HYDRAULIC FRACTURING (FRACKING)
AND OFFSHORE DRILLING
IN FLAGLER COUNTY
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP
JUNE 9, 2015
“WHAT IS CONVENTIONAL DRILLING
(OIL EXTRACTION)?”
OIL AND GAS EXTRACTION IS THE
EXPLORATION AND PRODUCTION OF
PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS FROM
WELLS. THE INDUSTRY GENERATES
WASTEWATER FROM THE WATER
EXTRACTED FROM THE GEOLOGICAL
FORMATIONS AND FROM CHEMICALS USED
DURING EXPLORATION, WELL DRILLING
AND PRODUCTION OF OIL AND GAS.
SOURCE: ~ US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
(EPA) 2015
“WHAT IS FRACKING?”
OIL AND GAS COMPANIES UTILIZE
HYDRAULIC FRACTURING (FRACKING) AS A
MEANS TO EXTRACT NATURAL GAS OR OIL
FROM TARGET ROCK FORMATION. FLUID IS
PUMPED AT HIGH PRESSURE TO RELEASE
TRAPPED FUEL. FRACTURING FLUID IS
COMPRISED OF DIFFERENT SUBSTANCES
INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO WATER,
SAND, HYDROCHLORIC ACID, METHANOL,
HYDROTREATED LIGHT PETROLEUM, AND
ADDITIVES (SINGLE OR MULTIPLE
INGREDIENTS).
SOURCE: ~ US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGENCY (EPA) 2015
“WHERE ARE THE WELLS?”
Source ~
Florida Department
of Environmental Protection
(DEP) 2015
Over 1,000 permitted wells have
been drilled since 1943. During this
timeframe, the petroleum industry
has safely produced 611 million
barrels of crude oil and 689 billion
cubic feet of natural gas in Collier,
Hendry, Lee, Dade, Escambia, and
Santa Rosa counties. ~ DEP
SOME EXISTING LAWS
Chapter 377, Florida Statutes: Energy Resources
• 377.371(1) A person drilling or producing oil, gas, or petroleum products, or storing gas in a natural
gas storage facility, many not pollute land or water; damage aquatic or marine life, wildlife, birds,
or public or private property; or allow any extraneous matter to enter or damage any mineral or
freshwater-bearing formation
• 377.22(2)(d) To require the drilling, casing, and plugging of wells to be done in such a manner as
to prevent the escape of oil or other petroleum products from one stratum to another
• 377.22(2)(w) To require that geophysical operations requiring a permit be conducted in a manner
which will minimize the impact on hydrology and biota of the area, especially environmentally
sensitive lands and coastal areas
2015 LEGISLATION THAT FAILED
HOUSE BILL 1205 / SENATE BILL 1468
SAMPLE OF PROPOSED REVISIONS (NOT ALL)
• Empower Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to issue a single permit that
authorizes multiple Program activities;
• Define “high-pressure well stimulation” as a well intervention performed by injecting more than
100,000 gallons of fluid into a rock formation at high pressure that exceeds the fracture gradient of the
rock formation in order to propagate fractures in such formation to increase production at an oil or gas
well by improving the flow of hydrocarbons from the formation into the wellbore;
• Require DEP to conduct a study on the potential effects of performing high-pressure well stimulations
and provides an appropriation for the study;
• Prohibit a county, municipality, or other political subdivision of the state from adopting or establishing
programs to issue permits for any activity related to oil and gas drilling, exploration, or production;
PERSPECTIVES
Water
Fragile
environment
Limited
studies
Jobs
Home rule
Tourism
STAFF IS SEEKING DIRECTION FROM CITY
COUNCIL FOR POSSIBLE FUTURE ACTION ON
A MORATORIUM ON FRACKING AND
OFFSHORE DRILLING IN FLORIDA
(FLAGLER COUNTY RESOLUTION ATTACHED AS GUIDELINE)