While some North Texas residents are less than enthusiastic about the growing impact of gas production in the Barnett Shale, the Texas Railroad Commission (RRC) has begun a public awareness campaign to explain its regulatory oversight process for natural gas drilling and ultimately to increase the effectiveness of the commission’s oversight of the huge natural gas play.

The Barnett Shale, which is estimated to hold at least 26 Tcf of gas, so far has created 55,000 permanent jobs in the 18 counties surrounding the Fort Worth area, and it has generated an annual economic benefit for the area of more than $5 billion, according to the RRC. However, the incredible growth has a downside, and protests by area residents and area municipalities are growing about the noise from drilling rigs, the destruction of roads and traffic congestion To ensure that there is a dialogue between the stakeholders and regulators, the RRC appointed Commissioner Victor Carillo to meet with those affected to discuss regulatory issues and concerns.

Carillo, who was recently appointed by the U.S. Secretary of Energy to a national advisory committee on unconventional resources, said he wanted to “advance a better understanding of our agency’s work in the Barnett Shale region. As a former practicing geoscientist, I am particularly interested in the responsible development of this important natural gas resource. While Texas has a long tradition of oil and gas production in urban areas going back many decades, I realize that this is a new issue for many residents in the Fort Worth metroplex.”

Carillo said that in the coming months he will meet with city and county leaders throughout the Barnett Shale region “to listen to their concerns and suggestions and to discuss areas of mutual cooperation and improvement.”

Because of the growth in the Barnett, RRC regional inspections have doubled to 14,194 in fiscal 2007 from 7,397 inspections in fiscal 2002. Inspections in Tarrant County, TX, where Fort Worth is located, rose more than 700% to 713 in fiscal 2007 from 100 in fiscal 2002. The growth led the RRC to reassign field staff positions to district offices that cover the Barnett Shale from less active areas of the state. In addition, on Sept. 1, RRC changed its Barnett Shale field oversight to enhance the inspection process and to respond to emergencies and citizen complaints in the field.

The RRC also is facing a looming wastewater disposal problem. Because of an increase in applications for new saltwater disposal facilities, the RRC has begun urging producers to dispose of saltwater waste in the Ellenberger formation. In addition to being below the Barnett Shale reservoir, the Ellenberger formation contains fewer oil and gas well penetrations and is located farther from freshwater zones, the RRC noted.

The RRC developed a page on its website to answer residents’ frequently asked questions about gas exploration and production in their communities. For information, visit www.rrc.state.tx.us/barnettshale/index.html.

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