DRUMHELLER, ALBERTA: A landmark lawsuit against an energy giant and two Alberta government regulatory agencies concerning water well contamination by hydraulic fracturing started with an unusual twist in Alberta's Court of Queen's Bench yesterday.
US Pipelines Incidents Are a Daily Occurrence
Matt Kelso, Fracktracker.org, Apr 15 2013
Recently, there has been a lot of attention focused on the Mayflower, Arkansas pipeline failure that resulted in a massive oil spill, particularly as it comes at a time when discussions of the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline project are once again heating up. However, the situation is far from unusual. In fact, according to data downloaded from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), there were 1,887 incidents in the nation’s gathering and transmission, distribution, and hazardous liquids pipelines between January 1, 2010 and March 29, 2013, or an average of 1.6 incidents per day.
Drill Baby Drill
In this landmark report, PCI Fossil Fuel Fellow David Hughes takes a far-ranging and painstakingly researched look at the prospects for various unconventional fuels to provide energy abundance for the United States in the 21st Century. While the report examines a range of energy sources, the centerpiece of “Drill, Baby, Drill” is a critical analysis of shale gas and shale oil (tight oil) and the potential of a shale “revolution.”
| Executive Summary | Full Report | Shale Maps | Shale Graphs |
Fracked Gas Won't Solve Energy Crunch
Andrew Nikiforuk, TheTyee.ca, Feb 23 2013
Conserving key to energy independence concludes geologist David Hughes.
Is B.C.'s gas like Alberta's tar sands? Yes, in many ways, so it's about time we talked about it
Derrick O'Keefe, rabble.ca, Jan 31 2013
Earlier today in Vancouver, top officials of the B.C. government joined a day-long seminar -- or, more accurately, a love-in -- with the fossil fuel export industry organized by the Vancouver Board of Trade.
Methane leaks erode green credentials of natural gas
Jeff Tollefson, Nature, 02 January 2013
Losses of up to 9% show need for broader data on US gas industry’s environmental impact.
B.C.’s Sacred Headwaters to remain protected from drilling
Mark Hume, Globe and Mail, Dec. 18 2012
VANCOUVER —Oil and gas development is to be banned from a 400,000-hectare area in northwestern British Columbia known as the Sacred Headwaters, The Globe and Mail has learned.
Agreement brings resolution to gas tenure in Northwest
News Release, Government of BC, December 18, 2012
VICTORIA - Today, the government of British Columbia joined the Tahltan Central Council (TCC) and Shell Canada (Shell) to announce an agreement has been reached to resolve the status of natural-gas tenure in the Klappan area of northwest B.C.
Will Fracking Help Or Hinder the Fight Against Climate Change?
Keith Kloor, Discover Magazine, 29 Aug 2012
5,000 People Unite in DC to Protest Fracking
Stefanie Spear, Ecowatch, July 28 2012
More than 5,000 people from all over the nation, and various parts of the world including Australia, united today on the West lawn of the U.S. Capitol demanding Congress take immediate action to stop fracking. After the rally that began at 2 p.m., rally participants marched for more than one hour, stopping at the headquarters of the America’s Natural Gas Alliance and American Petroleum Institute.
Drillers face first class-action suit for triggered temblors
Mike Soraghan, E&E EnergyWire, July 5, 2012
What may be the first class-action suit against oil and gas companies for unleashing earthquakes is working its way through the federal courts in Arkansas.
Landmark fracking lawsuit starts with twist in Alberta
By April 27, 2012
Schlumberger outlines future roadmap for fracking
By John Kemp, Reuters, Calgary Herald, April 20, 2012
LONDON — Hydraulic fracturing has already transformed the North American gas industry, and has the potential to revolutionize gas production and eventually oil output worldwide.
Woman wins hard fought battle for information
ALEX McCUAIG, Medicine Hat News, April 18 2012
An outspoken critic of coalbed methane fracking has won a comprehensive and long fought decision for the release of information regarding the natural gas recovery practice.
Fracking causes earthquakes, studies confirm
The Canadian Press, CBC News, Apr 17, 2012
Two separate studies are providing insights into the earth-shaking consequences of the controversial gas extraction process known as fracking.
Oilpatch awaits results of studies on link between seismic activity, earthquakes
Dina O'Meara, Calgary Herals, April 11 2012
Questions linger about impacts of deep well injections, hydraulic fracturing by oil industry
Hunt for Gas Hits Fragile Soil, and South Africans Fear Risks
By IAN URBINA, New York Times, December 30, 2011
KAROO, South Africa — When a drought dried up their wells last year, hundreds of farmers and their families flocked to local fairgrounds here to pray for rain, and a call went out on the regional radio station imploring South Africans to donate bottled water.
Fracking Cracks the Public Consciousness in 2011
by Abrahm Lustgarten, ProPublica, Dec. 29, 2011
This is part of our year-end series, looking at where things stand in each of our major investigations.
This was the year that "fracking" became a household word.
Burning Love
Elizabeth Kolbert, New Yorker, December 5, 2011
Americans have never met a hydrocarbon they didn’t like. Oil, natural gas, liquefied natural gas, tar-sands oil, coal-bed methane, and coal, which is, mostly, carbon—the country loves them all, not wisely, but too well. To the extent that the United States has an energy policy, it is perhaps best summed up as: if you’ve got it, burn it.
B.C. agency probes possible link between gas 'fracking' and earthquakes
By Gordon Hoekstra, Postmedia News, September 29, 2011
VANCOUVER — B.C.'s energy regulator says it will investigate a link between hydraulic fracturing and new earthquake activity in the extreme northeastern corner of B.C.
Another Major Water Pipeline Approved Without Promised Public Consultation
News Release, MLAs Vicky Huntington & Bob Simpson, October 6th 2011
This week it was revealed that the BC government has approved yet another major water licence, despite an explicit promise to consult with the public before doing so. This second licence will allow upward of 7.3 billion litres of water per year to be removed annually from the Williston Reservoir.
B.C. natural gas activity on upswing as national production projected to fall: report
By BRIAN MORTON, Vancouver Sun, September 21, 2011
Conference Board of Canada calls province’s shale gas outlook ‘decidedly more positive’
Premier promises online details on shale gas activity
By Scott Simpson, Vancouver Sun, September 9, 2011
Public can inspect drilling locations, chemicals used in fracking, Clark says
Premier Christy Clark on Thursday announced new rules that will increase transparency around hydraulic fracturing methods used in British Columbia's natural gas industry.
France Becomes First Nation To Ban Fracking
by Gina-Marie Cheeseman, Care2.com, July 6, 2011
France became the first nation to ban the use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking in drilling for natural gas and oil on June 30 when French senators voted to ban the practice. Oil and gas companies operating in France with fracking permits will have them revoked according to the legislation passed by a 176 to 151 vote. The bill passed the National Assembly on June 21.
'Fracking' Connected to Quakes?
ABC Nightline News, April 21, 2011
Is the mining technique called fracking leading to more quakes?
Health Act inquiry into threats posed by sour gas may be step closer
Ben Parfitt, The Tyee, March 30, 2011
A local citizens' initiative aimed at highlighting the health threats posed by sour gas wells in B.C.’s energy-rich Peace River region appears to be gaining momentum, but whether or not it will result in a public inquiry remains to be seen.
