In late 2007, Williams Production was fracking a well in Grandview, Texas. Residents experienced the typical water pressure issues and ended up with toxic water that killed animals, smelled bad and caused rashes. This was reported in the FW Weekly by Peter Gorman. Water Foul: An aquifer is at risk – along with property values, livestock, and dreams – after gas wells move in.
Williams never accepted any responsibility, which is typical. However, they did recently pay off all the residents and, as a requirement of the payment, the victims had to sign a nondisclosure agreement.
A case in point: The water wells for three homes at the north end of Hill County were ruined when Williams Production-Gulf Coast Company began fraccing nearby. Benzene, toluene, methane, and other chemicals got into the aquifer and thence into the water wells, killing livestock and making the water unfit for human use (“Water Foul,” April 30, 2008). Williams denied any responsibility, claiming the chemicals were already present, but finally agreed to purchase all three properties late last year, with a stipulation that none of the homeowners could talk to the press about the settlement.
Is it just me or does that seems like a clear admission of guilt? Industry still continues to claim that they have never contaminated water.
UPDATE:
Natural Gas Found in Private Water Wells: How the oil and gas industry is exactly like the tobacco industry.
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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This is how you never have a case of DOCUMENTED groundwater contamination. If there is no proof then you call Sharon a radical. If there IS proof, then you buy off the parties and make sure they can never open their mouth.
The RRC looks at the situation like this: Not until it has been proven in a court of law and appealed all the way up to the US supreme court–there is NO contamination of water in Tx!
Funny how they're going in position is always, "We're perfect." We'll see how long that strategy holds up for ya.
I like the part where Williams says the contamination was already present. That wasn't even a good try! Not sure what Williams thinks they gain with the NDA's- everyone knows those people got bought out-what else is left to talk about? Wonder what happens to those homes, now.
Here is what gas patch victims know:
Drilling and fracking happens.
Water get's polluted, people get sick.
Operators deny all responsibility.
Victims are left in uninhabitable situation.
Eventually industry pays victims and requires a non disclosure agreement.
That's how it works.
Thank you for smoking.
The payola scheme sounds rather like what the industry has been putting people through in the BP Follies in the Gulf of Mexico. I've posted quite a bit on it ; but the fastest way home is via Florida Oil Spill Law.