Haynesville Shale and Urban Drilling
“The productive potential of the Haynesville
Shale was not fully realized until horizontal
drilling and hydro fracturing (injecting water
under high pressure) technologies was
demonstrated in other shale reservoirs. The
hydro fracturing process helps liberate gas
from the shale and horizontal drilling allows a
single well to drain a much larger volume than
a traditional vertical well. Today, natural gas
production from the Haynesville occurs from
rocks about two miles beneath northwestern
Louisiana. “
Source: http://geology.com/articles/
Pros:
 Reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources
 Bonus and royalty money for residents
 Tax monies to fund education and community improvements
 Job opportunities
Cons:
 Safety, which includes the possibility of accidents and blowouts
 Property marketability, especially for homes near drill sites
 Noise, trash and overall disturbance from drilling activity
 Unscrupulous mineral leasing, drilling, and maintenance
Environmental Issues:
A recent article in The Shreveport Times reported that Chesapeake Energy plans to drill
some 600 wells over the next three years. We are told that accidents seldom happen and
many safeguards are in place to protect our aquifers, trees, roads, etc.
Http://www.desotowatch.blogspot.com./ is an interesting web site to visit to read about
some of our Desoto parish neighbors’ experiences with gas companies and drill sites. The
City of Shreveport will be limited in how much they can help us with drilling issues
because the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regulates this industry in Louisiana.
The below excerpt from the web site illustrates this point:
In 1991, I purchased 91 acres in Desoto Parish. I live on this property and have enjoyed
managing it for recreation, trees, water and my home-site. At the time I moved in there was
only one well allowed per 640 acres and I thought that would always be the case. When I first
moved here it was a quiet, beautiful area - since then they have drilled wells constantly around
my property and traffic has increased beyond belief. Some (not all) of the negative incidents I
have experienced are:
1. Having surveyors/gas company-personnel show up around all of my property without any
notice or request for permission to be there.
2. Leaving my gate open so many times I finally had to get an electric gate opener which
closed automatically.
3. One pipeline ruptured and saltwater ran into Gandy Bayou.
4. Numerous "upsets" as the gas company calls them which are incidents where the saltwater
etc. gets out of the levees around the storage tanks (killing trees, grass and damaging my soil).
5. The gas company representatives have told me they have the right under the oil and gas
lease to drill wherever they feel the need to drill. (They have said they are going to drill at
least two more wells on my property - maybe more).
6. DNR and DEQ personnel appear to not be willing or able to enforce what I view are
reasonable requests to clean up/protect the site. They appear to be understaffed and tell me to
work it out with the company and try to "get along". My other option would be to sue the gas
company and this would be expensive and time consuming.
7. I have one site on my property where natural gas is bubbling out of the surface and DNR
tells me I'm on a list to eventually have it corrected.
8. Traffic by my house to the well site is 24 hours during certain times of the year and their
large trucks damage my driveway and I often have to repair it myself to meet what I think is
acceptable condition.
9. My personal property has disappeared every time contractors come to lay another pipeline.
10. Now they want to drill multiple wells on my property and when I ask them to drill off one
pad directionally they tell me it is too expensive to do that. I've been told gas companies do
that at Barksdale Air Force Base and the Port. I went to a DNR public hearing several years
ago and spoke. I know they can drill multiple wells off one site (it just is more expensive) and I
have no problem with multiple wells off one pad as long as they protect/respect both the
environment and my property. One of the commissioner's there told me mineral owners have
rights too - I just didn't think they had MORE rights than surface owners.
I hope you have success in limiting the drilling - someone needs to have the courage, time and
resources to represent both the landowners and the environment. I thank you for trying to
protect both.
Sincerely,
Bill Burks