Farming and Gas Fracking

Oldtree

keep going wrote: »

could somepne explain what "fracking" is without bias

see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_fracturing

barryoc1

Coincidentally last night on CSI on RTE 2 the series dealt with 'Fracking'. Went into it in alot of detail too. And from what i learnt it aint a good idea. Cetainly wouldnt like it happening any where near me. And i mean within 100 miles of me.

frackingishell

Hi Barry,

100miles? This is your country. Feck 100 miles, how bout the whole nation, how bout the whole continent. We all have a responsibility to stop blatant environmental destruction for profit, even if its up the back arse of papa new guinea.

For the other user, For an explanation of fracking, please see this petition- the explanation is biased, but obviously the rest isnt

http://www.change.org/petitions/ban-destructive-gas-fracking-in-ireland

Pacoa

http://www.survive2thrive.net/2011/05/27/what-will-fracking-do-to-your-food-supply/

frackingishell

Just linked that up on the petition Pacoa- fair play

tuppence

Here is a short documentary that really sums up the threat of fracking, briefly. I hope you take a few minutes to watch. I attach the petition underneath if you feel concerned afterwards pls sign and share and make your voice heard. As you are aware this issue not just covers Leitrim, but Sligo, Donegal, Cavan and Clare. Go raibh mile maith agat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEB_Wwe-uBM&feature=share

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ban-hydraulic-fracturing-for-natural-gas-in-ireland.html

frackingishell

folks, i think it's about time we got a summary of the barriers this industry now need to cross before they can attempt to destroy the enviroment by fracking for gas.

For all the vehemence of my opposition, i must confess, i just don't know whose hands this is in.

Can anyone enlighten us? I feel that, if we had the facts of who will be responsible for allowing this disaster to happen, we can better direct our efforts of opposition, and get some accountability, and put some faces to the decisions.

Thanks

Pacoa

Looks like france has baned it.
http://planetsave.com/2011/07/10/france-is-now-first-nation-to-ban-fracking/

frackingishell

And still noone in Irish government has addressed the issue yet. Let's organise a march on DCENR!

johnk1960

I've read this thread with interest and followed the debate. Now wouldn't it be great if we could just dig a cool €120 billion out the ground and solve the debt problem? A little sacrifice on the envioronmental front would be worth it, right?

I'm beginning to seriously doubt this bonanza though.

"Fracking" is drilling a vertical well about 1,000 (or less) to 5,000 feet down into the carboniferous rock then turning the bit horizontally to run through the formation. Dilute acid is pumped into the well at high pressure (up to 1,000 atmospheres) to eat into the rock - fracturing it. Then a sand solution is pumped in to force sand into the cracks in the rock so when the pressure is relieved the fissures remain open. Out bubbles the gas. Ingenious! As an engineer, I love it!

However, the experience elsewhere has not been so happy with groundwater contamination, air pollution and other allegedly bad side effects. See:-

http://www.fox16.com/news/local/story/Class-action-lawsuits-filed-against-six-natual/qsuFUKeZq0aKHO6iPN-WFA.cspx

You all know the geology of our area. Look at the Shannon Pot, Marble Arch Caves, St Patricks well at Belcoo and lots of other similar places. Water flows underground in different directions in different layers of rock. If that rock is fracked how can Tamboran guarantee not to pollute the Shannon? Its impossible to see what is happening so far underground. If pollution does occur can it be stopped? Can the well be sealed? Can the cracks be sealed?

Our economy relies on clean water (not perfect I admit, but not too bad either) for agriculture, pharmaceuticals, food production, tourism... and of course for us who drink it.

To me the risks outweigh the rewards (and what are they for us?) and no hydraulic fracturing should be allowed in Ireland until there has been a full and complete public enquiry, not to mention a baseline study of background levels of contaminants likley to be used in fracking.

frackingishell

Indeed- the rewards would not be seen by us. These wells cost between 2 and ten million each to drill, and with the marginal profits on natural gas, you can bet your arse they won't be handing any money over to the Irish people.

In fact, if you have a look at this paper below, he actually speculates that this may need government subsidy in the US to succeed. I worry they'll try the same thing here. But i also think the fact we have no money might work out in our favour.

http://www.ifandp.com/article/0012305.html

The one thing to remember is the fact that gas is below the 5 dolaars a unit to make this profitable (fracking )right now. This is why this is dragging out i feel. Companies, and anyone in local or national government who might support this (through ideological reasons, or they've been paid off), are no doubt waiting for gas energy prices to rise, and they'll try to strike while the iron is hot.

Make no mistake though- the ONLY reason this isn't being pushed through faster here and in Britain, is because it is currently unprofitable to do so.

johnk1960

thanks Frackingishell, very interesting article

jinghong

I read an article recently on the oil drum. It seems like one of the major problems is the use of hazardous chemicals that get injected into the ground to get to help get the gas out. When these chemicals come back up to the ground along with the gas, its expensive to deal with them. This means, as usual, they probably wont get dealt with properly, which means pollution on the surface.

In the US, if someone finds gas on your land (or under it), they have to pay you royalties. In europe the law varies, but if this incentive is not there, there will be a lot more opposition to it.

Poland has laws like the US apparently, and holds europes largest reserves of frack gas. Thats why Obama went there after visiting us recently.

Theres no getting around that all the easy energy is gone. Now we're digging for gas that needs to huge volumes of water and nasty chemicals to get it, oil that is so far under the sea we risk massive environmental disasters to get it (the gulf oil at monadanca is still spewing btw), we're blowing the tops off mountains to get at the coal, and nuclear power plants are being used past their use by date to extract more and more dangerous energy out of them. Apart from that, Europe invaded Libya the day after they signed concessions for oil to the chineese. Now the whole middle east is going off, as we dont like the fact they are getting more assertive and want to use their own oil saudi arabia uses as much as 1.2 million barrels a day). It's only a matter of time before something major kicks off in the region, and it will probably involve israel and iran.

This whole energy thing will b downfall of us.

frackingishell

jinghong wrote: »

I read an article recently on the oil drum. It seems like one of the major problems is the use of hazardous chemicals that get injected into the ground to get to help get the gas out. When these chemicals come back up to the ground along with the gas, its expensive to deal with them. This means, as usual, they probably wont get dealt with properly, which means pollution on the surface.

In the US, if someone finds gas on your land (or under it), they have to pay you royalties. In europe the law varies, but if this incentive is not there, there will be a lot more opposition to it.

Poland has laws like the US apparently, and holds europes largest reserves of frack gas. Thats why Obama went there after visiting us recently.

Theres no getting around that all the easy energy is gone. Now we're digging for gas that needs to huge volumes of water and nasty chemicals to get it, oil that is so far under the sea we risk massive environmental disasters to get it (the gulf oil at monadanca is still spewing btw), we're blowing the tops off mountains to get at the coal, and nuclear power plants are being used past their use by date to extract more and more dangerous energy out of them. Apart from that, Europe invaded Libya the day after they signed concessions for oil to the chineese. Now the whole middle east is going off, as we dont like the fact they are getting more assertive and want to use their own oil saudi arabia uses as much as 1.2 million barrels a day). It's only a matter of time before something major kicks off in the region, and it will probably involve israel and iran.

This whole energy thing will b downfall of us.

great post jinghong.

Interesting take on Obama's visit to Poland- i wasnt aware of that visit.

I feel you're right about the energy causing war.

What i really want to know is- what happened to progress in green energy? I think i mentioned this before, but i remember well being a kid in the late 80's & early 90's and being fascinated by men travelling across deserts in solar powered cars on the news. I knew then about GH gases and how the planet needed green energy. I was filled with optimism, and real excitement.

Anyway, it's now 2011, and sweet f*ck all seems to have been achieved really! Where's the progress? We should be churning out solar panels for pennies at this point.

I firmly believe innovation has been stifled by energy companies with a grip on the world's resources, and the private banking institutions that own these companies. They know the basics of supply and demand, and they know that with prices going up they'll become even more all powerful. The system dominating the human species is flawed, & only benefits a small proportion of the world's population. The people at the helm of this system are driving the ordinary people of the world to destroy this planet, (the only thing making life itself possible), by stripping it's resources, and forsaking everything else to keep pace with food prices, energy prices, and fake consumer demand advertising. This life-game is now all about money, and it's destroying everything else.

Are you guys aware that there's a huge lobby in the US right now trying to get Obama to raise the mileage limits on fuel efficiency in cars? Unbelieveable right??? This is just a small indicator of how fossil fuelenergy=greed=money=enslavement. And you can see where they're coming from- the higher energy prices go- the more money they have- to hell with the environment of the planet. Greed is a fascinating thing. This lobby is funded by the oil companies and the auto industry (same thing). They want us hooked into this stuff for years to come. It's all about money. Check this out

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/60_mpg/
Unfortunately they're negotiating with the auto industry who is putting enormous pressure on the administration to weaken the standards, with increased spending on lobbying1 and ads in swing states attacking high miles per gallon targets.2

I really envy anyone who thinks any of this is happening by accident.It isn't though. Had the R&D money been sunk into Green energy, we wouldn't be where we are today. It's like this though; The people in control know that they can't regulate the price of sunshine. There's your answer. Fuel shortages, higher prices, famines, possible wars are all parts of the game.... I'd be a much happier person if i too lived in blissful ignorance.

reilig

2 things happened in the progress of green energy:

1. Solar panels have not been delevoped to provide enough energy to meet our needs. We do after all receive feck all sun in this country. Solar panels are great for heating water but not much use for producing electricity of fueling cars.

2. The 1 green energy thing that we do have plenty of is wind. However, NIMBY's exist in every part of the country. Its quite difficult to secure planning for these wind farms on sites that might actually yield a good return.

Personally I'd prefer to live beside a wind farm than a peat/coal/nuclear power plant. I'd also be much happier knowing that the energy that I'm using is produced without pollution. However, if you look at the amount of wind farms that have been objected to and subsequently refused permission because of these objections, it is legitimate to summise that the majority of people in this country don't care how the energy that they use is produced - so long as its not produced near them - through the burning of fossil fuels or most notiably green energy methods.

frackingishell wrote: »

great post jinghong.

Interesting take on Obama's visit to Poland- i wasnt aware of that visit.

I feel you're right about the energy causing war.

What i really want to know is- what happened to progress in green energy? I think i mentioned this before, but i remember well being a kid in the late 80's & early 90's and being fascinated by men travelling across deserts in solar powered cars on the news. I knew then about GH gases and how the planet needed green energy. I was filled with optimism, and real excitement.

Anyway, it's now 2011, and sweet f*ck all seems to have been achieved really! Where's the progress? We should be churning out solar panels for pennies at this point.

I firmly believe innovation has been stifled by energy companies with a grip on the world's resources, and the private banking institutions that own these companies. They know the basics of supply and demand, and they know that with prices going up they'll become even more all powerful. The system dominating the human species is flawed, & only benefits a small proportion of the world's population. The people at the helm of this system are driving the ordinary people of the world to destroy this planet, (the only thing making life itself possible), by stripping it's resources, and forsaking everything else to keep pace with food prices, energy prices, and fake consumer demand advertising. This life-game is now all about money, and it's destroying everything else.

I really envy anyone who thinks any of this is happening by accident.It isn't though. Had the R&D money been sunk into Green energy, we wouldn't be where we are today. The people in control know that they can't regulate the price of sunshine. Fuel shortages, higher prices, famines, possible wars are all parts of the game.... I'd be a much happier person if i too lived in blissful ignorance.

Birdnuts

reilig wrote: »

2 things happened in the progress of green energy:

1. Solar panels have not been delevoped to provide enough energy to meet our needs. We do after all receive feck all sun in this country. Solar panels are great for heating water but not much use for producing electricity of fueling cars.

2. The 1 green energy thing that we do have plenty of is wind. However, NIMBY's exist in every part of the country. Its quite difficult to secure planning for these wind farms on sites that might actually yield a good return.

Personally I'd prefer to live beside a wind farm than a peat/coal/nuclear power plant. I'd also be much happier knowing that the energy that I'm using is produced without pollution. However, if you look at the amount of wind farms that have been objected to and subsequently refused permission because of these objections, it is legitimate to summise that the majority of people in this country don't care how the energy that they use is produced - so long as its not produced near them - through the burning of fossil fuels or most notiably green energy methods.

I think the jury is still out on the viability of wind power - its costs 3 times per MW compared to nuclear. Unfortunanatly this is likely to be reflected in the near future on our energy bills via a PSO charge similiar too(and probably larger) then the one for the midland peat power-stations. The way its being developed in some parts of Ireland isn't particualry green eithier:(.

PS: Personally I would have no problem living next to a modern nuclear powerstation. The French appear to be happy with nuclear power but have rejected gas fracking which is interesting to say the least;)

frackingishell

rellig thats my point though- these things havent been developed because there hasnt been the money put into them. I don't mean they should be in Ireland. But there should be the tech there now to cover whole areas of desert in the US and elsewhere and power half the planet! Well, ye know what i mean...

As unrealistic as this may sound, i just hope the lads at CERN can come up with some sort of fusion technology before it's stifled or licenced by the energy companies that control the world's energy supplies .I really have lost most hope on the world energy issue- our leaders are inept, and corrupt, and plain useless.

reilig

Birdnuts wrote: »

PS: Personally I would have no problem living next to a modern nuclear powerstation. The French appear to be happy with nuclear power but have rejected gas fracking which is interesting to say the least;)

I'd prefer to be living in a mud wall cabin with no job, no car and no electricity than have to live within 100 miles of a Nuclear power station!!

Birdnuts

reilig wrote: »

I'd prefer to be living in a mud wall cabin with no job, no car and no electricity than have to live within 100 miles of a Nuclear power station!!

Those mad Frenchies!!:eek::D;)

tuppence

Do you come from Leitrim, Fermanagh, Sligo, Cavan, Donegal. Do you want to learn more about how fracking could effect your farming livelihood, local area and health?

Mr Helmut Fehr German politician and respected authority on fracking is in the Mayflower Centre, Drumshanbo,
Co Leitrim at 3pm on Saturday the 20th August.

Come along, learn more about it.
Spread the word

tuppence

Last Thursdays Prine Time on gas extraction in the North West. Part of progr 14.5o mins in approx.
http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=1109605

tuppence

Lough Allen Conservation Society
is hosting a public information/discussion on the issue of 'Hydraulic Fracturing ('fracking') for shale gas in the Northwest Carboniferous Region*
Location - The Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co.Leitrim.
Date/Time - Thursday, September 1st, 8pm

This is a public meeting with a short presentation and an open discussion.

All public representatives and interested groups including IFA, Waterways Ireland, Coillte etc.. have been invited to attend.

This issue is causing great concern among all sections of local communities.

colrow

I've just finished working on a control system for a gas platform in the North Sea, it was floated out last week. Once its sited on its jacket, a jack up rig will come alongside to drill the well, its going to be a fracked well, I was asking the operator how the fracking was done, what are the poisonous chemicals etc, they said its just very high pressure water at 800 bar, this cracks the rocks and then sand is forced down, to get in the cracks and let the gas flow out.

tuppence

Oh if life could be so simple.

I am not an expert but maybe someone should be telling Tamboran because they have said on the record above, that nobody else is doing this without chemicals and they are the first. They are doing because they care about us...there is a swirl of information in the industry as far as I can see.

Research expert from Cornell university a Dr. Ingraffea btw says its’ highly unlikely’ that a company can get profitable gas without chemicals so this is very interesting that the operator says that it can be done in almost commonplace way that out pops the gas! Here is the link to Dr. Ingraffeas article in the Anglo Celt newspaper.
http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/roundup/articles/2011/08/10/4005993-tamborans-claims-of-chemical-free-frack-fluid-challenged-by-expert/


Conventional and unconventional drilling is miles apart, (no pun intended) fracking is a new technology. Yu cant compare something that is done deep sea in the North Sea with somewhere like Leitrim, Cavan and Sligo that have human and animal population densities. For a start the deep sea conventional drilling that they have indeed being doing for years goes straight down whereas the fracking goes down the well but can go across adjacent as well like spiders tentacles. So you may have a drill site a quarter of a mile away from you cracking shale under your land.
There are other issues that are being sidetracked in all this like the amount of water being proposed that many people say cannot possibly be collected by collecting rainwater, and that they are being disingenuous to claim otherwise, the land mass that is been taken up in the process with eyesore of drills sites per km, the risks of earthquakes, the risks of spillages and accidents from the stuff that’s been brought up that is full of chemicals. The objectively high levels of radon in the earth where they are proposing to do the drilling. And then there’s the little issue of why are we following such a risky procedure for short term gain when there’s minimal economic rewards for us...and the fact that we have targets in renewables we are supposed to be reaching and not. The public health issues and risk of displacing jobs in the farming sector and tourism sector is quite evident in a recent independent European study.

When they talk about Life Cycle analysis it’s about looking at what we have and doing a cost benefit analysis on it. I like to interpret what they are saying as the importance of stalling for a bit and recognising what you have before diving headway into risking these. This I would interpret in this case as recognising sustainable industry in our case farming and tourism, quality of life and the health and safety issues as important for our people. I like to think that someone is listening and that we have learnt our lesson and had a reality check on our values. I have two kids and elderly parents living here. I worry about them.

Heres the report. Its an independent European report so has no reason for bias but reads a bit like a horror story. It is however essential reading in my view. Conclusion is from pg 77
http://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/europe_gaz.pdf

reilig

Tuppence,

That doesn't make sense to me. Can you put it in simpler language as to what the difference is between what Colrow is talking about and you are talking about?

Also, why could this process that Colrow is talking about not be used in the Lough Allen Basin and would you object to it??

tuppence wrote: »

Oh if life could be so simple.

I am not an expert but maybe someone should be telling Tamboran because they have said on the record above, that nobody else is doing this without chemicals and they are the first. They are doing because they care about us...there is a swirl of information in the industry as far as I can see.

Research expert from Cornell university a Dr. Ingraffea btw says its’ highly unlikely’ that a company can get profitable gas without chemicals so this is very interesting that the operator says that it can be done in almost commonplace way that out pops the gas! Here is the link to Dr. Ingraffeas article in the Anglo Celt newspaper.
http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/roundup/articles/2011/08/10/4005993-tamborans-claims-of-chemical-free-frack-fluid-challenged-by-expert/


Conventional and unconventional drilling is miles apart, (no pun intended) fracking is a new technology. Yu cant compare something that is done deep sea in the North Sea with somewhere like Leitrim, Cavan and Sligo that have human and animal population densities. For a start the deep sea conventional drilling that they have indeed being doing for years goes straight down whereas the fracking goes down the well but can go across adjacent as well like spiders tentacles. So you may have a drill site a quarter of a mile away from you cracking shale under your land.
There are other issues that are being sidetracked in all this like the amount of water being proposed that many people say cannot possibly be collected by collecting rainwater, and that they are being disingenuous to claim otherwise, the land mass that is been taken up in the process with eyesore of drills sites per km, the risks of earthquakes, the risks of spillages and accidents from the stuff that’s been brought up that is full of chemicals. The objectively high levels of radon in the earth where they are proposing to do the drilling. And then there’s the little issue of why are we following such a risky procedure for short term gain when there’s minimal economic rewards for us...and the fact that we have targets in renewables we are supposed to be reaching and not. The public health issues and risk of displacing jobs in the farming sector and tourism sector is quite evident in a recent independent European study.

When they talk about Life Cycle analysis it’s about looking at what we have and doing a cost benefit analysis on it. I like to interpret what they are saying as the importance of stalling for a bit and recognising what you have before diving headway into risking these. This I would interpret in this case as recognising sustainable industry in our case farming and tourism, quality of life and the health and safety issues as important for our people. I like to think that someone is listening and that we have learnt our lesson and had a reality check on our values. I have two kids and elderly parents living here. I worry about them.

Heres the report. Its an independent European report so has no reason for bias but reads a bit like a horror story. It is however essential reading in my view. Conclusion is from pg 77
http://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/europe_gaz.pdf

frackingishell

reilig wrote: »

Tuppence,

That doesn't make sense to me. Can you put it in simpler language as to what the difference is between what Colrow is talking about and you are talking about?

Also, why could this process that Colrow is talking about not be used in the Lough Allen Basin and would you object to it??

Rellig, why don't you ask Colrow to find all that out for you, seeing as he's the one who brought it up on here.? What an odd thing to do- to NOT ask the guy who first mentioned it??? Surely the onus is on him.

Out at sea it's probably straight down well without the chemicals, or else the guy that was talking to Colrow is a complete liar and they are using chemicals, not wanting insiders blowing the whistle. Who knows. Don't take everything you read on here at face value.

One thing i will say is that fracking on land goes down, then goes sideways to interact with as much rock as possible. Nobody here knows what direction the ones in the North Sea go ( i actually don't think there's any fracking going on in the North sea, i think that's a bull**** story....) but ASSUMING it's true, we know nothing about it, so until we get some North sea fracking expert on here, or more concrete information, the point (if there was one???) is moot, and it's completely irrelevant to Fracking on land in ireland.

reilig

First of all, there's no need to direct any of your posts in bold writing to me. I can read.

I asked Tuppence because I did not understand the reply that he gave and I thought he might be able to explain it in laymans terms so that everyone who reads it could understand it. People who aren't familiar with the fracking debate lose interest very quickly in an article when it is difficult to understand and they usually don't finish reading it so the poster's point is lost.

I understand what Colrow said, I don't need to ask him again.

I most agree with your point about not taking everything on here at face value.

Just because a group are protesting does not mean that they are the majority or that they are right. (A quote from an intending Green Party County Councillor in the last local election)

People need to get a view from both sides instead of having one opinion rammed down their throath all the time!

Finally, as you said, nobody here knows anything about Fracking in the North Sea. Might it not be worth while exploring if they actually use methods of Fracking in the North Sea without chemicals which would be useful for use in the Lough Allen Basin also?

Perhaps it could become very relevant and help remove people's fears of the chemicals used in Fracking??

Edit: Do we have a "Fracking on Land " Expert on here giving us concrete information or are we just assuming that everything posted here is true? I'm not pro or anti fracking. I just asked in a post at the beginning of this thread if we could have more information about fracking so that I could make my own decision on it. However, it appears to me that this thread has no intention of looking at both sides of the argument and is just a tool to rally the anti-fracking troops.

frackingishell wrote: »

Rellig, why don't you ask Colrow to find all that out for you, seeing as he's the one who brought it up on here.? What an odd thing to do- to NOT ask the guy who first mentioned it??? Surely the onus is on him.

Out at sea it's probably straight down well without the chemicals, or else the guy that was talking to Colrow is a complete liar and they are using chemicals, not wanting insiders blowing the whistle. Who knows. Don't take everything you read on here at face value.

One thing i will say is that fracking on land goes down, then goes sideways to interact with as much rock as possible. Nobody here knows what direction the ones in the North Sea go ( i actually don't think there's any fracking going on in the North sea, i think that's a bull**** story....) but ASSUMING it's true, we know nothing about it, so until we get some North sea fracking expert on here, or more concrete information, the point (if there was one???) is moot, and it's completely irrelevant to Fracking on land in ireland.

Username John

tuppence wrote: »

Last Thursdays Prine Time on gas extraction in the North West. Part of progr 14.5o mins in approx.
http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=1109605

I saw fracking bit on Primetime - I am not living in the North West, but watched cos I have been half following this thread.

I thought the anti-fracking rep on the show didnt do well. She seemed to not answer the questions posed, and just came across as saying "Well, whatever you say, I am not going to believe it"
Now, maybe she was justified in doing this, but I felt she didnt back it up with valid arguements.

I appreciate that it maybe a bit of a David vs Goliath battle, when debating against a CEO of a company like that, who probably has had serious media training, etc.

But I found it a bit disappointing, that it wasnt more of a debate.

Just my opinion...

Oldtree

came across this today, FIE requesting info from the gov:

http://www.friendsoftheirishenvironment.net/friendswork/index.php?action=view&id=914

the relpy when it comes should be informative and give the offical view point.

colrow

Hi Reilig et al,

Hi Reilig et al, I'm a control systems engineer, and I've just finished working on the pre-commissioning of the Clipper South platform, this is just a platform that connects to wells that are drilled, and sends the gas onwards to the Loggs field. A jack up rig does the actual drilling,the wells are drilled down to a 1000 metres then turn to be horizontal wells for 4 to 5 kms. The pipes that are the farthest away, are pulled back to the surface and pipes with holes in sent back down, hydraulic pressure and sand is blasted down the pipes, this goes out through the holes and fractures the rock, the pipes are with withdrawn and more perforated pipes are added, and the process is repeated untill all of the horizontal well is fitted with perforated pipes

I can assure you Fracking is taking place in the North Sea, and could you imagine the problems caused if the process was dumping chemicals in the sea, its illegal, and they just use sand and water, afaik.

Hers a pic of the Clipper platform.