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New EPA rule requires chemical disclosure for offshore fracking

Wednesday, January 15th 2014 - 07:11 UTC
Full article 39 comments

By. Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published a rule on January 9, 2014 requiring oil and gas companies using hydraulic fracturing off the coast of California to disclose the chemicals they discharge into the ocean. Oil and gas companies have been fracking offshore California for perhaps as long as two decades, but they largely flew under the radar until recently. Read full article

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  • GeoffWard2

    It seems eminently sensible to me that the rules that control onshore and offshore oil extraction should apply to fracking - as appropriate, of course.

    Release to the marine province of 'waste' contaminated waters might reasonably attract the same sanctions as oil leakage (Chevron/Brasil), and similar storage and clean-up requirements as onshore in Ecuador (Texaco/Chevron/Ecuador Government).

    What is needed in all these type of cases is a waste release/dilution protocol and a sanction protocol, so the companies know what is expected and what the sanctions are.

    Jan 15th, 2014 - 07:43 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    What needs to be done is to prohibit fracking. It's the equivalent of a heroine addict searching his balls for a vene...

    Jan 15th, 2014 - 07:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    Is that what kirchner is doing in Vaca Muerta, searching for his balls stevie?

    Jan 15th, 2014 - 09:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • yankeeboy

    2. Why don't you release the plans for your free energy so the world doesn't need oil or gas any longer?

    dufus

    Jan 15th, 2014 - 10:27 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Some 50% of the toxic fluids used when fracking are left in the ground, contaminating water reserves of millions of years.
    This one is not about nationality, it's about human survival.

    Jan 16th, 2014 - 04:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    And Vaca Muerta is nothing BUT fracking..........no complaints to asslips kirchner and the Argentine energy plan?

    Jan 16th, 2014 - 05:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Poppy
    Fold the umbrella, it's not raining...
    Where did I target any nation in particular?

    Jan 16th, 2014 - 06:24 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • yankeeboy

    Stevie, you don't even know where you live much less know anything about fracking.

    Jan 16th, 2014 - 07:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    If you classify “asking your crystal ball” as “knowing”, you might just be right...

    Jan 16th, 2014 - 09:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    So then you agree that kirchner is fucking up Vaca Muerta and selling out Argentina in order to frack for oil?

    Jan 17th, 2014 - 01:56 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    No, I agree that fracking should be prohibited...
    ...
    Did you really think you could put written words in my figurative mouth? You?
    Your command of language is just too poor for that to happen, Poppy...

    Jan 17th, 2014 - 03:09 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • GeoffWard2

    There are ‘small’ quantities of many chemicals involved in fracking - 0.5 to 2.0 % of the fracturing fluid total volume – which is overwhelmingly just WATER.
    But - some of these chemicals – even in small quantities – can still affect people and the environment, and may not be contained within the shale layer, contaminating e.g. ground water.

    Proppants (‘props’), e.g. sands and ceramic beads, are chemicals that open the fractures and allow fluids or gases to flow.

    HCl is periodically used in cleaning the bore; and ‘breaker’ chemicals, like peroxydisulphates, reduce fluid viscosity so that ‘props’ can be released into fractures to enhance the fracturing fluid recovery.

    Surfactants e.g. ethoxylated alcohol, isopropanol and methanol, reduce surface-tensions in the fracking fluids, also aiding the recovery of the fluid.

    Biocides e.g. gluteraldehyde are injected to inhibit microbial growth whose gasses might contaminate the geological methane and which might clog the micro-fractures.

    Buffers e.g. K/Na carbonate and acetic acid, are able to adjust and control the pH levels of the fluid so that other additives will work properly.

    Clay stabilizers e.g. K chloride and tetramethyl ammonium chloride, are introduced to prevent swelling and movement of pore-blocking clays, so that they do not block pore spaces.

    Corrosion inhibitors e.g. ammonium bisulphate and methanol, help reduce rust developing.

    Friction-reducers e.g. petroleum distillates and sodium acrylate-acrylamide copolymer, maximise injection and extraction rates.

    ‘Iron-control’ chemicals e.g. polyacrylate, ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride, prevent sludge-blockages – those orange sulphates and carbonites that we often see in watercourses.

    Overall, the chemicals are pretty unsurprising, and the media scares of 'fracking-earthquakes’ are laughable – particularly in the Vaca Muerta subduction zone and in the ocean!

    Jan 17th, 2014 - 09:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    Go back to the motherland stevie........grow some balls and stop your hypocracy.

    Jan 17th, 2014 - 10:26 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    And there he is, Geoff, with a degree in Wikiknowing from the University of Google...

    Poppy
    Home are so many places... I think I'll stick to my shoes..

    Jan 17th, 2014 - 03:28 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    So stevie.....in your words......is argentina a heroine addict searching for his balls because they are desperately seeking partners to hydrofracture in Vaca Muerto? I know the indians are concerned......but not kirchner. Kirchner looking for her balls....mmmmmm.
    You're a coward Stephen.....afraid to acknowledge anything of your locations...........campora........maybe a victim of the pedophile maximo “the fat fuck” kirchner.

    Jan 17th, 2014 - 08:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    No, again, that would be your words. I never mentioned Argentina.
    I said fracking was like a heroine addict searching his balls for a vene, and that it should be prohibited.
    The rest is merely happening in your little head...

    Jan 17th, 2014 - 08:59 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    This is called a logic stream dimwit.

    If fracking is a heroine addict searching for it's balls,
    Argentina is fracking in Vaca Muerta,
    Argentina is a heroine addict searching for it's balls

    Your opening post set this up, back out all you went but logic will always prvail

    Jan 18th, 2014 - 01:45 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    That's your selective logic playing you a trick.
    Every major oil company is responsible of fracking. Not countries.

    Jan 18th, 2014 - 07:12 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • GeoffWard2

    Dear Stev.#14,
    when we need to find out more we go to the sources and sometimes share it if we find others might benefit or learn.
    I have simplified my knowledge in my post #12 in order that you might benefit or learn.

    Jan 18th, 2014 - 12:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Right...

    Jan 18th, 2014 - 12:23 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    You really show exactly what you are and what you are not.

    What you are not is a candid and openly objective poster.

    What you are is a hypocritcal and biased individual native, who breaths his hatred for the white man, except for the vast majority if the white man in SA who descended for Europe.

    Now you are back stroking on your statement on hydrofracturing's drilling process to the oil companies and your corrupt leader has nothing to do with that despite their worldwide tour last year that included Washington DC and London to get drillers to frac for Argentina in the Vaca Muerta, over the objections of the local indians there. Don't bother with another post on the subject.....you are wasting precious oxygen that someone else needs.
    Oil companies cannot and would not be in Argentina unless the K team was on her knees begging them to enter the country to frack.

    Like kirchner........you waste oxygen and space.

    Jan 18th, 2014 - 02:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    The only thing I wasted was my time, reading your drivel...

    Jan 18th, 2014 - 02:54 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    exactly so don't read and do not answer with back peddling, irrational posts. Stay with your head up your open asshole.

    Are you claiming the kirchner did not go to Washington DC and herminions to London seeking oil companies to drill in Vaca Muerto?

    Jan 18th, 2014 - 06:53 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    I can swear on your mothers grave that nobody went nowhere for any oil in Vaca Muerto.

    Jan 18th, 2014 - 06:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    And I piss on your whore mom's grave that all you can pick up on is typos. Buts.........I wouldn't waste my urine on her.

    Jan 19th, 2014 - 02:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    You would squeak like a lechoncito, a cobblers grip around your neck...
    So keep your urine for own consumption.
    It's natural.
    And organic...

    Jan 19th, 2014 - 03:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    yet you are the one filled with fear. Though I do not blame you. If you have balls I'd tell you to wear a cup............but you're daddies boy......incompetent and afraid.

    Jan 19th, 2014 - 03:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Fear?
    I have nothing to fear.
    Some men are made for times of peace, others for times of war.
    I pick up no weapon because I've seen the scars it brings, you wouldn't know.
    And even if rage is part of that scar, I never was an enemy.
    I do fear enemies like that though... Men of war.

    Jan 19th, 2014 - 03:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    I've seen and felt both. Your point is?

    BTW.....Argentina is looking for it's balls, I've been there enough to know.

    Jan 19th, 2014 - 11:10 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    so is USA...

    Jan 19th, 2014 - 12:42 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    And I stated anything to the contrary with regard to hydrofracturing for oil?

    However one thing I will say........we are doing it because it is not a government owned endeavor.

    The second this I will say is Argentina is not succeeding in it because the government owns the operation and they are broke.

    Jan 19th, 2014 - 02:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Look Poppy, I can't care less for your personal odyssey against the Argentine government, that is your problem, not mine.
    I'm against fracking, regardless of where that may happen, be that Argentina, USA, Uruguay or Zimbabwe.
    You wish me to have a go at Argentina for that reason, and your limited brain can't seem to grasp the fact that it's not about Argentina and your obsessions or personal vendettas.
    It's about fracking. All fracking.
    Everywhere.
    No one excluded.

    Get it? No?

    It's ok, I'll try again later.

    Like process control, one has to take the dead time into consideration. You know, the PV needs to be sent back into the loop...

    Jan 19th, 2014 - 03:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    I love when you can only insult to make a point after you've backed into a corner.

    Jan 19th, 2014 - 09:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    You presses hard for a straight answer.
    I offered it to you with my inner thoughts.

    I understand the point was taken.

    Jan 19th, 2014 - 10:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    If you were sincere about being a straight and honest answer it would have been received as such without the insult. I on the other hand insult because......hey.....ignoramuses insult right?

    Jan 20th, 2014 - 01:24 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Sorry for the insult.

    Jan 20th, 2014 - 01:42 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    if that's truly sincere........I will do my best to refrain and stay on non personal points.

    Jan 20th, 2014 - 02:57 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    I will do my best not to hunt butterflies with shootguns...

    Jan 20th, 2014 - 04:21 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    An interesting accord.

    Jan 20th, 2014 - 06:51 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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