In case you missed the 60 Minutes report, A Multi-Billion Dollar Lawsuit over Oil Drilling Pollution, you can see it here
The pollution they highlight comes from sludge pits. The very same sludge pits I have posted about many times so don’t say I didn’t warn you. 60 Minutes says it can’t happen in the United States. Oh Brother!
A Barnett Shale Sludge Pit Looks Like This
More Barnett Shale Sludge Pit Pollution Pictures
Hey, Braden Exploration! Are you illegally dumping drilling waste in Wise County?
Picture: Cow Drinks Toxic Drilling Waste. People Eat Cow…
Sludge Pit Rule Uproar: Money is nothing if you have no clean water.
The Barnett Shale Sludge Pit in Your Backyard.
VIDEO: Cattle Drink Barnett Shale Drilling Waste
Why are the people in the Amazon so much smarter than Texans and Americans?
If you are a reader who is a concerned citizen and not one of the many oil & gas producers who read this blog, PLEASE, please write this man and tell him to look at my blog. rsmith@wbal.com
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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I watched the 60 Minutes piece mentioned here. It was astounding that the man claimed this could never happen in the US. Give us a break.
the world runs on oil and natural gas
The End of Suburbia
A Crude Awakening
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-665674869982904386
Crude – The Incredible Journey of Oil
http://www.abc.net.au/science/crude/
In Nov the IEA’s report on global oil decline indecated that 4 new Saudi Arabias must be brought on line by 2030
http://www.iea.org/Textbase/press/pressdetail.asp?PRESS_REL_ID=275
But to meet increasing demands from developing counties 6 new Saudi Arabias need to brought on line by 2030
http://www.iea.org/Textbase/npsum/WEO2008SUM.pdf
The projected increase in global oil output hinges on adequate and timely
investment. Some 64 mb/d of additional gross capacity — the equivalent of almost
six times that of Saudi Arabia today — needs to be brought on stream between
2007 and 2030. Some 30 mb/d of new capacity is needed by 2015. There remains a
real risk that under-investment will cause an oil-supply crunch in that timeframe. The
current wave of upstream investment looks set to boost net oil-production capacity in
the next two to three years, pushing up spare capacity modestly. However, capacity
additions from current projects tail off after 2010. This largely reflects the upstream
development cycle: many new projects will undoubtedly be sanctioned in the near
term as oil companies complete existing projects and move on to new ones. But the
gap now evident between what is currently being built and what will be needed to
keep pace with demand is set to widen sharply after 2010. Around 7 mb/d of additional
capacity (over and above that from all current projects) needs to be brought on stream
by 2015, most of which will need to be sanctioned within the next two years, to avoid
a fall in spare capacity towards the middle of the next decade
There are no, NO, alternatives that can scale up. It’s mathematically impossible to scale up
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123621221496034823.html
We need Miracles
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4626573768558163231
As oil production increased during the 20th century so to did population. What happens when oil production goes into decline?
http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse
The modern world is going to collapse and people around the world are going to starve. It will first be felt within the financial markets
But maybe we need to have a laugh and make light of the coming global, societal collapse
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5267640865741878159
Yeah, long winded anononyous posting–I've heard this crap many times in the past. Your O&G people need to keep in mind that we may not need your stuff as much in the future–start whining!
The rest of the nation and the world need to know that we have a lot of problems in Texas–a so called ‘home of the oil patch’–we are being ruined–us that Live On the Land! So come on down here and buy up some of this polluted up stuff!
Think so? what are you going to pave your highways with? How many pump strokes did it take to pave all 3 million miles in the US, and then the rest of the world’s highways?
With the exception of the IEA everyone of those links are by self proclaimed liberal producers. Did you watch any of them?
The modern world is going to die, slowly, like a boiled frog: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09dwBreA-g0
Oh Sharon, I just love some of these comments by “anonymous!!” *lol* You are my heroine my darling!!
“”Oh, absolutely not,” Beltman replied. “It wouldn’t have happened in the United States. And if it had happened, they wouldn’t have gotten away with leaving it here for 30 years.”
Wow, what an incredibly arrogant attitude.
Sharon, like the majority of people, are clueless about how much the modern world depends upon oil and that there are no alternatives that will replace oil. So as global oil production goes into decline what you will see is energy prices, food, prices, everything become more and more expensive. It's going to make maintaining local taxed services harder to sustain. Economies will collaspe while crime will rise.
Just like nobody in DC wants to deal with social security nobody in DC wants to deal with the reality of what oil depletion means.
I expect to see a global population collapse within my kids' future.
Robert Bryce is a self professed liberal who is tired of the politics over energy issues. http://www.cato.org/event.php?eventid=4516
The modern world is going to end. It can't be sustained and there are no alternatives that can scale up to oil let alone scale up in a why that is equally cheap.
The ignorance about oil/gas depletion runs across all political parties
http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/
Dear Reader,
Civilization as we know it is coming to an end soon. This is not the wacky proclamation of a doomsday cult, apocalypse bible prophecy sect, or conspiracy theory society. Rather, it is the scientific conclusion of the best paid, most widely-respected geologists, physicists, bankers, and investors in the world. These are rational, professional, conservative individuals who are absolutely terrified by a phenomenon known as global "Peak Oil……."
There are a couple of congressmen who do understand the issue but are ignored by the rest
http://video.energypolicytv.com/displaypage.php?vkey=9540d057299ec3016d72&channel=Congress
You like SiFi? The future will be more like Mad Max instead of Star Tek
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/special_eds/20060710/
Aside from all that, Sharon, I can tell by your writing you don't know anything about the oilfield.
You remind me of a city liberal who moved into the country and discoverd that without having mineral rights you cannot stop a drilling operation from coming onto you surface. You *feel* like you've discovered something and want to bring this found knowledge to locals, and seem to ignore you. Why? Because they know more about the whole thing than you do.
For example, you video suggesting Barnett Shale drilling is affecting the haze you see from your property. That summer haze has been there for at least 50 years, probably longer. It comes up from DFW's traffic.
I'll make a prediction to ya'll. Within just a few years you will see oil prices go to new hights and people will screaming for more drilling (even though we cannot drill our way out of peak oil).
So how close are we to peaking?
Oil production is a plateau
http://localfuture.org/charts/20080301/20080301WorldOilProductionWissnerLarge.GIF
while less new oil is being found. Since 1980 more oil is used every year than what's found
BP: http://www.theoildrum.com/uploads/44/oil_discovery_trend.gif
Exxon: http://www.daveseslbiofuel.com/pix/gap.jpg
http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/of00-320/of00-320.pdf
Ehtanol cannot scale up
Bill Reinert, Toyota’s alternative fuel manger on ethanol
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2201199802681775303
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2558276641904882805
The Roman Empire collapsed, Europe into the dark ages for 4 hundred years, the Aztec, Incas, Vikings, Angkor Wat, Easter Island, and now it's looking like it's the modern world's turn to fall. There are no substitutes for petroleum.
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=0h&oq=product&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGLL_en&q=products+made+from+oil
Well, you are arrogant and misinformed in OH SO many ways.
I worked in the oil and gas industry for 12 years and I live right in the stinking middle of the oil field. =)
I lived in the country all my life except for a few years when I had to work in the city.
I own my mineral rights.
Locals around me are just as concerned as I am.
The video I took of what you call the “summer haze” was taken in the winter and it was not hanging around where I live in summer OR winter when I moved here. It’s a new thing.
Much of your ramblings make no sense, but I do agree that we are approaching peak oil which is why we need to make MAJOR shifts in our lifestyles like eating less meat and shopping locally as well as sinking money into alternatives.
Being arrogant is one thing. You are arrogant, ignorant and wrong.
Hardly, ignorant. Arrogant, maybe. Doesn’t matter. That haze has always been here, summer or winter. The big problem with Gas Shales is water usage due to high volume fracs. I’ve worked on frac jobs in completions. It’s obvious to me you don’t know the field work.
Oil production has been flat for 4-5 years and global drilling is down. I don’t believe there are 4 new Saudi Arabias to be found…let alone 6.
And there are no alternatives that can fill the declines. Wind can’t, and I say that as a person who gets royalties from giant wind trubines.
Mankind is in a race to find alternatives…until then we had better use whatever we can. Because if we can’t find the substitutes a hell of a lot of people are going to starve.
Tell you what, Sharon, instead of declaring me ignorant why don’t you refute the arguments in those links…using math? For example, Robert Bryce uses math to show why alternatives cannot scale up. See if you can use math to prove him wrong
Your ignorance is due to your assumptions about me. For example: you assume that because I am vehemently opposed to the horrendous and reckless damage to our vital resources I must not own any mineral rights to my property. Does that mean people who profit from production of oil & gas are immune from toxins so they don't need to care about safe water and clean air? It's just such an ignorant and backward way of looking at the world I'm astounded.
The premise of your argument seems to be that we are all doomed so we should just give up and let Big Oil run amok spreading their toxins freely. You also assume that because I haven't worked as an oilfield hand I can't possibly know anything about sludge pits left to fester, dumping toxins illegally in our pastures and in our creeks, injection wells left un inspected and failing and the scientifically proven fact that the smog in our area comes from the drilling activity.
I really don't have time for such nonsense.
refute this:
Wasting A Good Crisis: The Result May be $200 Oil
http://www.thecuttingedgenews.com/index.php?article=11246&pageid=44&pagename=Slices
I can’t tell which anonymous poster you are or to whom you are talking.
However, if you are challenging me to refute the information at that link I have to ask you: Why would I? I hope oil gets to $200/bbl. Then American ingenuity will kick in and find ways to get us off the hydrocarbon dead horse.
Hey Anonymous, how about you stop hiding and let us know who you really are? I mean, it’s obvious that you know ohhh so much about what you’re talking about that you must be expert, so what could be the harm in stepping out from the mask and add some validity to your position.
Come on, give it a try, the rest of us aren’t hiding.
Who I am doesn't make a difference. The only thing that matter is the truth. And the truth is oil production has peaked (peaked, plateau, rollover) and there is nothing available to replace petroleum. Those links I posted speak for themselves, most of which are produced by political liberals. If you believe their arguments are wrong then refute them. I have not seen anyone able to do so.
& BTW, Sharon, what is "Big Oil" anyway? >90% of all know oil reserves are held and operated by nationalized oil companies, Saudi ARAMCO being at the top of the list. Mexico's national oil company, PEMEX, is bigger than Exxon. Exxon, the largest publicly traded company, only owns 3% of the world's reserves.
http://3eintelligence.wordpress.com/2007/07/15/are-western-big-oil-companies-heading-for-liquidation/
Strahan quotes IEA’s chief economist, Fatih Birol, who said in a recent interview with Le Monde: “The supermajors will be in difficulty. They will no longer have access to new production capacity. They must redefine their strategies, or otherwise, if they remain concentrated on oil, they will have to be satisfied with niche markets“. Or,in the words of American energy consultant Henry Groppe: “The major, publicly traded oil companies are in long-term liquidation.”
Even then Exxon pays more taxes than 50% of the US population.
http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2009/02/11/exxon-big-oil-profits-evil-only-until-you-weigh-their-tax-bills.html
People who believe modern society can switch to alternative on today's technology either don't understand how much oil plays in their life (even asprine today is made from oil, don't believe that? google it) or they know more than the Nobel Prize winning Professor in nano technology Professor Richard Samlley
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4626573768558163231
And as he said: "We need between 1 and 10 miracles" to have the energy the world will need from a cheap energy source that doesn't exist.
A typical electrical gen plant produces 1 gigawatt of power (1000 megawatts). Comanche Peak produces 2300 megawatts, to put this into perspective. As Smalley said in the above lecture: if you could flip a switch that'd trun on a megawatt, you'd have to flip that switch every day for 27 years to have to power the world will need by 2050. What do you liberals know that he did not. Educate me.
When oil goes into decline the first world's economies also go into decline. Expect global resource wars and localized crime increasing. Crime has increased with just this downturn in the economy. What's it going to be like in the future when societies collapse?
Do we need a new energy source(and don't forget 40% of oil goes to stuff like plastics, drugs, carpet, etc)? Yeah. But that source does not exist. So in the meantime we got to get by.
Your existence alone with me and everyone else is a Long Emergency
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4878856748297910182
You keep insisting that someone refute your claim that we are running out of oil. Well, you have probably come to the wrong place to get what you want. If you have done much reading on this blog, you know that I agree with that, which is one reason signing on to the Pickens plan is STUPID.
I think the main point you are trying to make with all your rambling is this:
Do we need a new energy source(and don’t forget 40% of oil goes to stuff like plastics, drugs, carpet, etc)? Yeah. But that source does not exist. So in the meantime we got to get by.So, in the meantime, it makes NO SENSE to turn our heads and let Big Oil or Medium Oil or Small Oil to continue to put public health and safety at risk by polluting our air and water.
BTW, they have a replace for plastic that is made from vegetables and is biodegradable.
Growing vegetables uses water and there is already not enough vegetables to feed the children in American now! Growing corn for fuel uses too much water also.
Oil reserves need to be protected for the vital needs while natural gas can be used to provide utilities and run big trucks!
By tapping into the large supply of natural gas, we can become more energy independent, balance trade and provide good jobs.
Alternate energy is not available yet and unless you are Amish, we all depend on carbon fuels!
The air quality of Wise County is still good and there is NO proof gas production has negatively impacted it. It is like saying the water is poison, don’t drink it when the water has not been tested.
The public needs good information, not projecting without facts and testing.
Where have I heard this rhetoric before?
The water use to produce natural gas is not sustainable. We need regulation to keep the industry from polluting the water we have left.
Wise County was on the non attainment list this year but was removed due to industry pressure. Our air quality has deteriorated rapidly and alarming.
Bring on some testing! I’d sure like to see some testing conducted by a source other than the industry itself. BTW, what chemicals should we test for?
You want to hear yet another liberal tell you just how dangerously precarious your world exists between, ah, normal….and Mad Max?