FORT WORTH -- Preliminary findings from a study of hydraulic fracturing and shale-gas development show no direct link between the controversial process and groundwater contamination, the leader of the project at the Energy Institute of the University of Texas at Austin said Wednesday.
Problems that have occurred in shale fields appear to be related to issues such as poor casing or cementing of wells, rather than fracking, said Charles "Chip" Groat, a UT geology professor, addressing a lunch crowd of about 150 people at the City Club in downtown Fort Worth. The audience included oil and gas industry representatives and city officials who regulate Barnett Shale drilling.The $300,000 study is being funded by the Energy Institute. Groat said a final report is expected to be issued within the next two months. The institute looked at shale-gas development in the Barnett Shale, Haynesville Shale in Louisiana and East Texas and the Marcellus Shale in the northeastern U.S.A major goal of the study is to "separate fact from fiction" and produce accurate information that will help government policymakers adopt wise policies and regulations that "are grounded in science," Groat said.He said the Energy Institute also plans an in-depth "case study" of North Texas' Barnett Shale, which would include water-related issues and other environmental concerns."The Barnett is the poster child for shale-gas development," Groat said, noting the play's pioneering role in combining advanced horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques to extract large volumes of gas from shale formations that previously had not been successfully drilled.In response to a Star-Telegram question, Groat said the Energy Institute likely would examine a headline-making controversy in which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an enforcement order against Fort Worth-based Range Resources, claiming two of its Barnett Shale gas wells caused or contributed to contamination of two residential water wells in Parker County. Range contends its wells did not cause the contamination and is fighting the EPA in court.Jack Z. Smith, 817-390-7724Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
