards 2.00 per unit, half what it was two years ago.

tuppence

Please try and get to this , Jimmy Gralton's Dancehall at The Ballroom of Romance, tonight Friday the 30th @ 8.30pm. This captures the spirit of the movement in many ways in empowering people to make a stand for justice using the background of Leitrims inspirational historical figure Jimmy Gralton. Many of those who produced it are sympathetic to the anti fracking movement and they said they were keen to bring it to Glenfarne because it is the epicentre of the proposed technique. Check out the D O Kellys speech roughly 4mins into this clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgI3LBov-VI

meenaghman

Geuze wrote: »

http://205.254.135.7/naturalgas/weekly/

Another EIA update from the US.

Nat gas prices falling towards 2.00 per unit, half what it was two years ago.

So its now costing more to produce then its selling for. Thats why Chesapeake and other gas companies are trying to export US gas to China. If the gas price goes down then the tax/royalty take also goes down. So who is going to subsidise the mess when these operations close. This is an industry, because of its front loaded debt, which must keep drilling, thereby forcing down the price of gas to uneconomic levels. Its the equivalent of builders in Ireland continuing to build houses. Its might look good on the economy books in the short term but the price of gas in the US needs to go back up to 8-9 dollars mcf. These guys are funding unconventional gas with unconventional finance - CDOs/Swaps/ all the slice and dice financial instruments involved in the sub-prime mortgage scam using unproved resources (allowed since 2009 SEC rule change) to do so.

NewVision

tuppence wrote: »

Please try and get to this , Jimmy Gralton's Dancehall at The Ballroom of Romance, tonight Friday the 30th @ 8.30pm. This captures the spirit of the movement in many ways in empowering people to make a stand for justice using the background of Leitrims inspirational historical figure Jimmy Gralton. Many of those who produced it are sympathetic to the anti fracking movement and they said they were keen to bring it to Glenfarne because it is the epicentre of the proposed technique. Check out the D O Kellys speech roughly 4mins into this clip.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgI3LBov-VI

=> A look at Canada

tuppence

Lecture tomorrow by visiting German expert on fracking.


How Public opinion and the media have turned against FRACKING in Germany’


Helmut Fehr, Geoscientist and German Green Party councillor will give a presentation in the Rainbow Ballroom Glenfarne on the topic of ‘How Public opinion and the media have turned against FRACKING in Germany’. Last August Helmut spoke to a crowded house in Drumshanbo, about his experiences in Westphalia where the community learnt gradually how to interpret the language of the companies to be able to gain a full picture of the process. In his last seminar helmut gave further stark warnings that are relevant to Ireland. He spoke of how the companies engage the politicians with promises of tax revenues and jobs, promises he expressed were empty as it meant displacing other jobs.
Helmut Fehr is an ambassador of a model to ensure that there is proper public particpation in decesion making concerning this technique. There is currently a moratorium in place in Westphalia.


Get an opportunity to hear his first hand experience and make your own mind up.
Lecture will be followed by a questions and answer session.

In Ballroom of Romance, Glenfarne, Co. Leitrim on Mon Apr 2nd at 7.30pm.
Entry Free.


For further information please contact: 086 0870090

garth-marenghi

Report on Helmut Fehr event from Monday
http://www.mylocalnews.ie/articles/529/13/love-leitrim-260567/don-t-sell-your-soul-to-gas-companies-37599/

thebuzz

Just wondering where is the best place to get information about fracking in Ireland. Any particular websites good on the subject?

NewVision

thebuzz wrote: »

Just wondering where is the best place to get information about fracking in Ireland. Any particular websites good on the subject?

Fracking Ireland
Fracking Free Ireland
What The Frack?

Tidyweb

None of those websites give any information on "Fracking".

Everything on these websites if dodgy science and anti-everything rants.

Its like being asked about the Property Tax and being directed to Joe Higgins.com for information

NewVision

Tidyweb wrote: »

None of those websites give any information on "Fracking".

Everything on these websites if dodgy science and anti-everything rants.

Its like being asked about the Property Tax and being directed to Joe Higgins.com for information

Of course are you getting information about fracking and the current situation in Ireland on these websites. If you're looking for pro fracking propaganda please ask the petroleum industry.

:rolleyes:

Tidyweb

hows about looking at science.

Pete M.

Tidyweb wrote: »

hows about looking at science.

There is a lot of 'good science' about how potentially harmful fracking may be.
The ones peddling the bad science are those who wish to exploit shale gas, now that there's money in it.
The associated dangers are many and have very serious consequences.

Tidyweb

real science vs good science

I bet you think the FDA are out to get us all

NewVision

Tidyweb wrote: »

hows about looking at science.

Well. I can only assume that you haven't been through the websites I posted, else you wouldn't pose that question (without question mark)...

E.g. at Fracking Ireland:

=> Leitrim has $55bn gas reserves, Tamboran claims

=> Open letter to the members of the 31st Dáil Éireann. Hydraulic Shale Gas Fracturing - Tamborans claims - Chemicals involved in the fracking procedure

Loads of scientific reports. Try reading

Tidyweb

I have read it all.

The fact that you post GasLands on your website, states my case. A fictional entertainment film.

A EIS will need to be submitted and adhered to.

But let me guess -the Irish government is also out to get you!

Pete M.

Tidyweb wrote: »

real science vs good science

I bet you think the FDA are out to get us all

You talking to me there?

And why would I think the Food & Drug Administration in the US would be out to get us?

And have you a problem distinguishing between good and real science there?

The indisputable facts are that hydraulic fracturing involves some very dangerous procedures and processes and the potential for environmental harm to accrue as a result is very real.

So before you start having a go at people for being concerned about their patch, learn a bit of respect for others and maybe they'll listen to your own potentially warped view on things.

Cheers :cool:

Tidyweb

See the problem is that it is not an indisputable fact.

In Fact the studies say that "fracking" doesnt cause more harm than any other drill causes.

Dont get your dreedlocks in a knot.

NewVision

Tidyweb wrote: »

I have read it all.

The fact that you post GasLands on your website, states my case. A fictional entertainment film.

A EIS will need to be submitted and adhered to.

But let me guess -the Irish government is also out to get you!

Nice for the try to scare me with "the Irish government"

More to the subject:

The documentary is called Gasland. It's not "fictional". This film won seven awards and got nominated for two more ones => http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasland

It's not "A AIS" or whatever you mean. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is awaiting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) which is at the moment solely a desktop study done by the Aberdeen University. And that is actually totally unacceptable as Aberdeen University is showing a conflict of interest due to ties with and sponsorship by the oil and gas industry (=> Aberdeen website, Students benefit from Shell support, http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~wox004/release.php?id=757).

I would recommend - before you're releasing any more comments with false abbreviations (and I also reckon that you never watched the documentary Gasland which you are trying to easily discredit here) - that you're first getting familiar with the subject and the facts.

Thank you for your time and reading my comment. I hope that you will read more about the subject. A good start would be => Fracking Ireland because you get a lot of links to further information there.

Check it out.

NewVision

Tidyweb wrote: »

See the problem is that it is not an indisputable fact.

In Fact the studies say that "fracking" doesnt cause more harm than any other drill causes.

Dont get your dreedlocks in a knot.

Well. I believe you can show us these studies. After that we will have a base where we can discuss.

Tidyweb

Its an Environmental Impact Statement - EIS.

I think the point is - if you dont know what that it , maybe your opinions on this subject are not that relevent.

Gasland won Hollywood awards - so did Titanic - and to the best of my knowledge that film wasnt 100% true.

So basically you are saying - if qualified people who work in Universities carry out studies, they are conflicted. If any university in Ireland carried out the study it is because they get money from Irish Government and if it was an American University it will be funded by oil and gas.

But you will believe a proven flawed hollywood mocumentry

tuppence

http://www.sligotoday.ie/details.php?id=19901&fb_source=message

garth-marenghi

Here is a recording of a trad session in Cryans Bar in Carrick based around raising awareness of fracking. Lots of local musicians including Elenor Shanley involved and a reading of a poem written by Poet Dave Lordan. Apparently it was one of Live Trad.coms most successful broadcasts with around 10,000 tuning in from different parts of the world:)
http://www.livetrad.com/stream/

NewVision

Tidyweb wrote: »

Its an Environmental Impact Statement - EIS.

I think the point is - if you dont know what that it , maybe your opinions on this subject are not that relevent.

Gasland won Hollywood awards - so did Titanic - and to the best of my knowledge that film wasnt 100% true.

So basically you are saying - if qualified people who work in Universities carry out studies, they are conflicted. If any university in Ireland carried out the study it is because they get money from Irish Government and if it was an American University it will be funded by oil and gas.

But you will believe a proven flawed hollywood mocumentry

"Best of your knowledge", yeah. Maybe you tell us what wouldn't have been 100% true. I'm citing hard evidence with sources. Meanwhile we're just reading polemics from you.

As I said, the documentary Gasland won the following awards:

• 2010 Environmental Media Award for Best Documentary Feature
• 2010 Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize
• 2010 Big Sky Documentary Film Festival Artistic Vision award
• 2010 Thin Line Film Festival Audience Award
• 2010 Yale Environmental Film Festival Grand Jury Prize
• 2010 Sarasota Film Festival Special Jury Prize
• 2011 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for Nonfiction Programming (Josh Fox)

and was nominated for:

• 2011 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature
• 2011 Writer's Guild Award for Best Documentary Screenplay.

(Source)


Now tell us where Josh Fox would have got something wrong.

NewVision

garth-marenghi wrote: »

Here is a recording of a trad session in Cryans Bar in Carrick based around raising awareness of fracking. Lots of local musicians including Elenor Shanley involved and a reading of a poem written by Poet Dave Lordan. Apparently it was one of Live Trad.coms most successful broadcasts with around 10,000 tuning in from different parts of the world:)
http://www.livetrad.com/stream/

NewVision

Study Rebuts Industry Stance That Frack Fluids Can’t Taint Water

Chemically treated drilling fluid can migrate through thousands of feet of rock and endanger water supplies, said a hydrologist whose research calls into question the safety of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas.

The fluids can migrate faster that previously thought, Tom Myers, a Reno, Nevada, researcher, said Wednesday. His study, published in the online journal "Ground Water" on April 17, says fluids can reach shallow drinking-water aquifers in as little as three years.

"If contaminants reach natural fractures under pressure, the upward flow has the potential to be enhanced greatly," said Myers, an independent consultant who has worked for conservation groups and governments. "It can flow upward if there’s a pathway and unless it’s completely impermeable, there’s always a pathway. It’s just a question of how long it takes."

=> Potential Contaminant Pathways from Hydraulically Fractured Shale to Aquifers

The whole study available on scribd.com


Now, let's keep in mind that shale gas has a carbon footprint worse than coal => The Cornell Team Redux: Shale Gas a Disaster for Climate



This has been confirmed by scientists from NOAA and the University of Colorado => Air sampling reveals high emissions from gas field (Nature News)

Compare to other claims of the industry, about 4% of the gas is lost to the atmosphere.




The industry is not telling the truth about the real scale of impacts hydraulic shale gas fracturing is causing.

NewVision

This is the current situation in the US:

Independent Analysis Confirms That Hydraulic Fracturing Caused Drinking Water Contamination In Wyoming

A recent study from the Environmental Protection Agency showing that chemicals from hydraulic fracturing had contaminated groundwater has just been validated by an independent hydrology expert.
The impact of natural gas drilling — particularly hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” — on drinking water and groundwater has been heavily debated. It has also been one of the most serious PR issues for the oil and gas industry.
In December 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency found official evidence that poisonous chemicals from fracking had contaminated water near drill rigs in Pavillion, Wyoming. That study has now been backed up by an independent expert. In a report released today, commissioned by several environmental groups, Dr. Tom Myers writes that:

After consideration of the evidence presented in the EPA report and in URS (2009 and 2010), it is clear that hydraulic fracturing (fracking [Kramer 2011]) has caused pollution of the Wind River formation and aquifer… The EPA’s conclusion is sound.

Myers then details the Pavillion area’s unique geology and water pathways, as well as the shoddy construction of the wells that likely contributed to water contamination. He also outlines a number of ways that EPA can improve on its analysis and continue to collect critical data.
When EPA released the draft findings last December, the natural gas industry and its elected allies were quick to pounce and attacked it as “scientifically questionable,” “reckless,” and lacking “a definitive conclusion.”
Importantly, Myers notes in his report that:

The situation at Pavillion is not an analogue for other gas plays because the geology and regulatory framework may be different.

Nevertheless, it is a reminder for politicians like Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe who continue to claim that there has “never been one case — documented case — of groundwater contamination.”
However, the lack of public data makes it difficult to gather evidence of drinking water contamination. As New York Times reporter Ian Urbina noted in an investigation last August, researchers often are:

…unable to investigate many suspected cases because their details were sealed from the public when energy companies settled lawsuits with landowners.

The oil and gas industry is exempt from portions of a number of environmental laws, including the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Water Act, and the Clean Air Act.

Pro Publica puts it like this:


The EPA’s First Fracking Rules — Limited and Delayed

NewVision

Fracking - A Boom and Bust

The shale gas boom in the US has been a shot in the own foot of the petroleum industry as the natural gas prices there fell sharply after exaggerated estimates of reserves and a now short term oversupply. Insiders have warned of a boom and bust. The true viably recoverable reserves might be about 1/10 of the prognoses of the industry. Several companies have already problems to gain more capital. And this is obviously the reason for that shale gas hype.

Similar situation in Europe. Poland's recoverable reserves of shale gas might be at 1/10 of the industry's prognoses.

In Ireland, Tamboran is forecasting 2.2 trillion cubic feet of shale gas in a desktop study, a nationwide supply of 12 years recoverable in a time frame of 30 years.

If we apply the same realistic corrections to Ireland we could expect some 220 billion cubic feet in a time frame of 30 years. That would equal to an average annual output of just 4% of the island's demand of natural gas. This is also conform with a study of the European Parliament which comes to the conclusion:

"Even an aggressive development of gas shales in Europe could only contribute to the European gas supplies at one-digit percentage share at best. It will not reverse the continuing trend of declining domestic production and rising import dependency. Its influence on the European greenhouse gas emissions will remain small if not negligible, or could even be negative if other more promising projects are skipped due to wrong incentives and signals."

Let's take a look at the price for this shale gas hype.

We would have to expect up to 2,000 fracking wells in Ireland. 1 in 150 wells have proven (!) to produce "major Failures" such as groundwater contaminations. Statistically we would have to count with around 13 of such cases. It could be less. But it also could be more. Groundwater contaminations are long term damages and are a real threat to flora, fauna and to human health. Aquifers are subterraneously connected. Therefore possible groundwater contaminations are not just local, they are spreading into wider areas.

The carbon footprint of shale gas is worse than burning coal. It is not a "clean bridge fuel" as the industry is trying to sell us. In fact, it is a dirty delaying fuel, delaying investments into clean renewable energy sources.


(The Cornell Team Redux: Shale Gas a Disaster for Climate, Methane and the greenhouse-gas footprint of natural gas from shale formations, Howarth Response)

There have been natural gas filling stations for vehicles on the Continrnt for more than two decades. Despite the cheaper fuel the demand has not gone up in recent years. One of the reasons why the automobile industry hasn't jumped into this business is their realistic appraisal of the role of natural gas as fuel.

So we see the evidence that shale gas can only play a minor role in Europe. It is worse than coal when it comes to its greenhouse effect. It is causing a risk to health and lives. It is a very limited and finite resource. In fact, fracking is the "tarsand of the gas industry", probably worse.

Instead of wasting time and resources to focus on shale gas as (short term) "bridging fuel", the investments should be directed into renewable energy sources and electrifying our transport system. This will inevitably be our future of energy supply anyhow. Instead of taking the risk to cause irreversible damage to our eco systems for short term profits of a few and doubtful benefits for the country, we should take the chance to develop our renewable resources where Ireland is more than advantaged in Europe. This will also create many more sustainable jobs in the country, and without any doubt, will secure a sustainable energy supply for a predictable price.

BTW, jobs: 1 in 5 kilograms of baby milk powder sold on earth is coming from Ireland. Dairy products are one of our main exports. If Ireland is losing its reputation for its healthy farming, healthy cows eating proper grass from clean fields, we are putting into jeopardy tens of thousands of jobs. Farmers, and involved companies like Pfizer, are very concerned about hydraulic shale gas fracturing in Ireland.