Fracking chemicals could poison water: expert by SAPA, June 11, 2012, Reuters
Some chemicals used for shale gas fracking could contaminate or poison water far from the original drilling site, an expert warned on Monday. “Before any chemical company is granted a licence to frack it must prove that the chemicals used in fracking cocktails are safe,” the Free State University ground water research unit’s Prof Gerrit van Tonder said. He said positive perceptions of fracking and the shale gas it could unlock needed to be balanced by the potential risks involved. “Other more green options are available, even if fracking is considered,” Van Tonder said in an interview. The danger was that large, watery, underground caverns, which exist even in the arid Karoo, could be polluted by the chemicals used for fracking. Noxious chemicals leaking into water at one drill site could spread the contamination by either lateral or upward movement of the water. Aquifers – from the Latin words aqua, meaning water, and fer, meaning bearing – could be conduits for the spread of these pollutants. Ample evidence indicated that, in some circumstances, water welled up from deep sources, such as in the case of hot water springs. Van Tonder said the impacts and risks of fracking fluid reaching fresh water aquifers depended on the number of well pads. One company had indicated it would need one such pad for every 260 hectares, with up to 10 boreholes per pad. This meant that if only half of the nine million hectares, as per licence applications, were developed, there would be 17 300 boreholes. “The integrity of just one borehole failing can be disastrous for surrounding borehole users and the environment within a year,” he said. It was possible that the contaminants could move slowly, spreading to other boreholes over decades, or within a matter of days along dolerite sills and faults. These included annuli, the ring of material round fracking cement or grouting seals, he said. Such events had been found to be major contributors of groundwater pollution in the United States and Australia.
-
Recent Posts
- Zionistiche Gestapo ‘n B’nai Brith bribing bigot con MPP Ted Arnott? Discrimination and racism on steroids: Speaker Arnott pisses on Canada’s charter, bans Palestinian Keffiyehs from Ontario legislature. Yarmulke allowed? “Heaven forbid someone make a political statement in a …. legislature” April 17, 2024
- Humans increasing CO2 is driving increase in worldwide severity and frequency of wildfires; “The best way to decrease wildfires is to mitigate our carbon dioxide emissions. We need more emission control now.” April 17, 2024
- Humanity’s polluted planet creating plastic-brained zombies? April 17, 2024
- Alberta: TC Energy’s Nova Gas Transmission Line explodes, starts out of control wildfire by Edson. But but but, Premier Danielle Smith insists arsonists start wildfires: “Trudeau! Trudeau!” April 16, 2024
- Sulfolane, health-harming sour gas sweetener, used *intentionally* for decades by oil and gas industry, found in groundwater in “large contaminant plumes across Canada, specifically in Alberta.” Companies *intentionally* dumped it into aquifers with families and cattle poisoned, bullied and *intentionally* gagged by lawyers years ago. Now researchers say it’s emerging and accidental. FFS. April 16, 2024
- USA finally regulates deadly Silica Dust; long-awaited rule will limit worker exposure, which can lead to incurable, debilitating lung disease. *But* rule is delayed 1 year for coal, 2 years for metal/nonmetal miners. (Will oil and gas be exempt?) April 16, 2024
- Alberta under fascist Danielle Smith and her anti-science, anti-education, anti-health, anti-freedom, misogynistic TBA evangelicals & oil, frac and gas. April 14, 2024
- Arrakis in Frac’d West Texas April 14, 2024
- FFS Trudeau! Iran is defending itself from a murderous war criminal. Do not include me in your “we.” I do not stand with lying genocidal terrorists, occupier Israel or thieving Zionism, no matter what lies ‘n spin Rosalie Abella, B’nai Brith, Irwin Cotler and media spew. April 14, 2024
- Cowardly Crime-enabling Genocidal Canadian Courts: supreme court pisses on Blood Tribe in nauseating ruling by J O’Bonsawin, its one Indigenous judge, writing reconciliation is about “helping to restore the honour of the Crown” not reconciling. WTF! No justice for Indigenous, just stinky judicial circle jerking. April 13, 2024
- The Economist: “Israel has lost the battle for global public opinion.” The Court of Public Opinion is the most powerful court in the world, it sees Zionism’s genocide, terrorism and killing Freedom of Expression everywhere (trying to hide it). April 13, 2024
- Bribed to enable Genocide. The world needs to criminalize Zionism (and frac’ing) and boycott Israel & USA (& Germany & UK & Canada …) April 13, 2024
- BDS Victory! Canada’s first Faculty Association votes to divest “from any companies and investments complicit in Israeli war crimes or illegal occupation.” What ever will the Zionistiche Gestapo and B’nai Brith do? April 12, 2024
- 1,122 Indigenous persons/groups globally sign in solidarity with Palestine: “Stop the Genocide. End the Siege. End the Occupation. Dismantle Apartheid. Decolonize Palestine.” April 12, 2024
- “Disappointing” supremely racist court of Canada ex-justice Rosalie Abella, in tandem with past Attorney General Irwin Cotler, fellow Zionist, “slyly” enables Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. April 11, 2024