Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

n2doc

(47,953 posts)
Thu May 2, 2013, 11:22 AM May 2013

A new problem for fracking: Drillers are running out of water



Could severe water shortages short-circuit the US shale gas boom? With 64% of the country in drought, water is looming as the next hot-button issue in the debate over hydrofracturing, also known as fracking, which involves injecting chemical-laden water under high pressure to create fissures in subterranean rock formations so gas and oil can be extracted.

A comprehensive survey of fracking and water availability, due to be released Thursday, found that 47% of oil and gas wells are located in high or extremely high water-stressed areas. The report compiled by Ceres, the Boston-based nonprofit that promotes corporate sustainability, is based on water consumption information from 25,450 wells reported by drillers to a database called FracFocus between January 2011 and September 2012.

When Ceres researchers drilled down into the data by correlating the water consumption data with water stress maps created by the World Resources Institute, they found widespread water shortages in some of the US’s most gas-rich states.

In Colorado, 92% of 3,862 wells were in areas designated as extremely high water stressed, meaning that 80% of the available water is already being drawn down for residential consumption or for industrial and agriculture use.

more

http://qz.com/80550/water-shortages-threaten-us-shale-gas-boom/
5 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
A new problem for fracking: Drillers are running out of water (Original Post) n2doc May 2013 OP
They will just confiscate peoples' wells and let them die of thirst. femmocrat May 2013 #1
Link wonky? madamesilverspurs May 2013 #2
just tried it, it works for me n2doc May 2013 #3
Gosh! Nobody could have predicted this pscot May 2013 #4
Water that leaves the natural cycle forever Champion Jack May 2013 #5

femmocrat

(28,394 posts)
1. They will just confiscate peoples' wells and let them die of thirst.
Thu May 2, 2013, 11:26 AM
May 2013

The frackers will win every time.

Latest Discussions»Issue Forums»Environment & Energy»A new problem for frackin...