For me, this article on climate change was very sobering. I have been in denial lately as to the extent and rapidity of climate change and its potential impact.
From the International Herald Tribune, an article on measuring Greenland's ice sheet:
http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/01/07/healthscience/ice.php
My New Years Resolution - try and be carbon neutral. I will let you know how it goes.
Here is a link to a good blog that focuses on Carbon issues: http://carbonfund.blogspot.com/
Also, be sure to check out the Carbon Counter I have linked below.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Updates - Finally!
Wow, have I been behind in updating. October was a busy month apparently...
I have a few interesting things today, which I need to write about in greater detail when time affords.
Below are links to a recent report from the NRDC on the potential environmental harm from Oil and Gas production practices and some articles on Congressional hearings that focused on one aspect of those practices - hydraulic fracturing.
For those that may be unaware, let me give a very brief, very simple example of hydraulic fracturing. For a 500 foot deep Coal Bed Natural Gas well that will produce gas from a coal zone 15 feet thick, first we perforate the casing (put holes in it) along the zone we will produce from. We then pump 1500 bbls (63,000 gallons) of municipal or similar quality water (approved by the various regulatory agencies - BLM, WOGCC) at a rate of, ideally, 80 gallons per minute, with a pressure of up to 700 psi. This 'opens up' the coal and allows more gas to flow out. Other, far more complex, methods of fracturing for very deep oil and conventional gas wells may include the use of special chemicals, treated water, or diesel, mixed with sands or other particles to open up the producing zones and keep them open. Most wells cannot produce without some sort of fracturing of the zone. There is a lot of very technical literature on this out there, so I will do my best in the near future to properly summarize this debate and the various arguments.
I have a few interesting things today, which I need to write about in greater detail when time affords.
Below are links to a recent report from the NRDC on the potential environmental harm from Oil and Gas production practices and some articles on Congressional hearings that focused on one aspect of those practices - hydraulic fracturing.
For those that may be unaware, let me give a very brief, very simple example of hydraulic fracturing. For a 500 foot deep Coal Bed Natural Gas well that will produce gas from a coal zone 15 feet thick, first we perforate the casing (put holes in it) along the zone we will produce from. We then pump 1500 bbls (63,000 gallons) of municipal or similar quality water (approved by the various regulatory agencies - BLM, WOGCC) at a rate of, ideally, 80 gallons per minute, with a pressure of up to 700 psi. This 'opens up' the coal and allows more gas to flow out. Other, far more complex, methods of fracturing for very deep oil and conventional gas wells may include the use of special chemicals, treated water, or diesel, mixed with sands or other particles to open up the producing zones and keep them open. Most wells cannot produce without some sort of fracturing of the zone. There is a lot of very technical literature on this out there, so I will do my best in the near future to properly summarize this debate and the various arguments.
NRDC Report
Below is info on a recent report from the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) on the pontential effects of various aspects of oil and gas production and facilities. I hope that, as I read through it, there is more than just a bunch of rhetoric.
Also, here is a link to an associated article from the Denver Post:
Oil, gas sites blamed for health woes -
By Christa Marshall
Fumes and wastes from oil-and-gas operations appear to have made people sick, and the pollutants need more federal regulation, Coloradans told a congressional committee Wednesday.
View Full Story
Drilling Down Protecting Western Communities from the Health and Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Production
Oil and gas production releases pollution that can have serious impacts on people's health and the surrounding air, water, and land. Although these operations are frequently located near homes, schools, and other community resources, the oil and gas industry enjoys numerous exemptions from provisions of federal laws intended to protect human health and the environment. This October 2007 report provides a comprehensive assessment of these loopholes, which allow oil and gas companies to continue polluting despite the risks, and describes the available, often economical solutions for using technology to reduce environmental contamination. The report also includes personal stories from people living in communities affected by oil and gas drilling.
OVERVIEW & QUICK REFERENCE Fact Sheet (376 kb pdf)
FULL REPORT IN PDF Adobe Acrobat file (1.9 mb)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
Introduction
Chapter 1: Chemicals Involved in Oil and Gas Production Can Harm Health
Chapter 2: Unchecked Emissions from Oil and Gas Facilities Can Pollute Our Air
Chapter 3: Activities at Oil and Gas Facilities Can Pollute Our Water
Chapter 4: Toxic Substances Associated with Oil and Gas Facilities Can Pollute Our Land
Chapter 5: Solutions to Oil and Gas Pollution Problems Are Available, Often Economical, and Often Easy
Conclusion and Recommendations
Also, here is a link to an associated article from the Denver Post:
Oil, gas sites blamed for health woes -
By Christa Marshall
Fumes and wastes from oil-and-gas operations appear to have made people sick, and the pollutants need more federal regulation, Coloradans told a congressional committee Wednesday.
View Full Story
Drilling Down Protecting Western Communities from the Health and Environmental Effects of Oil and Gas Production
Oil and gas production releases pollution that can have serious impacts on people's health and the surrounding air, water, and land. Although these operations are frequently located near homes, schools, and other community resources, the oil and gas industry enjoys numerous exemptions from provisions of federal laws intended to protect human health and the environment. This October 2007 report provides a comprehensive assessment of these loopholes, which allow oil and gas companies to continue polluting despite the risks, and describes the available, often economical solutions for using technology to reduce environmental contamination. The report also includes personal stories from people living in communities affected by oil and gas drilling.
OVERVIEW & QUICK REFERENCE Fact Sheet (376 kb pdf)
FULL REPORT IN PDF Adobe Acrobat file (1.9 mb)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary
Introduction
Chapter 1: Chemicals Involved in Oil and Gas Production Can Harm Health
Chapter 2: Unchecked Emissions from Oil and Gas Facilities Can Pollute Our Air
Chapter 3: Activities at Oil and Gas Facilities Can Pollute Our Water
Chapter 4: Toxic Substances Associated with Oil and Gas Facilities Can Pollute Our Land
Chapter 5: Solutions to Oil and Gas Pollution Problems Are Available, Often Economical, and Often Easy
Conclusion and Recommendations
Congressional Hearings on Hydraulic Fracturing
Congressional hearings in Washington yesterday focused on 'hydraulic fracturing' and its potential effects on ground water. The below articles give a brief rundown, but as is typical are somewhat confused and misleading on the practice. Also related to this is a report from the NRDC on the practice and pollution from Oil and Gas production in general. (I have posted a link in the above post.)
I need to write a bit more about this when I have time and have read through the NRDC report, but from what I have read and seen before on concerns about hydraulic fracturing and having seen it in practice, concerns are misplaced and the arguements against it are misleading.
From the Houston Chronicle
Drilling method's safety in dispute
By DAVID IVANOVICH
WASHINGTON — Is a common oil and gas drilling technique making people ill?
A House panel Wednesday grappled with concerns that chemicals used in "hydraulic fracturing," a process to boost oil and gas production, could pollute nearby drinking water or be released into the air and sicken local residents.
"Oil and gas companies can pump hundreds of thousands of gallons of fluid — containing any number of toxic chemicals — into sources of drinking water with little or no accountability," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/5262979.html
From the Missoulian
Experts, oil and gas industry at odds on water exemptions
Posted on Oct. 31
WASHINGTON - Congress should end exemptions from environmental and health regulations enjoyed by the oil and gas industry, scientists and conservationists testified Wednesday.
The witnesses told a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing that the exemptions have harmed the land and people's health. But industry witnesses disputed that.
For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/10/31/bnews/br45.txt
I need to write a bit more about this when I have time and have read through the NRDC report, but from what I have read and seen before on concerns about hydraulic fracturing and having seen it in practice, concerns are misplaced and the arguements against it are misleading.
From the Houston Chronicle
Drilling method's safety in dispute
By DAVID IVANOVICH
WASHINGTON — Is a common oil and gas drilling technique making people ill?
A House panel Wednesday grappled with concerns that chemicals used in "hydraulic fracturing," a process to boost oil and gas production, could pollute nearby drinking water or be released into the air and sicken local residents.
"Oil and gas companies can pump hundreds of thousands of gallons of fluid — containing any number of toxic chemicals — into sources of drinking water with little or no accountability," said Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/biz/5262979.html
From the Missoulian
Experts, oil and gas industry at odds on water exemptions
Posted on Oct. 31
WASHINGTON - Congress should end exemptions from environmental and health regulations enjoyed by the oil and gas industry, scientists and conservationists testified Wednesday.
The witnesses told a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing that the exemptions have harmed the land and people's health. But industry witnesses disputed that.
For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/10/31/bnews/br45.txt
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