For more information, visit
www.oakgov.com/water
History of hydraulic fracturing
 Low volume vertical hydraulic fracturing is a technology used in more
than 1 million wells in the U.S. since the 1940s to help produce oil and
natural gas.
 It involves pumping 50,000 to 100,00 gallons of a water-chemical-sand
mixture into underground rock layers where the oil or gas is trapped.
 The fracking fluid under intense pressure creates tiny fissures in the
reservoir rock.
 The sand and chemicals hold open the fissures, allowing the oil or gas to
escape and flow back up the well, along with fracking fluids and deep
earth compounds.
History of hydraulic fracturing
 Since 2002 a new technology has developed, combining deep horizontal
drilling with hydraulic fracturing, called horizontal slickwater hydraulic
fracturing and know as “fracking” today. This technique began in Michigan
around 2010.
 This method has used from 5 to 21 million gallons of freshwater per well in
Michigan (future wells could go much higher) mixed with chemicals and
sand pumped up to two miles or more into the Earth then turned horizontal
for two miles or more.
 The mechanics are the same as low volume but the community and
environmental impacts and potential problems are magnified.
Fracking in Michigan since 2010
HIGH VOLUME HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
ACTIVE APPLICATIONS AND ISSUED PERMITS - SINCE 2008*
AS OF 2/11/2013
DELTA
EMMET
As of 3/11/13
53 permitted
12 drilled
7 pending
2 failed
2 abandoned
CHEBOYGAN
PN60328 VERTICAL
PRESQUE ISLE
PN60133 VERTICAL
PN60170 HORIZONTAL
PN60562 VERTICAL
PN60606 HORIZONTAL
A120046 VERTICAL
PN60305 VERTICAL
CHARLEVOIX
PN60137 VERTICAL
LEELANAU
PN60041 VERTICAL
A110068 HORIZONTAL
A130031 HORIZONTAL
A130032 HORIZONTAL
PN60600 VERTICAL
PN60601 HORIZONTAL
GRAND
TRAVERSE
A130033 HORIZONTAL
A130034 HORIZONTAL
A130035 HORIZONTAL
CRAWFORD
PN60183 VERTICAL
PN60360 HORIZONTAL
PN60138 VERTICAL
PN60198 HORIZONTAL
BENZIE
ALPENA
MONTMORENCY
OTSEGO
ANTRIM
ALCONA
OSCODA
PN60546 HORIZONTAL
KALKASKA
PN60545 HORIZONTAL
PN60389 HORIZONTAL
PN60357 VERTICAL
PN60620 VERTICAL
PN60621 HORIZONTAL
PN60685 VERTICAL
PN60686 HORIZONTAL
PN60579 HORIZONTAL
PN59919 VERTICAL
PN59979 HORIZONTAL
MANISTEE
PN60161 HORIZONTAL
IOSCO
ROSCOMMON OGEMAW
MISSAUKEE
WEXFORD
PN60581 VERTICAL
PN60559 VERTICAL
PN60560 HORIZONTAL
PN60582 HORIZONTAL
PN59449 VERTICAL
PN60617 HORIZONTAL
PN60670 VERTICAL
PN60672 HORIZONTAL
PN60525 VERTICAL
PN60526 HORIZONTAL
ARENAC
PN60379 VERTICAL
PN60380 HORIZONTAL
MASON
CLARE
OSCEOLA
LAKE
PN60451 VERTICAL
PN60452 HORIZONTAL
GLADWIN
PN59173 HORIZONTAL
HURON
BAY
PN60574 VERTICAL
PN60575 HORIZONTAL
ISABELLA
MECOSTA
OCEANA
MIDLAND
NEWAYGO
TUSCOLA
SAGINAW
GRATIOT
MONTCALM
MUSKEGON
PN59912 VERTICAL
SANILAC
LAPEER
GENESEE
KENT
OTTAWA
IONIA
ST. CLAIR
SHIAWASSEE
CLINTON
PN60614 VERTICAL
PN60615 HORIZONTAL
OAKLAND
VAN BUREN
KALAMAZOO
CASS
ST. JOSEPH
CALHOUN
MACOMB
LIVINGSTON
INGHAM
EATON
BARRY
ALLEGAN
WAYNE
WASHTENAW
JACKSON
PN60674 HORIZONTAL
BERRIEN
PN60212 HORIZONTAL
BRANCH
PN60536 VERTICAL
PN60537 HORIZONTAL
PN60662 HORIZONTAL
PN60588 HORIZONTAL
PN60587 HORIZONTAL
LENAWEE
MONROE
HILLSDALE
HIGH VOLUME (>100,000 gallons) HYDRAULIC FRACTURING SINCE 2008 - ACTIVE PERMITS
#
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
Permit #
59112
59173
59449
59979
60041
60133
60137
60138
60161
60170
60183
60198
60212
60305
60328
60357
60360
60379
60380
60389
60451
60452
60525
60526
60536
60537
60545
60546
60559
60560
60562
60574
60575
60579
60581
60582
60587
60588
60600
60601
60606
60614
60615
60617
60620
60621
60662
60670
60672
60674
60685
52 60686
Company Name
BEACON EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION CO LLC
CIMAREX ENERGY CO
O I L NIAGARAN LLC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
MERIT ENERGY COMPANY
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ATLAS RESOURCES LLC
ATLAS RESOURCES LLC
ATLAS RESOURCES LLC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ATLAS RESOURCES LLC
CONTINENTAL RESOURCES INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY LP
DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY LP
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY LP
DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY LP
DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY LP
DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY LP
CONTINENTAL RESOURCES INC
CONTINENTAL RESOURCES INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY LP
DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY LP
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ALTA ENERGY OPERATING LLC
ALTA ENERGY OPERATING LLC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY LP
DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY LP
COUNTRYMARK ENERGY RESOURCES LLC
COUNTRYMARK ENERGY RESOURCES LLC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ROSETTA RESOURCES OPERATING LP
ROSETTA RESOURCES OPERATING LP
DEVON ENERGY PRODUCTION COMPANY LP
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
COUNTRYMARK ENERGY RESOURCES LLC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
MUZYL OIL CORPORATION
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
Well Name
SCHULTZ
SOPER
HENKEL
PIONEER
HUBBEL
KENDALL
STATE MANCELONA
LUCAS
STATE NORWICH
STATE KOEHLER & KENDALL
STATE EXCELSIOR
LUCAS
KELLY ET AL
STATE WILMOT
STATE TUSCARORA
STATE OLIVER
STATE EXCELSIOR
CRONK
CRONK
STATE EXCELSIOR
WILEY
WILEY
SCHICK
SCHICK
MCNAIR ET AL
MCNAIR ET AL
STATE EXCELSIOR
STATE EXCELSIOR
STATE RICHFIELD
STATE RICHFIELD
STATE MENTOR
RILEY
RILEY
STATE GARFIELD
DAVID'S ACRES, LLC
DAVID'S ACRES, LLC
ARNO
ARNO & TIMMONS
WESTERMAN
WESTERMAN
STATE MENTOR
CHRISTENSEN
CHRISTENSEN
YOUNKMAN
STATE BEAVER CREEK
STATE BEAVER CREEK
STIVERSON & FRENCH
STATE ROSCOMMON
STATE ROSCOMMON
BURNS
STATE GARFIELD
Well No
1--36
1-25 HD1
D4-24
1-3 HD1
2-22 HD1
1-33
1-28
1-13
1-6 HD1
1-27 HD1
1-24
1-13 HD1
1-26 HD1
1--21
1--34
1-1
1-13 HD1
1-24 P
1-24 HD1
1-25 HD1
1-18 P
1-18 HD1
1-7P
1-7HD1
1-26 P
1-26 HD1
2-25 HD1
3-25 HD1
1-27P
1-34 HD1
1-17
1-22
1-22 HD1
1-25 HD1
1-19 P
1-19 HD1
1-25 HD1
1-24 HD1
1-29
1-32 HD1
1-17 HD1
1-21 P
1-21 HD1
1-29 HD1
C3-11
1-23 HD1
1-25 HD1
D1-17
1-7 HD1
A1-23 HD1
1-26
County
SANILAC
OSCEOLA
MISSAUKEE
MISSAUKEE
MONTMORENCY
CHEBOYGAN
ANTRIM
KALKASKA
MISSAUKEE
CHEBOYGAN
KALKASKA
KALKASKA
HILLSDALE
CHEBOYGAN
CHEBOYGAN
KALKASKA
KALKASKA
GLADWIN
GLADWIN
KALKASKA
GLADWIN
GLADWIN
CLARE
CLARE
HILLSDALE
HILLSDALE
KALKASKA
KALKASKA
ROSCOMMON
ROSCOMMON
CHEBOYGAN
OCEANA
OCEANA
KALKASKA
OGEMAW
OGEMAW
HILLSDALE
HILLSDALE
KALKASKA
KALKASKA
CHEBOYGAN
IONIA
IONIA
MISSAUKEE
CRAWFORD
CRAWFORD
HILLSDALE
ROSCOMMON
ROSCOMMON
HILLSDALE
KALKASKA
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
STATE GARFIELD
1-23 HD1
HILLSDALE
Company Name
MERIT ENERGY COMPANY
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
ENCANA OIL AND GAS USA INC
Well Name
STATE MANCELONA
STATE WILMONT
STATE EXCELSIOR
STATE EXCELSIOR
STATE EXCELSIOR
STATE EXCELSIOR
STATE EXCELSIOR
Wellhead T R S
12N 15E 36
17N 10W 25
21N 6W 24
24N 7W 3
29N 1E 22
35N 2W 33
29N 5W 28
26N 8W 13
24N 6W 6
35N 2W 33
27N 6W 24
26N 8W 13
6S 2W 26
33N 3W 21
35N 5W 34
26N 6W 1
27N 6W 24
19N 1W 24
19N 1W 24
26N 6W 1
18N 2W 18
18N 2W 18
19N 3W 7
19N 3W 7
6S 2W 26
6S 2W 26
26N 6W 1
26N 6W 1
22N 1W 27
22N 1W 27
34N 3W 17
15N 18W 22
15N 18W 22
25N 6W 36
22N 4E 19
22N 4E 19
6S 2W 25
6S 2W 24
28N 8W 29
28N 8W 29
34N 3W 17
6N 6W 21
6N 6W 21
21N 8W 29
25N 4W 11
25N 4W 11
6S 2W 24
21N 4W 17
21N 4W 17
6S 2W 23
25N 6W 26
comments
well completed Feb. 2012
well completed Aug. 2008
proposed deepening of Antrim permit
well completed Feb 2010
well completed June. 2011
permit for vertical well
permit for vertical well
permit for vertical well
permit for horizontal well
well completed Oct 2010
permit for vertical well
permit for horizontal well (60138)
well completed Sept. 2011
well completed July 2011
permit for vertical well
permit for vertical well
well completed Nov 2011
permit for vertical well
permit for horizontal well
well completed Nov 2011
permit for vertical well
well completed may/june 2012
permit for vertical well
well not hydraulic fractured
permit for vertical well
permit for horizontal well
permit for horizontal well
permit for horizontal well
permit for vertical well
permit for horizontal well (60559)
permit for vertical well
permit for vertical well
permit for horizontal well (60574)
permit for horizontal well
permit for vertical well
well not hydraulic fractured
permit for horizontal well
permit for horizontal well
permit for vertical well
permit for horizontal well
permit for horizontal well (60562)
permit for vertical well
permit for horizontal well
permit for horizontal well
permit for vertical well
permit for horizontal well
permit for horizontal well
permit for vertical well
permit for horizontal well
permit for horizontal well
permit for vertical well
25N 6W 26
permit for horizontal well
target formation
A1 Carbonate
Antrim
Utica-Collingwood
Utica-Collingwood
Niagaran
Utica-Collingwood
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
Utica-Collingwood
Utica-Collingwood
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
Utica-Collingwood
Black River (Van Wert)
Utica-Collingwood
Utica-Collingwood
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
Utica-Collingwood
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
A1 Carbonate
Utica-Collingwood
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
A1 Carbonate
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
A1 Carbonate
Black River (Van Wert)
Black River (Van Wert)
Utica-Collingwood
Utica-Collingwood
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
Collingwood
Utica-Collingwood
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
A1 Carbonate
Utica-Collingwood
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
A1 Carbonate
Black River (Van Wert)
Black River (Van Wert)
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
Utica-Collingwood
Utica-Collingwood
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
A1 Carbonate
Utica
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
Utica-Collingwood
Black River (Van Wert)
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
Utica-Collingwood
Black River (Van Wert)
PILOT - Not to be Hydraulic Fractured
Utica-Collingwood
Well type
Oil
Gas
Dry Hole
Gas
Oil
Dry hole
Dry Hole
Dry Hole
Dry Hole
Oil
Dry Hole
Not available
Oil
Oil
Location
Dry Hole
Gas
Dry Hole
Gas
Gas
Other
Gas
Other
Other
Other
Oil
Location
Location
Other
Gas
Location
Other
Location
Location
Other
Other
Location
Location
Location
Location
Location
Location
Location
Location
Location
Location
Location
Location
Location
location
Location
Well status
Shut-in
Plugging complete
Plugging complete
Shut-in
Producing
Well complete
Temporarily abandoned
Plugging complete. HD permitted
Temporarily abandoned
Temporarily abandoned
Plugging complete. HD drilled
Temporarily abandoned
Producing
Plugging complete
Permitted Well
Well complete. HD drilled
Producing
Well Complete
Well Complete
Producing
Well Complete
Temporarily abandoned
Well Complete
Well Complete
Plugging complete
Producing
Drilling complete
Permitted Well
Well Complete
Well Complete
Permitted Well
Plugged back
Drilling complete
Permitted Well
Well Complete
Well Complete
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Permitted Well
Location
Permitted Well
Confidential
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
YES
YES
NO
YES
*
Legend
ISSUED ACTIVE PERMITS (52)
PENDING ACTIVE APPLICATIONS (6)
NOTE: PERMIT NUMBER AND APPLICATION NUMBER
CAN BE CROSS REFERENCED BETWEEN THE MAP
AND SPREADSHEET.
HIGH VOLUME HYDRAULICALLY FRACTURED WELL COMPLETIONS
ARE DEFINED IN SUPERVISOR OF WELL INSTRUCTION 1-2011
AS A 'WELL COMPLETION OPERATION THAT IS INTENDED TO USE
A TOTAL OF MORE THAN 100,000 GALLONS OF HYDRAULIC FRACTURING
FLUID'. WE MADE ALL EFFORTS TO TRACE BACK THE WELL COMPLETION
RECORDS THRU 2008 TO COMPLILE THIS MAP AND LIST.
THIS INFORMATION PROVIDED HEREIN IS ACCURATE TO
THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE AND IS SUBJECT
TO CHANGE ON A REGULAR BASIS, WITHOUT
NOTICE. WHILE THE DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY - OFFICE OF OIL, GAS, AND MINERALS (DEQ-OOGM)
MAKES EVERY EFFORT TO PROVIDE USEFUL AND
ACCURATE INFORMATION, WE DO NOT WARRANT THE
INFORMATION TO BE AUTHORITATIVE, COMPLETE,
FACTUAL, OR TIMELY. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THIS
INFORMATION BE COMBINED WITH SECONDARY SOURCES
AS A MEANS OF VERIFICATION. INFORMATION IS PROVIDED
"AS IS" AND AN "AS AVAILABLE" BASIS. THE STATE OF MICHIGAN
DISCLAIMS ANY LIABILITY, LOSS, INJURY, OR DAMAGE
INCURRED AS A CONSEQUENCE, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY,
RESULTING FROM THE USE, INTERPRETATION, AND APPLICATION
OF ANY OF THIS INFORMATION.
YES
HIGH VOLUME (>100,000 gallons) HYDRAULIC FRACTURING PROPOSALS - ACTIVE APPLICATIONS
#
App #
1 A110068
2 A120046
3 A130031
4 A130032
5 A130033
6 A130034
7 A130035
Well No
8-33
1-6
1-14 HD1
1-12 HD1
1-11 HD1
2-14 HD1
2-12 HD1
County
ANTRIM
CHEBOYGAN
KALKASKA
KALKASKA
KALKASKA
KALKASKA
KALKASKA
Wellhead T R S
29N 5W 33
33N 3W 6
27N 6W 24
27N 6W 24
27N 6W 24
27N 6W 24
27N 6W 24
target formation
Utica-Collingwood
Utica-Collingwood
Utica-Collingwood
Utica-Collingwood
Utica-Collingwood
Utica-Collingwood
Utica-Collingwood
comments
application for horizontal well
application for vertical well
application for horizontal well
application for horizontal well
application for horizontal well
application for horizontal well
application for horizontal well
0
12.5
25 Miles
Michigan shale plays
Antrim
 Since 1950 60/12,000
 1,200 to 2000 ft.
 100% Vertical drill
 Gel, Air, Foam, Water
 Destroys 5,000 to 10,000
gallons of freshwater
 Very few chemicals
 EPA regulated
 Class II wastewater
Utica/Collingwood
 2010-present 3/12
 12,000 to 12,500 ft. vertical and
10,000-12,000 ft. lateral
 Horizontal hydraulic fracture
 Slickwater
 Current MI wells Destroy 5 to 21
million gallons of freshwater,
future wells could go higher
 Thousands of pounds dry and
mixed wet chemicals
 Exempt from key EPA regulation,
left to states
 Class II wastewater (heavy Metals
& possibly radioactive)
The Historical Difference
High frack fluid volumes: needed to stimulate gas release
from many existing fractures.
Slickwater: needed to control the amount of
power needed to pump large volumes of frack
fluid, at high pressures, quickly, over long
distances through small diameter casing.
Low Volume Well
50,000 Gallons WATER
Uses 5% of this truck’s
5,000 Gallons of CHEMICALS
High Volume Well*
21,000,000 Gallons WATER
Uses all of these trucks’
105,000 Gallons of CHEMICALS
Hal Fitch, director OOGM 3-7-2013 presentation for Midland League of Women Voters, Chippewa Nature Center
Kalkaska County, State Excelsior 3-25, API 21-079-60546 records available at http://www.fracfocusdata.org/fracfocusfind/
DEQ records available at: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,4561,7-135-3311_60700---,00.html
*Up to 20 wells/2.1 million gallons of chemicals
per well pad.
Fracking Chemicals
 99.5% water & sand
 0.5% additives (equals 400,000 gallons with 8 million gallon frack)














Acid (hydrochloric, acetic or muriatic)
Biocide (Glutaraldehyde)
Breaker (Ammonium persulfate)
Corrosion inhibitor (Formamide)
Crosslinker (Borate salts)
Friction reducer (Petroleum distillates BTEXs, TMBs, Methanol and PNAs)
Gel (Guar gum or hydroxyethyl cellulose)
Iron control (Citric acid)
Clay stabilizer (Potassium chloride)
pH adjuster (salts, Sodium or potassium bicarbonate)
Proppant (Sand)
Scale inhibitor (Poly- & ethylene glycol mixtures & glycol ethers)
Surfactant (Isopropanol)
Many chemicals and formulas are protected as “trade secrets.”
Studies on fracking effects
 “Hormone-Disrupting Chemicals Found At Fracking Sites Linked To Cancer, Infertility”:
University of Missouri Medical School study published in Endocrinology Society
http//medicine.missouri.edu/news/0214.php
 “Hydraulic Fracturing Fluids Likely Harmed Threatened Kentucky Fish Species”: United
States Geological Survey and National Fish and Wildlife Service report: "Our study is a
precautionary tale of how entire populations could be put at risk even with small-scale fluid
spills," USGS scientist Diana Papoulias, the study's lead author.
www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?ID=3677#.UvGvbvldUaw
 National Academy of Science Report Says 'Fracking' Contaminates Water
SustainableBusiness.com “we document systematic evidence for methane contamination
of drinking water associated with shale gas extraction," the report states.
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/22379
 American Academy of Pediatrics: VOC releases at well heads, pipelines and Tanks combine
with traffic exhaust (nitrogen oxides) to form ground level ozone, a known contributor to
serious respiratory diseases, especially among children.
http://aoec.org/pehsu/documents/hydraulic_fracturing_and_children_2011_health_prof.pdf
University of Michigan Study
Graham Sustainability Institute
(with state and industry participation)
 Hydrological connectivity can lead to contamination impact distant from, as
well as close to drilling sites.
 Fracking wastewater often contaminated with heavy metals and radioactive
materials.
 Compaction of land at site causes change in hydrology.
 Impact of large number of truck & equipment; traffic, light, noise, diesel
exhaust, oil/gas fumes…
 Did not distinguish enviro impact between low and high volume wells
 Most common remark in the report: too little Michigan-specific data to
make conclusions/risk assessments. This shows the claim of no
contamination in Michigan has no data to support it, because it was never
collected.
Air emissions near fracking sites
may impact health.
Extraction crew
No rig on site
Near A Well?
 United States Environmental Protection Agency Region III (January 19, 2012) – “Methane
contamination was detected in private wells thereafter in concentrations exceeding those
previously found.”
 “Other chemicals found in produced water include VOCs, metals and radio nuclides… The
Petroleum Institute estimates that nearly eight barrels of water are produced for every barrel of
oil…Methane and fracking chemicals can also migrate into shallow aquifers used for drinking
water wells…” USHHS, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, CO Dept Health & Env.
 Scientific American – “High Levels of Arsenic Found in Groundwater Near Fracking Sites”
 Duke University’s Daniel Rozell and Sheldon Reaven – an individual fracking well releases at
least 200 m^3 of contaminated fluids.
 “Greene County shale well continues burning” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Feb. 12, 2013
“The heat from the blaze -- which caused a tanker truck on site full of propane gas to explode -was so intense that first responders from local fire departments had to pull back rather than
risk injury.” The fire burned for a week, killing one worker. Read more: http://www.postgazette.com/local/south/2014/02/11/Gas-well-explodes-in-southeastern-Greene-County/stories/201402110126#ixzz2u769JbXG
Near a Well?
“At a Glance: EPA Needs to Improve Air Emissions Data for the Oil and Natural Gas
Production Sector” EPA Inspector General:
“Harmful pollutants emitted from this industry… can result in serious health impacts
such as cancer, respiratory disease, aggravation of respiratory illnesses and premature
death.” The article argues for stronger data and study of dangers.
http://www.epa.gov/oig/reports/2013/20130220-13-P-0161_glance.pdf
“The oil and gas industry is a large source of VOC emissions. Overall, VOCs are released
to the air at all stages of oil and gas operations… For example, benzene is released
during venting and dehydration...” USHHS, Agency for toxic Substances and Disease
Registry Colorado Dept Health & Env.
Colorado becomes first state to regulate methane leaks in well/pipe/storage tank chain
in 2014. Colorado officials claim stopping this leakage would be the equivalent of taking
all vehicles off Colorado’s roads in terms of heat trapping compounds.
The Fracking process
 Frack sand mining, MI called “prime state” for frack sand mining as production
booms in recent years: http://geology.com/articles/frac-sand/:
http://www.mlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/06/post_88.html.
 Haliburton Loophole; National Council of State Legislatures: “Hydraulic
fracturing is currently exempt from the underground injection control
program requirements applicable to class II oil and gas related wells set forth
in the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, except for when diesel fuels are
used.” http://www.ncsl.org/research/energy/fracking-update-what-states-aredoing.aspx#federal.
 Fracking by the Numbers; Key Impacts of Dirty Drilling at the State and National
Level www.environmentamerica.org/reports/ame/fracking-numbers
 Chemicals; secrecy, transport, spills, contamination, underground
transformations
The Fracking process
 Water withdrawals: water destruction, remover from water cycle,
effect on aquifer, international agreements
 Lawsuit/MSU study: DEQ water withdrawal tool problem, shows
faulty results, overestimates supply, weak on rapid withdrawals.
 Human error/structural faults in cement casings: Concrete Institute
 Cracking the rock, fissures, salt veins, seismic movements
 Flaring associated natural gas; noise, odor, incomplete combustion,
low price will rise if exports allowed as being lobbied for now
 Waste water disposal – toxic, spills, transport, injection well
causing earthquakes
The Fracking process
 Natural gas (methane) leakage in extraction/supply chain is 10-15%. Leakage
means natural gas (25 times as heat retaining as carbon) is more climate
change active than coal.
 Oil company claim: no cases of water contamination in MI. Reality: no baseline
testing or even post drilling testing on 90% of wells to know if contamination
has occurred. UM study said not enough Michigan-specific data.
 Sustainability demands 30+ year view in policy analysis, Triple Bottom Line.
Fracking and fossil fuels fail those tests, for local pollution and global climate.
 Lawsuit secret settlements, lifetime gag orders; www.colbertnation.com/thecolbert-report-videos/428642/august-15-2013/the-word---gag-gift.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
Exxon CEO Joins Suit Citing Fracking Concerns
By Daniel Gilbert
Feb. 20, 2014
Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson “has joined a lawsuit that cites fracking’s consequences in
order to block the construction of a fracking water tower next to his and his wife’s
Texas home.”
“traffic with heavy trucks on FM 407, creating a noise nuisance and traffic hazards,”
the suit says.
“A lawyer representing him said his concern is about the devaluation of his property…”
“When he is acting as Exxon CEO, not a homeowner, Tillerson has lashed out at fracking
critics and proponents of regulation.” Also saying “the risks are very manageable.”
So why not by his house?
US Bureau of Economic Research: Fracking can have a small to moderate positive
property value impact if a home has water department hookup, but it can have a 20-30%
negative property value impact if a home has a private well.
We need safer alternatives
 Water Resources Commissioner’s office is developing a demonstration project
to install a power generating turbine in a sewer/stormwater line. The WRC is
looking at this and other renewable energy projects to reduce our impact on
the power grid.
 Farmington Hills City Hall installed geothermal heating and solar panels,
reducing their gas bill from $30,000 annually to zero. Other local public and
private buildings have also done the same, and more are being converted daily.
Net Zero energy buildings, making as much energy as they use, are the future.
 Nationally, 13,000 megawatts of wind power were built in 2013, we installed
7,000 megawatts of solar power in 2012 and 10,000 in just the first 9 months of
2013.
We need safer alternatives
 Cost of solar panels has fallen 60% since 2010. Solar
leasing/purchasing agreements making solar installations more
affordable and common for businesses/homeowners.
 Michigan 4th in nation in green jobs growth: Echotech Institute Clean
Jobs Index.
 119,016 US solar jobs in 2012, expect 17% growth in 2013: 2012 National
Solar Jobs Index. Energy efficiency and energy audits (saving energy
for business and homeowners nationally) employing 380,000:
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory report
 LEED Certification is growing: Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design is a third party measure of building efficiency
and is now the Industry standard for architects, engineers and the
construction industry.