FollowinG Best Fracking Practices Can Lessen Methane Leaks
(PRWEB) September 22, 2013 -- Debates regarding hydraulic fracturing have primarily centered around its environmental impact, but new research indicates it may be safer than previously thought.
A study conducted by the University of Texas took detailed measurements from certain wells around the United States and found that methane leaks — once considered a major problem that can occur during extraction — are not as hazardous during the fracking process.
Methane can be released into the atmosphere when natural gas is pulled from the ground. It can have a major impact on the surrounding environmental conditions, which can mitigate the advantages of using natural gas in the first place. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that if more than 3.2 percent of methane leaks into the atmosphere, the environmental benefits of using natural gas for energy are wiped out.
The study tested shale-gas wells around the country where fracking takes place and found that methane leaks are lower than the national average, which the EPA said earlier this year is around 1.5 percent. There were, however, a few caveats to the test.
One in particular was the fact that many of the test subjects were newer wells being drilled today with modern tools. An article in The Washington Journal says this is significant.
"This study gives us a decent idea of what the best practices for fracking look like," Brad Plumer, the article's author, writes. "If companies are using state-of-the-art production methods, they can minimize leaks."
Natural gas producers can follow this trend and maintain the practice's positive impact on the environment by obtaining the best fracking fluid and equipment.
Ben Davis, EnerSciences, http://www.enersciences.com, 512-505-4101, [email protected]
Share this article