100 Years of Shale Gas? Think Again.

Deborah Rogers

Now, click here to see a story on Bluedaze about shale gas royalties.



Ms. Rogers writes for the Energy Policy Forum.



Here's a little background on Ms. Rogers. We thank her for explaining it all so well.

Range Resources: It's So Ugly.

We here at the Westchester Gasette don't know that much about Range Resources.  We have enough on our plate, really.  But we do know that this is important to mention.   As you may  or may not recall, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued an Emergency Order back on December 7, 2010:

[...]

EPA has issued an imminent and substantial endangerment order under Section 1431 of the Safe Drinking Water Act. Parker County is located west of Fort Worth, Texas.

In late August, EPA received a citizen's complaint regarding concerns with a private drinking water well. During the inspector’s follow-up inquiry, EPA learned that the homeowner had previously complained to the Texas Railroad Commission as well as the company, but their concerns were not adequately addressed by the State or the company.  EPA then conducted an on-site inspection of the private drinking water well with the homeowner and a neighboring residence, and returned to collect both water and gas samples.



These samples were sent to an EPA certified laboratory for analysis. The data was received in late November 2010 and was carefully reviewed by EPA scientists. The EPA scientists have conducted isotopic fingerprint analysis and concluded the source of the drinking water well contamination to closely match that from Range Resources’ natural gas production well.



EPA has asked the company to conduct a full scale investigation.  (emphasis added.)

[...]

(Read all the details here.)

OK. So, one thing we do know.  We do know that the shale gas industry has a history of applying certain kinds of pressure (aka bullying and aka threatening lawsuits) when they fear they may not get their way with our City Staffs, City Councils and Planning Commissions. Most of this has been done behind closed doors...but sometimes we have the opportunity to see it in public. And it can be so arrogant and so ugly. 

So, get ready because here's an example. It's the Sr. VP ~ General Counsel of Range Resources speaking to the Southlake Planning and Zoning Committee in late 2010 ~ on behalf of XTO ~ with what turns out to be a reckless pronouncement:

(Disclaimer:  It may shock you...so be prepared for a physical jolt. Oh, and try to overlook the braggadocio, too.  We only ask that you try.)

And now, we have this same Range Resources attorney issuing yet another screed.  This time on behalf of his own company.  Read about it here.

And then, let's talk. :-)

The Truth About Shale Gas Production **Updated**

Thank you Deborah Rogers.

**Update**

In case you missed the New York Times article from June 2011 featuring Ms. Rogers, click here. Lots of information and multimedia along with this very important story.

Click here for the link to Deborah Rogers' goat farm web site. Her goat cheese has won all kinds of honors.

Also, click here to read how Ms. Rogers became involved with the shale gas nightmare on the Dallas News Energy and Environment Blog. Here's her detailed story on Earthworks.

The Power of the Whistleblower

The Story.

"The Problem with the fracking is all the unknowns."

 ~ The Whistleblower

Interesting development today.  Chesapeake will just back away from all of it, for now. What a great idea.

Another Catastrophic Pipeline Explosion

The story about last night's Kentucky pipeline explosion is here.

As of 10:00 p.m. Monday, the fire from a gas pipeline explosion has finally started to die down.

The explosion happened Monday evening at a horse farm in the 8000 block of Winchester Road in northern Estill county.



Officials tell NEWSFIRST at the fire's peak, flames shot between 1,000 and 1,500 feet into the air. Callers to the NEWSFIRST newsroom reported seeing the glow as far away as Lexington, Cynthiana, Fleming county and Mount Olivet.



The Red Cross say 30 homes were evacuated from the blast area. The Red Cross has opened a shelter at Estill Springs Middle School. Anyone in need of a place to stay should proceed to the school before 11:00 p.m. They can also call the Bluegrass Chapter of the American Red Cross at 859-253-1331.



Officials say no one was hurt in the explosion. They also say no structures were ever threatened by the fire. No property damage has been reported.



Officials with Columbia Gas are on the scene. There's no word, right now, on what caused the explosion.

Thank you, TXSharon, for the story on Bluedaze. In light of the Grand Prairie, TX City Council vote this evening...it's just one more reason for our concern about DFW Midstream's gas gathering pipelines going in so close to our neighborhoods.

Link to Grand Prairie, TX City Council Agenda and Details (See Item 17, Page 3) ~ Wait for the file to open...it may be slow.

We are reminded of the the June 7, 2010 North Texas Pipeline Explosion:

Insurgents R Us

Tonight, Channel 11 reported on the recent industry meeting that was very revealing of how the shale gas industry views the American people. Thanks to Sharon Wilson of the Texas Oil and Gas Accountability Project and Calvin Tillman, the former Mayor of Dish, TX for their efforts.

Link to Video from CBS Channel 11

Westchester neighbors may recall that both Ms. Wilson and Mr. Tillman visited with us during our July 19, 2010 Westchester Town Hall Meeting. 

A BIG Thank You to Channel 11 for their ongoing reporting on the bad behavior and bizarre business practices of this industry.

"It Was A Gas Well or Something" (Updated)**

Palo Pinto County Fire South of Possum Kingdom Lake ~ Go to 3:57 to Hear From the Rancher

Possum Kingdom Fire Burns Thousands of Acres: MyFoxDFW.com

At 3:57, the Ranch Manager answers the question from the reporter, "It was a gas well or something...they [the firemen] asked me if lighting struck."

**Update: Maybe "the something" was a lighting strike to a "tank battery" as shown in this picture snapped by TXSharon in Wise County, TX in 2008: 

from the TXSharon Collection