Fracturing

Nearly a week after a bill that would temporarily block hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the Empire State landed on his desk, New York Gov. David Paterson has not decided if he will sign or veto the legislation.

In a unanimous vote, Arkansas regulators have agreed to give the public access to the ingredients of hydraulic fracturing (frack) fluid used to stimulate wells in their state, but they can’t have the recipe. The new rule will apply to wells permitted after Jan. 15.

Halliburton Co.said it has reached an agreement to turn over to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) all documents related to fluids used in the controversial hydraulic fracturing (fracking) process, ending a battle that could have landed in court.

New York state lawmakers have no plans to extend their proposed ban on the issuance of new permits for drilling involving hydraulic fracturing (fracking) beyond the May 15 deadline included in a bill recently passed by both chambers of the state’s legislature, according to Assemblyman Robert Sweeney (D-Suffolk County).

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is investigating a hydraulic fracturing (fracking) fluid spill at a natural gas well pad operated by ExxonMobil Corp. subsidiary XTO Energy Corp.

The controversy over hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the production of shale gas was a key issue in a congressional race in upstate New York. Rep. Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), a vocal critic of fracking who is seeking his 10th two-year term, was leading George Phillips, a Republican from Broome County, NY, who supports shale development and state regulation of fracking, by 90,412 to 82,292, or 52.4% to 47.5% on election night, but Phillips refused to concede as of Friday, the Daily Freeman reported. Phillips said he was awaiting the outcome of 12,600 absentee votes that remain to be counted. Fracking was an issue in House races in Pennsylvania and in Texas, but the race in New York was “the most contentious one,” said Phillips spokesman Jazz Shaw. Fracking, which is used to stimulate many shale wells, is a process in which fluids are injected at high pressure into underground rock formations to fracture the rock and increase the flow of fossil fuels. “The public made [fracking] an issue” in the congressional race, Shaw said.

The controversy over hydraulic fracturing (fracking) in the production of shale gas has become a major issue in a tight congressional race in upstate New York.

Companies in Arkansas would have to reveal all of the chemicals they will use during hydraulic fracturing (fracking) operations at new natural gas wells in the state prior to fracking, according to rule changes being considered by the state’s Oil and Gas Commission (AOGC).

Canada nor its provinces have adequate regulations in place to address the scale or cumulative impact of hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) on water resources, according to a report issued on Thursday by the water program at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs.