Pressure Mounts For Further Study of "Hydro-Fracking"
Friday, January 6th, 2012 -- 1:42 PM
We?ve been mining a lot of sand in this area for the hydraulic fracturing process in other parts of the country, but Colorado is leading what might become a new push to slow down that?s industries growth.Colorado recently enacted the toughest fracking disclosure rules in the country as fears grow about the possible impact on the country?s ground water.
During hydraulic fracturing, oil and natural gas trapped in underground shale is released as miners drill straight down, past aquifers, and then horizontally along shale formations. The fractures are located up to 12,000 feet below the earth's surface.
Liquid is pumped along each horizontal shaft at high pressure causing fractures in the shale through which oil or gas can be extracted. The sand that's being mined in western and central Wisonsin is used to ?prop? open the fracture.
Experts say most of that liquid is water, but sometimes chemicals are used. The companies are reluctant to release information about those chemicals, but the new rules in Colorado will disclose to the public at least the chemical family of each chemical they use.
The Centers for Disease Control maintains that not enough is known about the possible effects of those chemicals on the ground water and that further studies are needed.
While we have plenty of sand around here, we have no shale deposits.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.