CHK and Schlumberger "could be" penalized in frack fluid cow deaths

17 cows died on April 28 when they drank liquid that was spilled by Schlumberger during hydraulic fracturing at a Chesapeake Energy drill site in Louisiana and now it seems the investigation is coming to an end.

Some of the wording in this article is tricky!

It’s so interesting that they say this:

So the spilled material, which includes a proprietary blend of non-hazardous materials used for well fracturing,

Then they say this:

The companies failed to promptly notify the state Public Safety Department’s 24-hour hazardous materials hotline of an unauthorized discharge that caused an emergency.

But, let’s not get hung up on the details. The cows drank the spilled frack fluid and died. A Chesapeake official has even admitted that frack fluid is lethal.

The cows died in a pasture Cecil and Tyler Williams own in Spring Ridge. Schlumberger was performing routine fracturing operations for well owner Chesapeake when some of the fluid leaked from the well pad then into the pasture after a rain.

The toxicology report is STILL PENDING? How long can it take?

The report states the one cow tested suffered from severe pulmonary hemorrhage and edema. Witnesses to the cows’ deaths described them as bellowing and bleeding before falling over dead.

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.