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Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Oct 8, 2010 5:51 pm
by peter febb
Filmmaker Josh Fox began to study hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” when a drilling company tried to lease his land to drill for natural gas. “They asked to lease 19.5 acres on the Upper Delaware River, on the border of New York and Pennsylvania, in a watershed that supplies New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia,” explained Fox in a phone interview. “At one point, they offered us $100,000. We got multiple offers — another one a month ago — I guess they didn’t get the memo about the movie.”
...
Despite the gas company’s assurance that drilling would not be invasive, Fox decided to investigate existing drilling sites. He had heard of problems occurring 30 miles away in Dimock, Pennsylvania. “I went there in February 2009,” he recalled, “and found the entire place upside down. It was swarming with huge trucks, people could literally light their water on fire, people and animals were getting sick, and there was an atmosphere of fear and betrayal. After a few trips there, I decided I had to get out West and find out if this situation was the exception or the rule. In Arkansas, Colorado, Wyoming, Texas, and New Mexico, I found a story of contamination and defeat.” http://www.ulsterpublishing.com/printer_friendly/8771402




If you know of a pending permit application and would like to check the proposed location for the nearest cave, feel free to PM me.

    Cave Distance well ID Operator
    Barr Cave 2.3 miles 725248 CHIEF OIL & GAS LLC
    Bear Cave 4.7 miles 729991 GREAT OAK ENERGY INC
    Bear Cave 3.4 miles 729991 GREAT OAK ENERGY INC
    Bear Cave 3.9 miles 729991 GREAT OAK ENERGY INC

    Boalsburg Cave 4.2 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    Brooks Spring Ca 4.1 miles 726250 RICE DRILLING B LLC

    Buffalo Run Cave 5.2 miles 712760 EOG RESOURCES INC
    Buffalo Run Cave 2.0 miles 720724 CARRIZO (MARCELLUS) LLC

    Cave Run 0.6 miles 712217 SNYDER BROS INC

    Christopher Gist 4.5 miles 712745 EASTERN AMER ENERGY CORP
    Christopher Gist 4.1 miles 712284 ATLAS RESOURCES LLC
    Christopher Gist 4.6 miles 727551 BURNETT OIL CO INC
    Christopher Gist 3.5 miles 610622 DUKE ENERGY OHIO INC
    Christopher Gist 3.2 miles 726284 WILLIAM S BURKLAND OIL & GAS

    Coffee Run Sprin 4.4 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    Colerain Ice Cav 4.7 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO
    Colerain Ice Cav 4.1 miles 712348 BLX INC
    Colerain Ice Cav 3.0 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Colerain Ice Cav 3.0 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Colerain Ice Cav 3.7 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC
    Colerain Ice Cav 3.7 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    Coleville Caves 2.0 miles 725248 CHIEF OIL & GAS LLC
    Coleville Caves 2.0 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    Con Cave 5.1 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Con Cave 5.1 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC

    Coon Cave 5.0 miles 712284 ATLAS RESOURCES LLC

    Copenhaver Caves 3.6 miles 720724 CARRIZO (MARCELLUS) LLC
    Copperhead Cave 4.2 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Copperhead Cave 4.2 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC


    Cow Cave 4.1 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC
    Cow Cave 4.8 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC
    Cow Cave 4.6 miles 716479 ANADARKO E&P CO LP

    Cove Run Cave 2.9 miles 712348 BLX INC
    Cove Run Cave 2.9 miles 712217 SNYDER BROS INC
    Cove Run Cave 2.8 miles 712217 SNYDER BROS INC

    Cowanshannock Cr 4.2 miles 712348 BLX INC
    Cowanshannock Creek Cave; Armstrong Cnty 0.7 miles 712217 SNYDER BROS INC
    Cowanshannock Creek Cave; Armstrong Cnty 0.6 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO
    Cowanshannock Creek Cave 1.2 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO
    Cowanshannock Creek Cave 2.7 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC
    Cowanshannock Creek Cave 0.8 miles 712217 SNYDER BROS INC
    Cowanshannock Creek Cave 1.3 miles 712947 PHILLIPS PROD CO
    Cowanshannock Creek Cave 1.3 miles 712823 PHILLIPS EXPLORATION INC
    Cowanshannock Creek Cave 1.2 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC
    Cowanshannock Creek Cave 2.1 miles 712217 SNYDER BROS INC
    Cowanshannock Creek Cave 0.6 miles 712217 SNYDER BROS INC

    Decker Cave 3.5 miles 725248 CHIEF OIL & GAS LLC
    Decker Cave 3.5 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    Deep Quarry Cave 1.3 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC
    Deer Bone Cave 4.0 miles 712760 EOG RESOURCES INC

    Deer Bone Cave 2.1 miles 720724 CARRIZO (MARCELLUS) LLC

    Devils Den Cave 1.9 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 1.5 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 3.2 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 1.5 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 3.0 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 1.2 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 1.6 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 1.3 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 4.6 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 2.2 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 2.1 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 3.1 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 3.7 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 0.8 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 2.9 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 4.4 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 2.6 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 1.7 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 3.9 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 1.6 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 1.6 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 3.8 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 3.4 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Devils Den Cave 1.3 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Devils Den Cave 2.3 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC

    Dravosburg Cave 2.6 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Dravosburg Cave 2.6 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC

    Earl Whites Cave 5.0 miles 725248 CHIEF OIL & GAS LLC
    Earl Whites Cave 5.0 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    Elk Creek Cave 4.5 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC
    Elk Creek Cave 4.7 miles 716479 ANADARKO E&P CO LP

    End of the Rainb 2.7 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    Evac Cave 4.7 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC

    Flatfoot Cave 1.2 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 0.7 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 3.6 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 0.7 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 2.2 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 2.1 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 2.3 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 2.1 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 3.0 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 1.3 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 3.9 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 4.6 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 1.7 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 2.1 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 5.0 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 1.9 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 2.5 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 4.7 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 2.3 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 2.3 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 3.9 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 3.9 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 5.2 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Flatfoot Cave 1.1 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Flatfoot Cave 2.4 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC

    Footbridge Cave 3.9 miles 725248 CHIEF OIL & GAS LLC
    Footbridge Cave 3.9 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    Fox Cave 4.6 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC
    Fox Cave 4.7 miles 716479 ANADARKO E&P CO LP

    Freeman Falls Ca 1.6 miles 712348 BLX INC
    Freeman Falls Ca 1.5 miles 730787 ANTERO RESOURCES APALACHIAN CORP
    Freeman Falls Ca 5.1 miles 730787 ANTERO RESOURCES APALACHIAN CORP
    Freeman Falls Ca 1.4 miles 730787 ANTERO RESOURCES APALACHIAN CORP
    Freeman Falls Ca 2.5 miles 712415 CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC
    Freeman Falls Ca 1.6 miles 712415 CHESAPEAKE APPALACHIA LLC

    Fry Caves 3.7 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    Greenbriar Cave 0.7 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC

    Harpster Cave 3.5 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    Hennigh Cave 3.4 miles 720724 CARRIZO (MARCELLUS) LLC

    Hesston Cave 3.5 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC
    Hesston Cave Num 3.5 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC
    Hesston Cave Num 3.5 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC
    Hesston Cave Num 3.5 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC

    Hillside Bone Ca 4.8 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Hillside Bone Ca 4.9 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC

    Hineman Cave 3.8 miles 712348 BLX INC

    Hol-Bruck Cave 3.9 miles 712760 EOG RESOURCES INC
    Hol-Bruck Cave 1.2 miles 720724 CARRIZO (MARCELLUS) LLC

    Holter Pit Cave 4.1 miles 712760 EOG RESOURCES INC
    Holter Pit Cave 0.4 miles 720724 CARRIZO (MARCELLUS) LLC

    Horse Bone Cave 3.9 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO
    Horse Bone Cave 3.5 miles 712348 BLX INC
    Horse Bone Cave 2.2 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Horse Bone Cave 2.2 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Horse Bone Cave 4.6 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC
    Horse Bone Cave 2.8 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    Hunters Cave 2.8 miles 712242 CNX GAS CO LLC
    Hunters Cave 2.2 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO
    Hunters Cave 3.2 miles 726250 RICE DRILLING B LLC

    Ice Mine 3.1 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC
    Ice Mine 4.0 miles 727603 DORSO LP

    J-4 Cave 3.8 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC
    J-4 Cave 4.3 miles 716479 ANADARKO E&P CO LP

    Jacksonville Cav 4.3 miles 725248 CHIEF OIL & GAS LLC
    Jacksonville Cav 4.3 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    Jumonville Cave 1.2 miles 712242 CNX GAS CO LLC
    Jumonville Cave 2.0 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO
    Jumonville Cave 2.2 miles 726250 RICE DRILLING B LLC


    Kens Cave 4.8 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Kens Cave 4.9 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC

    Kingston Cave 3.6 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    Kooken Cave 5.0 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Kooken Cave 5.1 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC

    Laurel Caverns 4.2 miles 712284 ATLAS RESOURCES LLC
    Laurel Caverns 4.2 miles 726179 MARATHON OIL CO
    Laurel Caverns 4.3 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO
    Laurel Caverns 4.3 miles 712284 ATLAS RESOURCES LLC
    Laurel Caverns 4.2 miles 726179 MARATHON OIL CO
    Laurel Caverns 4.3 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    Lime Sinks Cave 1.2 miles 725248 CHIEF OIL & GAS LLC

    Little Wood Pussy Cave 3.4 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC

    Loyalhanna Creek 5.4 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Loyalhanna Creek Cave 0.6 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Loyalhanna Cave 1.0 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC

    Lycippus Cave 4.4 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC

    Maybe Nasty Cave 4.1 miles 712284 ATLAS RESOURCES LLC
    Maybe Nasty Cave 4.1 miles 726179 MARATHON OIL CO
    Maybe Nasty Cave 4.0 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    McClure Cave 4.7 miles 725248 CHIEF OIL & GAS LLC

    Millheim Cave 3.2 miles 725248 CHIEF OIL & GAS LLC
    Millheim Cave 3.2 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    Millheim South C 2.5 miles 712760 EOG RESOURCES INC
    Millheim South C 1.6 miles 720724 CARRIZO (MARCELLUS) LLC

    Mollys Cave 2.9 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO
    Mollys Cave 2.8 miles 712348 BLX INC
    Mollys Cave 1.5 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Mollys Cave 1.5 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Mollys Cave 2.0 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    Myerly Spring Ca 2.7 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    Nichols Lynchner 5.2 miles 712284 ATLAS RESOURCES LLC
    Nichols Lynchner 4.8 miles 727551 BURNETT OIL CO INC

    Noll Cave 3.5 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    Oak Hall Cave 3.6 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    Penn Aqua Cave 4.2 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    Pine Creek Cave 4.5 miles 712760 EOG RESOURCES INC
    Pine Creek Cave 1.7 miles 720724 CARRIZO (MARCELLUS) LLC

    Pine Creek Sprin 5.0 miles 712760 EOG RESOURCES INC
    Pine Creek Sprin 2.5 miles 720724 CARRIZO (MARCELLUS) LLC

    Pleasant Gap Cave 3.5 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    Prah Cave 3.9 miles 712760 EOG RESOURCES INC

    Rattlesnake Cave 4.8 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Rattlesnake Cave 4.9 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC

    Rebersburg Cave 3.9 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC
    Rebersburg Cave 4.0 miles 716479 ANADARKO E&P CO LP

    Roadside Cave 0.6 miles 712760 EOG RESOURCES INC
    Roadside Cave 4.0 miles 720724 CARRIZO (MARCELLUS) LLC

    Rock Caves 3.8 miles 725248 CHIEF OIL & GAS LLC

    Rockview Cave 2.8 miles 720724 CARRIZO (MARCELLUS) LLC

    Rudder Cave 4.9 miles 712284 ATLAS RESOURCES LLC
    Rudder Cave 3.4 miles 712284 ATLAS RESOURCES LLC

    Ruth Cave 3.4 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Ruth Cave 1.6 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Ruth Cave 4.6 miles 727739 DOMINION TRANS INC
    Ruth Cave 1.6 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    Sharer Cave 5.0 miles 725248 CHIEF OIL & GAS LLC

    Sleepy Hollow Cave 0.6 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC

    Smulton Sinks Nu 3.9 miles 712760 EOG RESOURCES INC
    Smulton Sinks Nu 3.8 miles 712760 EOG RESOURCES INC

    Snake Cave 3.3 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC
    Snake Cave 1.3 miles 716479 ANADARKO E&P CO LP

    Spider Cave 5.2 miles 712284 ATLAS RESOURCES LLC
    Spider Cave 5.3 miles 726179 MARATHON OIL CO
    Spider Cave 5.1 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    Spring Mills Cav 5.2 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    States Cave 3.1 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC

    States Cave Numb 3.1 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC

    Stone Knife Cave 1.2 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 0.8 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 3.6 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 0.8 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 2.3 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 2.0 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 2.3 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 2.0 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 2.9 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 1.3 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 3.9 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 4.5 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 1.7 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 2.2 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 5.0 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 1.9 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 2.5 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 4.7 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 2.3 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 2.3 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 3.8 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 3.9 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 5.2 miles 713850 RANGE RESOURCES APPALACHIA LLC
    Stone Knife Cave 1.2 miles 712652 DOMINION EXPLORATION & PROD INC
    Stone Knife Cave 2.4 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC

    Stormstown Cave 4.2 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    Stover Quarry Ca 4.5 miles 726146 EXCO RESOURCES PA INC

    Strangford Cave 3.4 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC

    Sugar Hill Cave 4.8 miles 712760 EOG RESOURCES INC

    Sunnyside Quarry 3.3 miles 712760 EOG RESOURCES INC
    Sunnyside Quarry 3.5 miles 720724 CARRIZO (MARCELLUS) LLC

    Tub Run Cave 2.0 miles 712284 ATLAS RESOURCES LLC
    Tub Run Cave 1.9 miles 726179 MARATHON OIL CO
    Tub Run Cave 2.0 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO

    Torrance Cave 3.2 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC

    Vex Cave 3.1 miles 713688 XTO ENERGY INC

    Wrights Cave 1.5 miles 712284 ATLAS RESOURCES LLC
    Wrights Cave 1.5 miles 726179 MARATHON OIL CO
    Wrights Cave 1.5 miles 713696 EQUITABLE GAS CO


Re: Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Oct 8, 2010 6:42 pm
by peter febb
duplicate post deleted --pf

Re: Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Oct 8, 2010 6:48 pm
by wyandottecaver
Peter,

a simple link to a spreadsheet or word file would be much better. The current format is cumbersome to most people interested and a waste of space to the rest who arent interested at all.

Re: Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Oct 9, 2010 8:00 am
by peter febb
Hiding the problem won't make it go away.
Request denied. :tonguecheek:

Re: Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Oct 9, 2010 11:22 am
by wyandottecaver
posting lists of numbers doesn't make you a scientist or activist. The first requires the logic the second requires passion. This is just annoying. Most people don't consider public hyper-links or spreadsheet files as "hiding" data, but suit yourself. I was just trying to help. Obviously the LFL (long freakin list) approach has drawn interested cave-chatters in droves :big grin:

Re: Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Oct 9, 2010 11:26 am
by MUD
peter febb wrote:Hiding the problem won't make it go away.
Request denied.


:big grin: Posting it here won't make it go away either!

Re: Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Oct 11, 2010 6:40 pm
by PYoungbaer
Peter Febb: I agree with Wyandottecaver that a simple link would suffice for those who are interested.

I am interested, but just seeing a long list of locations doesn't tell me anything. What is their significance? Are there problems at these locations, or are they just places where operations are ongoing?

The better question may be is fracking something the caving community should be concerned about? This was the question raised recently on the Northeastern Cave Conservancy's listserve by Melanie Peterson as a followup to reading the reference article below, and replied to by several folks who deal in hydrogeology for a living:

Can anyone with a scientific background (not me!) comment on the veracity of the article at:

http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/ ... icle/5839/

Also, what effect, if any, could this practice have on caves generally?

Thanks!

Melanie Peterson

Melanie - The "fracking" article is essentially correct in its basic facts, with some hyperbole overtones. The cave and karst community should be aware of the risks this natural gas extraction process poses for caves and cavers. As noted in the article, shales are essentially tight, impermeable rocks. As result, they hold hydrocarbons and other things, such as heavy metals (which commonly bind or "chelate" to complex organic molecules), in isolation from the environment. Fracking, by releasing the gas, also releases the heavy metals. Fracking involves the use of compounds that the industry is reluctant to talk about as they are proprietary concoctions. The fracking allows all these materials: natural gas and liquid hydrocarbons, heavy metals, and fracking fluids, to migrate vertically and laterally, into wells, aquifers, and to the surface. The risk to caves is obvious.

New York especially has a lot of shales that are suitable for fracking. The NEC might want to look into the potential risks and hazards. The risk is not theoretical, it is direct. Cavers could suffer illness, injury and possible death while in caves from contact with materials released by the fracking process.

I hope this is helpful. I am not an alarmist, but the fracking process to extract natural gas has some pretty scary implications.

Best regards, John Mylroie NSS 12514

Thanks, John. I've been following the fracking issue for a little while - especially in western PA, but also in central NY - i.e. Cooperstown and up toward the Thruway where there are apparently lots of the shales. But what about in the limestone areas of the Helderbergs? What's the geology and hydrogeology that would force/release the liquids/chemicals from the shales in to the limestones?

Peter

Peter - The problem in the Helderbergs is that they dip SSW under a huge pile of shales and other clastics. If fracking in those shales releases gases and fluids, they will by buoyant and could migrate up-dip to release at the Helderberg escarpment. The flow cycle would be vertically downward under pressure into the lower limestone unit, then up-dip under buoyancy to the escarpment, as the limestones are more permeable than the shales.

This is just a generalization, and each specific site would be secure or vulnerable based on local conditions.
Best regards, John

Not that I would ever disagree with John, but there are a few other factors. First, fracking is generally done in the Marcellus shale. Stratigraphically, this is above the Onondaga limestone and it is unlikely that anything will migrate down-section. Older units like the Medina have gas but do not crop out this far east and what little fracking is done in the Medina is done with water (at least that's what was done in the 1980s when I had professional dealings with the matter).

Second, the fracking fluids need to be very dense to work, so they are unlikely to migrate uphill. Gas might migrate up-dip but the distances are such that this would seem highly unlikely. Further, while the Marcellus holds a lot of natural gas, fracking is a issue precisely because the Marcellus is very dense and gas does not readily move in it.
Thom Engel

Not that I would ever disagree with Thom, but shales, by definition, are self-confining units under pressure. If shales overly limestones (such as the Onondaga), after fracking the flow will be towards the more permeable unit, as under pressure, gravity flow is not the issue. The Onondaga, or any limestone with sufficient permeability (which in general greatly exceeds that of shales) will act as a pathway for fluid movement, regardless of fluid density. It is similar to an artesian flow system in hydrology. The elevation south and west of the Helderbergs is higher than the Helderberg escarpment, so the potentiometric surface (pressure field) exceeds the updip elevation of the limestones, and fluids could flow "uphill".

This is all theoretical. The initial question from Melanie concerned the accuracy of the fracking article she had read, and the risk; whether is was real and whether it could impact limestones and hence caves and karst. In certain locations, under certain conditions, I feel it most certainly could and therefore some vigilance would be worthwhile.

Cheers, John Mylroie

Melanie,
Here are some additional comments to add to what John has written. Many of these comments stem from environmental consulting work funded by Otsego 2000, an environmental group actively seeking to preserve and protect groundwater and surface water resources throughout and beyond Otsego County, New York. All these comments relate to cave areas overlying gas-rich shales.

Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing of gas-rich shales pose one of the worst environmental disasters in the making of our time. In many areas of our country where this exploitation is now occurring, people's way of life has been irreparably harmed and our resources forever degraded. People’s quiet roads are now traveled by hundreds and hundreds of trucks loaded with toxic chemicals, their viewsheds are riddled with drilling rigs, refinery equipment, and contaminant laden (and leaking) holding pits. Where the hydrofracking process has failed, people breath in volatile organic hydrocarbons 24/7, their water is contaminated, their health is jeopardized, some have had their animals die, others can light their tap water, and some streams now bubble with methane gas beside dead fish. The documentary film Gasland reveals what the gas companies don't want the public to know. It should be seen by everyone who even remotely thinks that it is a good idea to risk and sacrifice our finite groundwater and surface water resources in the name of energy independence through the use of fossil fuels, especially gas-rich shales.

To learn more about some of the many and very real risks associated with hydraulic fracturing please go to:

http://otsego2000.org

and the comment papers posted. In particular, I highly recommend that you read both items authored by James Northrup, my technical comments, and what is presented in the Zarin & Steinmetz letter. All of these were recently submitted to EPA as part of their gas drilling hearing process.

Six key points, some of which you will glean from reading these items, are:

1) A respected structural geologist (Jacobi) has used naturally and upward leaking methane to map extensive vertical fracture systems exposed on the ground surface. This means that fractures already extend from the Marcellus shale upward to the ground surface, through our freshwater aquifers. Repeated hydraulic fracturing within numerous individual wells will serve to expand and extend these existing fractures. Some fracking related contaminants will then migrate upwards via these fractures into freshwater aquifers - particularly Light Non Aqueous Phase Liquids (i.e., LNAPLS - less dense hydrocarbons) inclusive of benzene, a known carcinogen, methane, and radioactive isotopes. The pathways are already there and functioning, waiting to be further expanded and laced with toxic chemicals. This is an environmental disaster in the making.

2) To efficiently produce shale gases from the geologically "tight" Marcellus and Utica shales requires REPEATED hydraulic fracturing of individual wells. Each successive fracturing event further increases the risk of groundwater and surface water contamination as a toxic cocktail of drilling fluids is injected into the earth under extremely high pressures.

3) The Marcellus and Utica shales extend under a large, multi-state, land area. The environmental risks associated with hydraulic fracturing are interstate in nature and must be fully evaluated in this manner - not solely in New York State by NYSDEC.

4) Some of the contaminated groundwater in areas now undergoing hydraulic fracturing is far removed from gas production wellheads, thus strongly indicating that groundwater contamination is already occurring along vertical fault and fracture pathways, distant from potential poor wellhead grout jobs or casing failures as the gas industry would have us believe. The contaminant cases known to date are only the tip of the iceberg. Analogous to the Titanic, our treasured natural resources (including our freshwater aquifers) face the real risk of permanent destruction as each successive gas well punctures the hull.

5) Parts of New York State, where thousands of gas leases have already been secured, are seismically active. Excessive lubrication of faults and fractures with highly pressurized hydraulic fracturing fluids, bolstered by repeated hydrofracturing episodes, may result in fault activation and bedrock settlement. This, in turn, may result in shearing of production well boreholes and casing even in the absence of natural seismic activity. Sudden and catastrophic shearing of multiple production well casings may result in the unnatural interconnection of our freshwater aquifers with deep brines and toxic hydrofracking fluids. Pre-existing old and poorly abandoned oil and gas wells may provide additional contaminant migration pathways. Unlike the British Petroleum well that was finally plugged, once the structure of the bedrock has been compromised by faulting and formation waters have commingled, aquifer restoration will not be possible.

6) Gas companies have successfully lobbied to exempt toxic hydraulic fracturing fluids from safe drinking water statutes.

As if it is not enough to risk our potable water resources and stream water quality on privately owned lands, the New York State Department of ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION has been holding public hearings on their plan to permit gas exploitation on hundreds of tracts of State forest lands throughout New York State. Our State forests and natural heritage should never be leased for gas exploitation. Written comments are being accepted throughout much of October. Please consider looking into this and providing written comments. I urge people to speak out against the proposed use of State lands for gas exploitation.

There are real environmental, water quality, air quality, explosive, and health concerns regarding gas exploitation below carbonate beds, inclusive of in caves. As part of testimony I put together for Otsego 2000, I briefly addressed this. The section below is excerpted from September 11, 2010 testimony available on the Otsego 2000 web page:

"Carbonates of the Onondaga Formation and Helderberg group outcrop in the northern portion of Otsego County. These carbonate formations, while stratigraphically lower than the Marcellus shale, overlie other shale beds that may be gas rich (e.g., the Utica shale of the Trenton Group). This is indicated by 3 gas leases over these formations (see Figure 5). These carbonate formations are recognized among karst hydrologists as being karstic or cave/conduit bearing in nature. An important aspect of karst is its effect on water supply and contaminant transport. Water in solution conduits can travel up to several kilometers per day, and contaminants can move at the same rate. This poses serious problems when monitoring for water quality. Contaminants enter the ground easily through sinkholes and sinking streams, and filtering is virtually non-existent. Even small solution conduits can transmit groundwater and contaminants hundreds of times faster than the typical un-enlarged fracture network. Hydrofracking-related contaminants that may enter karstic solution conduits, from below or above, would quickly degrade groundwater and surface water quality. As a result of the DEC's failure to address this significant environmental concern, it must be studied by the EPA."

The NYS Department of ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION appears anxious to start permitting horizontal gas wells throughout the State. Their existing documentation is weak and does not fully consider all the environmental risks. It is only through the active work of environmental groups like Otsego 2000 and the groundswell they and others create that we may be able to protect our groundwater and surface water resources from the environmental disaster already occurring elsewhere above gas-rich shales. I urge everyone to research and learn as much as possible about hydraulic fracturing and to actively get involved. Be sure, also, to see the documentary film Gasland. Paul Rubin NSS 14675

Paul,

Thank you for this excellent information. It seems there would also be a direct danger to people in caves who are wading or crawling in stream passages, or swimming or diving underground lakes. With the rapid transmission of water and its contents in karst conduits, as you point out, this could cause very quick and widespread irreparable damage.

Peter

Peter,
Indeed, if LNAPLs or fracking fluids were to seep or flow into caves (from below or from leaking surface holding pits) situated above gas-rich shales (anywhere in the country or abroad), caves might in effect become "confined spaces" - toxic to breathe in with great and, possibly, rapid exposure risk. Cavers might possibly become overwhelmed if not equipped with the right respirators. Fracking fluids contain hundreds of toxic chemicals, many of which gas companies will not disclose, thus making the utility of respirators questionable. Potentially, unsuspecting cavers might be quickly overwhelmed and die. Some fracking chemicals are carcinogens. Some chemicals will potentially harm human skin via direct contact. Radiation exposure would also likely be a real health risk. Contaminants could then, in turn, contaminate karst aquifers and down gradient receptors (e.g., springs, streams, wetlands, maybe some wells). Of course, if animals such as bats were present in caves experiencing contaminant excursions, their lifespans might be quickly shortened. Paul

I forgot to mention that a key component of cavers possibly becoming overwhelmed
in caves overlying gas plays may stem from the build up methane. This is key to
my earlier reference of explosive hazard. This has already happened at well
heads above gas plays.

Some many years ago, while employed at the Oak Ridge National Lab. in TN, I had
problems getting into reservation caves because, mainly, the folks there did not
want to acknowledge their existence and the potential of rapid groundwater flow
times. One obstacle that I had to overcome was the OSHA concept that caves were
confined spaces. I had to write stuff up on this and finally did succeed in
proving that caves were not confined spaces. In caving in areas above gas
plays, this assumption could prove fatal. Cavers should be made aware of this
risk. Paul

Re: Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Dec 13, 2010 9:40 am
by peter febb
Governor Bans New Gas Wells on State Land
Gov. Edward G. Rendell of Pennsylvania signed an executive order on Tuesday effectively banning further natural gas development on state forest lands.
Mr. Rendell, a Democrat, said the moratorium was needed in part to prevent the unchecked industrialization of public lands in a state that has seen a boom in natural gas development unparalleled there.

(Oct 26, 2010)
Link:http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/pennsylvania-governor-bans-fracking-in-state-forests/

Re: Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Feb 4, 2011 11:21 am
by peter febb
Tell the Delaware River Basin Commission:
stop the rush to drill!

Urge the DRBC to take the time to hear the public speak,
and to consider new studies of drilling's impacts

http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/676/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=5745&tag=CWNDDemail

Re: Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Jun 20, 2011 7:01 am
by peter febb
http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/features/2010/06/fracking-video-201006
Does anyone living in Pennsylvania know how I can get involved in protesting against the lack of regulation on Marcellus Shale drilling? How do I contact legislatures? I am a college student who feels very deeply about keeping our environment clean and safe.
Posted 4/12/2011 9:43:15pm
by linds89

Re: Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Jun 26, 2011 1:40 pm
by cavelorenzo
Here's a link to an article that was in Yahoo Finance this morning. It's about hunters and fishermen banding together to monitor streams. Perhaps PA cavers should join the coalition to monitor the streams underground.

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Sportsmen ... et=&ccode=

Re: Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Dec 20, 2011 7:59 am
by peter febb
Fracking investigation finds toxic emissions at drill sites
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF), a non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the Chesapeake Bay, conducted an infrared video investigation this spring of air pollution emitting from 15 hydraulic fracturing sites in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia. The organization said it found emissions at 11 of the sites.

CBF looked at 15 fracking sites and compressor stations, which pressurize gas during transport from one location to another. 13 of the sites are located in Pennsylvania, one is in Maryland and one is in West Virginia.

The sites CBF surveyed are operated by EOG Resources, Inc., Williams Production Appalachia LLC Hollenbeck, Cabot Oil & Gas, Chesapeake Appalachia, LLC and Texas Eastern Transmission LP, among others.

The companies were not aware that their sites were being filmed, Pelton said.

"We picked sites that were accessible to public roads," Pelton said. "[We] didn't want to notify them in advance [because the companies might have] shut off emissions."

George Stark, director of external affairs of Cabot Oil & Gas, confirmed that the company was not aware that their sites were being filmed from public roads.

"No, I was not aware of the video," Stark said. "The [Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection] has done studies and determined there was no negative impact from methane emissions."

Pelton, accompanied by David Sawyer of Sawyer Infrared Inspection Services, Optical Gas Imaging, shot footage of the sites in May and June. They used both a standard video camera and a Flir GasFindIR infrared camera, designed to detect methane leaks and hydrocarbon gases.

CBF claims that the infrared equipment detected otherwise invisible gas emissions from 11 of the 15 sites.


link:
http://www2.bupipedream.com/news/fracking-investigation-finds-toxic-emissions-at-drill-sites-1.2726256#.TvCFAyhoVI7

Re: Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Nov 26, 2012 6:18 pm
by peter febb
LONGMONT, Colo. — This old farming town near the base of the Rocky Mountains has long been considered a conservative next-door neighbor to the ultraliberal college town of Boulder, a place bisected by the railroad and where middle-class families found a living at the vegetable cannery, sugar mill and Butterball turkey plant.
But this month, Longmont became the first town in Colorado to outlaw hydraulic fracturing, the oil-drilling practice commonly known as fracking. The ban has propelled Longmont to the fiercely contested forefront of the nation’s antifracking movement, inspiring other cities to push for similar prohibitions.


Read it here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/26/us/with-ban-on-fracking-colorado-town-lands-in-thick-of-dispute.html?_r=0

____________________________________________

Livestock falling ill in fracking regions
By Elizabeth Royte
Food & Environment Reporting Network

In the midst of the domestic energy boom, livestock on farms near oil- and gas-drilling operations nationwide have been quietly falling sick and dying. While scientists have yet to isolate cause and effect, many suspect chemicals used in drilling and hydrofracking (or “fracking”) operations are poisoning animals through the air, water or soil.

Read it here:
http://openchannel.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/29/15547283-livestock-falling-ill-in-fracking-regions?lite

Re: Tracking Fracture Mining Activity Near Caves (PA)

PostPosted: Apr 3, 2013 6:37 am
by peter febb
Neighbouring US towns worlds apart on natural gas 'fracking'
The BBC's Laura Trevelyan spoke to residents of two small towns - Hancock in New York, which is waiting to hear if a moratorium on dril

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-22006486