Have you been a victim of subsurface trespass? If you live on top of the Barnett Shale, it’s possible.
Dispute has industry, mineral owners nervous.
Hydraulic fracturing is not a precise science—it’s hard to control the length and direction of the fractures.
”You may plan a fracture that will go 1,000 feet, and it might go 2,000 feet or 400 feet,” said John S. Lowe, a professor of energy law at Southern Methodist University’s Deadman School of Law.
This imprecision, and the fact that deadly chemicals are used in this imprecise technique, is why oil and gas operators should not be allowed to fracture anywhere near people or drinking water!
The lawsuit stems from a 2005 Hidalgo County dispute in which Garza Energy Trust was granted $14 million for the court’s findings that the trust had been the victim of subsurface trespass due to hydraulic fracturing.
This issue is extremely difficult for the court to decide, and naturally the oil and gas industry isn’t missing this opportunity to spread propaganda and fear mongering.
Chesapeake sent a letter to the Supreme Court on behalf of the OILgarchy their partners in crime industry cohorts expressing “deep concern ‘over the potentially devastating impact’” to their billion dollar pension plans the economy and their industry.
According to Chesapeake, ruling in favor of Garza Energy Trust will “be devastating” and will basically bring about Armageddon.
Other oil industry billionaires used words like “chaos” and “disaster.”
My jaw dropped when I read that Victor Carrillo, Texas Railroad Commissioner, uncharacteristically didn’t shill for the OILgarchy industry, and thought things wouldn’t be quite as dire.
Hey, maybe, just maybe, they will have to slow down and be more careful and that wouldn’t be a bad thing at all.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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It would seem that they probably steal more than folks think. The so called 330 ft setback from a property to prevent trespass on an ajoining property owner seems to be highly inadequate in light of the industry’s confusion to uncontrolable fracing dynamics and fracs as far away as 4,000 ft from bore line. Devestating to their business practices of being able to ateal people’s mineral interest? I am sure but theft is theft and if you can not guarantee you won’t be stealing you better pay to assure you do not steal. I certainly hope this issue which basic good should protect all person’s rights no matter how small from the greed of those that would steal.Until the technology or control of the frac is guaranteed ten OH well. NO PAY NO STEAL!
Gary Hogan
I like your statement…”the oil and gas industry isn’t missing this opportunity to spread propaganda and fear mongering.” If there was a definition of the Kettle calling the Pot Black your picture woud appear next to it.
I do my best. =) It’s really hard to keep up because my pockets aren’t nearly as deep as BIG OIL’s.