After more than three decades working in the oil and gas service industry, most of that time directly involved in natural gas production, I am more confident than ever of the promise and potential of natural gas as a source for energy solutions for our country. I’m proud of our industry, and am the third generation of my family to work in it. This background makes me mindful of our industry’s responsibilities to do the right thing for the long haul.
I have not made up my mind on the long-range impact of the newer well completion technologies employed in the Shale plays. For one thing, I do not have the geo-technical background to allow me to develop an educated opinion. But our industry does. We have the right people that are able to make the right decisions and look to the long-range implications of any intrusive completion process. I am confident that they are doing so.
Our nation has much history to learn from. The most significant lesson is that the earlier an issue is addressed, the more cost efficient the resolution process will be. Years ago the building materials industry determined that asbestos presented value as an insulation material with fire retardant qualities. Likewise, early in the 20th century, paint manufacturers selected lead as the best additive to prolong paint life and resist fading. A landscaper in Florida imported kudzu from Japan as a fast growing vine with attractive leaves as a decorative plant. Let me quickly state I am not equating frac sand to asbestos, lead or even kudzu. But the profits made by the companies that introduced and employed these products never came close covering the costs to address and mitigate the long term consequences of their uses.
We should not resent or denigrate those who question the use of any intrusive technology we may elect to employ. As an industry, we need to be able to answer with certainty the questions others may raise about any process or technology. They have a right to ask those questions and we have an obligation to answer them. In the long run, it will be much better to address concerns now, rather than run the risk of facing future financial obligations we cannot meet if we overlook a major problem. If we do not step up and adequately police our own actions, we will face being policed by others who may not be as qualified to develop solutions.
We are all environmentalists when it comes to being concerned about where we live and raise our kids. The size of the area of our concern is a matter of degree and perspective. Whether it is only the neighborhood in which we live or the whole planet, we are all empowered to ask questions about who is doing what to the land, water and air that may be impacted.
When we dig in our heels as an industry, those asking the questions will resort to legislation and regulation if they cannot get answers directly from us. It’s in our best interests to answer the hard questions now about the long term impact of shale gas development.
Jim Fererro
0 Responses to “Environmental Risk in Shale Gas Development: Point-Counterpoint”