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Fracking Matters Newsletter 12-13 (102) – 10th April 2013
BAN FRACKING IN IRELAND!
contact: i [email protected] visit: www.frackingfreeeireland.org
facebook:NO FRACKING IRELANDhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/146055765467930/
No Fracking Northern Ireland Twitter: @BANfrackingNI
fracking ireland google groups, apply for membership: [email protected] ireland website: https://sites.google.com/site/frackingireland/
GEAI : http://goodenergiesalliance.com/
For an overview of all groups, websites and contact details visit: http://frackingfreeireland.org/contact/contact-local-groups/
EVENTS and national CAMPAIGN newsSouth Americans talk in Leitrim about their Campaign in Peru and Colombia
Fracking is not the only activity of mining companies – with the rise in price of oil, gold and coal, mega-extractive multinational corporations have unleashed a frenzy on Latin America!
During Latin America Week (6th – 13th April), two prominent campaigners, Milton Sanchaz Cubas and Aida Julieta Quiñones Torres, will be touring Ireland to talk about the impact of such industries on the communities of Peru and Colombia and how those communities organize to face this threat. They will give presentations in the Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon on Thursday 11th at 8pm, hosted by the local Campaign against Fracking. During this event there will be a unique opportunity to meet Milton and Aida, to learn about how such industries are operating in Peru and Colombia and how communities organise resistance. The Latin America Week is organised by Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC) and supported by Trocaire and Irish Aid.
The threat is enormous. In Peru, the Conga gold mining project, if it goes ahead, will destroy five rivers, four mountain lakes (two lakes will become open pits and two will be turned into dumping grounds) and hundreds of hectares of wetlands. The construction of the mine will
take up 3,069 hectares and will impact about 30,000 people in more than 200 communities, generating an average of 90,000 tons of toxic waste per day for 17 years. In Colombia, Transnational Anglo gold Ashanti has been carrying out illegal explorations with a view to have one of the biggest open cast mines in South America. The mine is in a natural reserve. Governments in the two countries are changing the law to criminalise protests and many people have already been killed.
The event on 11th April promises to be a most interesting one. The two speakers will give presentations on their campaigns and strategies. This will be followed by short descriptions of the local campaign in Ireland and a Question and Answer session. Admission free, donations welcome!
______________________________________________________________________
Hi there
Friends of the Earth Northern Ireland is organising the creation of a massive "frack pipe" to form a crucial part of mass demonstrations against the G8 summit in Northern Ireland, which is taking place in June.
We intend to make a massive prop out of hula hoops, fabric and broom handles, which will look like a huge gas pipe that will run down the spine of protest marches that will take place in Belfast on Saturday 15 June, and in Enniskillen on Monday 17 June.
I've posted up a few proposed meetings about the "frack pipe" action during the G8. Please join the main event, and see if any of the meetings suit you.
Please join the Facebook event for details on how you can make your own length of "frack pipe" with the name of your community on it, and how to connect it up to the rest of the pipe on the day.https://www.facebook.com/events/list#!/events/361690237280461/
I will shortly be putting up a video demonstration of how to make your length of pipe.
For any questions email me, or phone 0(044)2890897592.
Cheers
Niall BakewellActivism Coordinator (Northern Ireland)Friends of the Earth-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------PROMISED LAND - The released date in the UK and Ireland is 19th April http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2091473/releaseinfo ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEITRIM COUNTY COUNCIL
Notice of Public Meeting – Leitrim County Development Plan Members of the public and interested parties are invited to attend a public meeting in relation to the review of the County Development Plan 2009 – 2015 and preparation of a new County
Development Plan 2015 - 2021 Details of venues, dates and times are as follows; Manorhamilton in Bee Park Centre on Thursday 18 th April 2013 at 6.30pm Carrick on Shannon in the Bush Hotel on Tuesday 23 rd April 2013 at 6.30 pm Read more: Irish News--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ENERGY IRELAND CONFERENCE – Croke Park Dublin 19 – 20 June 2013 http://www.energyireland.ie/events/energyireland2013/programme.php
INTERNATIONAL CAMPAIGN NEWS
ROMANIA
Press release from Stop Fracturare
On the 4th of April, people from 28 towns in Romania took to the streets to protest against hydraulic fracturing, a highly polluting method, after the country’s Prime Minister, Victor Ponta, changed his mind regarding a moratorium on shale gas and after the Government approved several operation agreements for the exploration/development/exploration of shale gas in large areas of the country. Romanian communities in Copenhagen and Strasbourg also joined the protests and activists in Bulgaria, Belgium, The Czech Republic and Australia protested in front of Romanian embassies. Foreign correspondents from French and Belgian press agencies were also present in Barlad, the first city where American company Chevron announced it will first start drilling.
The mainstream Media did its best not to report about the protests during prime time news, but local media covered the story intensively with all local newspapers writing about it and spreading the news that opposition against shale gas is strong.Only three national channels reported on the news and included a debate: RealitateaTV, DigiTV and the national television.
Protesters consider that this day only marks the start of a nationwide campaign to inform people accurately and correctly about the risks of shale gas, something that the Government and the National Agency for Mineral Resources are not doing.
Until now, the Government has approved 10 operation agreements and has signed contracts with foreign companies, which can now pursue the exploration/exploitation of shale gas in Romania.
The protesters ask for the annulment of the Governmental decrees approving the exploration, exploration and development agreements. They also ask for a national ban on hydraulic fracturing. The protesters also denounced the predominant influence of corporations over Romanian legislation, and the high-level corruption of the Romanian government, and they fight for the right to a clean environment, the right to a healthy life and the right to information.
In several towns, the protests were declared illegal by local authorities and in some of them, the local authorities even tried to intimidate and harras the organizers in order to discourage them from protesting. However, given the amplitude of the movement and the many national and international „eyes“ that were looking at the protests, the authorities had no choice but to let the people protest freely. In Bucharest, the country’s capital, 400 hundred people protested while the riot police was hardly in sight, an institution known for its abuses. Thousands of people protested in the other 27 towns, including Barlad where the entire community is against the exploitaion and has protested many times before.
The protests are organized by local teams of volunteers coordinated at national level. The protests are backed by 80 non-governmental organizations, including the Environmental Coalition and Romania Without Them Association.Contact us at:George Epurescu, Tel: +40757653983; Diana Iftodi, Tel: +40745591421E-mail: stopfracturare (at) gmail (dot) com, gepurescu (at) yahoo (dot) com ; Web: http://stopfracturare.ro/==========================================================Photos of the event can be viewed at this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/441981515876644/?fref=ts
Some television coverage at: http://stiri.tvr.ro/proteste-in-toata-tara-fata-de-exploatarea-gazelor-de-sist_29011_video.html#view
Campaigners outside the Romanian embassy.
GAS (related) COMPANIES NEWS
Ian Crane tour through Ireland and the UK FRACKtured FUTURE It Doesn't Have to be This Way!Advance Tickets £8 (£10 on the Door)
Prior to becoming an Independent Analyst, Ian R Crane had two decades of experience in the oil and gas industries as a Schlumberger executive http://ianrcrane.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=36&product_id=272
Comment by Ineke:(Please read the disclaimer too)I received the request to put this info into the newsletter and also to deny this news. How independent is a former Schlumberger executive and what is his view on fracking?
Please note, admission for information events organised by our groups/networks are free, no charges! (but donations are welcome!) And as you know a former oil/gas employee (Jessica Ernst) was invited by our campaign to give a talk last month through Ireland and the UK! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------For your information: Who is Ian Crane?
Ian R. Crane Poses As Gulf Oil Spill Advocate The following headline has appeared on many of the internet’s alternative news sites over the past 6 months:
Ian Crane, Ex-Schlumberger Oilman, Illegally
Tapes Former GOSRC Coordinator
Here is one of the Gulf Oil Spill news sites where it can be found:
http://phoenixrisingfromthegulf.wordpress.com/2011/08/28/all-points-bulletin-re-ian-r-crane/
Full article: http://phoenixrisingfromthegulf.wordpress.com/2011/08/29/ian-r-crane-poses-as-gulf-oil-spill-advocate/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------eCORP Tests New Waterless LPG Fracking Method on First Shale Well - http://marcellusdrilling.com/2013/01/ecorp-tests-new-waterless-lpg-fracking-method-on-first-shale-well/
(...) a newly formed subsidiary of eCORP called eCORP Stimulation Technologies has developed its own LPG fracking technology that uses 100% propane and zero chemicals or additives of any kind. eCORP fracked the very first shale well with the new technology in December (...)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT YOU CAN/MUST DO
A Canadian company wants to mine for gold and silver in West Cork! Deadline for objections: end of April!http://www.southernstar.ie/News/Concern-over-mining-interest-in-West-Cork-19022013.htm
Ecocide ( see newsletter 101)
Check out the End Ecocide European Citizens' Initiative site and sign at http://www.endecocide.eu/
These initiatives need to gather at least a million signatures, so please spread the word! Thanks!
THOUGHTS – OPINION – FRACKING STORIES
FRACKING STORIES
Unlikely Dissidents
Two States, Three Countries, Four Opponents of Fracking-The complete research of Dimiter Kenarov- http://dimiterkenarov.com/2013/04/unlikely-dissidents/
(...)'The mural on Edward Sawicki’s barn is beautiful and terrifying … Yet there is the mural, about a hundred feet in length, painted on the side of the barn, telling a story as sublime as that in any apocalyptic vision by St. John the Divine. (...)Painted scrolls unroll from the painted sky, providing an explication in Polish for the uninitiated. We won’t surrender our land in the hands of corporations, one of them reads. Every drilled gas well is poison for our water, reads another. Stop shale gas. (...)
MOVIES- SONGS
Flash news - Shale Gas found at Schuman Square (1 april foolish day)Check out this April Fools' Day report on the discovery of shale gas at Schuman roundabout, the heart of the EU quarter, supposedly made by DG Energyhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGMAmHaUPNA&feature=youtu.be----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lignite mining – open cast mining This is happening in Garzweiler, near Düsseldorf, in Nordrhein Westfalen. Will this happen in Northern Ireland too?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfRkNK82CxQ
Comment by a watcher:
The lignite mining Garzweiler is controversial for several reasons:the local population is against it because villages should be removed;the use of brown coal is polluting;the groundwater in the surrounding area (including natural areas) is declining;the landscape is completely destroyed by lignite mining.
After the completion of the lignite mining, the hole left behind is filled with water, forming a lake of 23 square kilometers and a depth of 185 meters.
I myself prefer environmentally friendly energy sources such as solar, wind and water and conserving energy instead of this large-scale environmental degradation of nature and the countryside.
IRISH NEWS
NORTHERN IRELAND
"Until DETI tells us otherwise we will have to assume that NI and in particular Lough Neagh Basin - the new licence - is a candidate for Coal Seam Gas Mining. The coal in question is lignite. Refer to http://www.bgs.ac.uk/gsni/minerals/prospectivity/energyminerals/
Ballymoney The Ballymoney deposit is located 40km northeast of Lough Neagh and contains the largest resource at 700Mt. The lignite occurs as a number of seams to the north of a major fault within a sequence of sandy clays and silts. The seams can be tens
of metres thick, but generally thin and split towards the margins of the palaeo-basin.Crumlin The Crumlin deposit is located on the eastern shores of Lough Neagh and substantial lignite resources are known to exist below the lough. The lignite occurs in two seams in a fault-bounded basin, dipping below the lough. Although the onshore deposit is smaller than Ballymoney, there are still enough resources to supply a mine-mouth power plant for 20 years. The prospect is still under development and the current licence holders are looking into all potential uses for lignite.Coagh The Coagh lignite deposit is located on the western shores of Lough Neagh and is the least developed at present. Substantial resources also exist under the lough. Other Areas Other areas underlain by the Lough Neagh Group (principally to the south of the lough) have yet to be fully evaluated although lignite has been discovered here."
Watch the video: lignite mining Take a look at these shocking images which should get people to sit up and take notice. This is happening in Garzweiler, near Düsseldorf, in Nordrhein Westfalen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfRkNK82CxQ
For those who missed this in the last newsletter! WAKE UP
New licence in Northern Ireland! (?)
Press release.
Dawn Bourke. On behalf of Belfast Not for $hale.
Just over a week ago a tiny, nondescript ad (see attachment) appeared in some local newspapers. As you can read DETI proposes to grant a petroleum prospecting license in a large and heavily populated area of NI, from Belfast city center to the shores of Lough Neagh.
As part of the conditions of this license it is my understanding that if oil and gas is found the company may proceed to ask for planning permission to drill. It is highly likely to utilize unconventional techniques commonly known as Fracking. I am not a lawyer but it is my understanding that if reserves are found DETI are bound to enter the next stage of the agreement.
Considering the furore over the similar licenses in Fermanagh and County Antrim it is my belief that if the people of NI knew that all six counties now opened the door to Fracking there would be a public outcry.
At my local council office the staff at the front desk had no idea what I was asking for and it took quite a few calls to finally get to see the map. It didn't feel like a public engagement process.
I think quite a few people are very keen to see this map 22,480 people have now viewed a post of this map on At this point 19,500 people have seen the map detailing the area to be licensed on the No Fracking Northern Ireland Facebook page. Most have responded with shock and dismay.
This seems a surreptitious move over the Easter break effectively giving an impossibly short time for the public too respond. The area of NI now covered by these types of license is extreme and I contend that it is undemocratic to even think of issuing this without proper and through public consultation.
People are concerned have serious and legitimate concerns about unconventional fossil fuel extraction. On a recent BBC Spotlight programme I heard Mike Young, head of Geological Survey of Northern Ireland said "I don't think we know enough now to know that it is safe"
With respect to the public engagement DETI may have acted legally, but morally the people of NI deserve better. The maps say it all, please print and watch the reaction as people all over NI realize Fracking is not just a Fermanagh issue any more.
NI Petroleum licenses - http://ubuntuone.com/12OIbgD9ywvwfgaUkd0u1d
COMHAIRLE CHONTAE LIATROMA
LEITRIM COUNTY COUNCIL
Notice of Public Meeting – Leitrim County Development Plan
Members of the public and interested parties are invited to attend a public meeting in relation to the review of the County Development Plan 2009 – 2015 and preparation of a new County Development Plan 2015 - 2021 Details of venues, dates and times are as follows; Manorhamilton in Bee Park Centre on Thursday 18 th April 2013 at 6.30pm Carrick on Shannon in the Bush Hotel on Tuesday 23 rd April 2013 at 6.30 pm You are encouraged to attend the meeting and become involved in how the County will develop over the coming years. This is an important opportunity for you to make the Planning Authority aware of your views in relation to the proper planning and sustainable development of the County. Your pre draft plan views/submissions will be taken into consideration in the making of the new Plan. A Background Issues Paper, together with other relevant documentation are available for inspection on the Council’s website www.leitrimcoco.ie. Submissions or observations should be clearly marked "Review of Leitrim County Development Plan", and addressed to Forward Planning Section, Planning Department, Leitrim County Council, Aras an Chontae, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim or emailed to [email protected] Submissions or observations must be received not later than 4.00 p.m. on 3rd May, 2013. (Note: This consultation relates to the review of the existing plan and pre draft stage of the new plan. Further consultation opportunities will arise when the new plan is drafted and published.)http://www.leitrimcoco.ie/eng/Services_A-Z/Planning_and_Building_Control/Review-of-Leitrim-County-Development-Plan-09-15/
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------IRELAND AND THE EU regulations
Papers Today
Brussels queries State’s licensing of seismic surveys
Move follows complaint by wildlife group over Corrib exploration
“The costs of these baseline surveys will not affect company profits” – Irish Whale and Dolphin Group
The European Commission has asked the Government to explain why seismic surveying currently under way off the west coast is not subject to the requirements of EU directives on environmental impact.
It has also asked the State to explain what measures are being taken to monitor and to minimise the impact of seismic surveying on whales and dolphins.
Seismic surveys conducted to map the ocean floor use airguns, comprising long submersible cannons towed behind vessels that fire shots of compressed air into the water every few seconds. The pulses penetrate the sea floor and rebound, giving results which are analysed for geological content. Explosives have been used in the past.
The commission’s environment directorate is acting on a complaint by the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, which is concerned about the impact on marine mammals of such surveying for oil and gas.
A 2007 study for the International Whaling Commission found that 250 male fin whales appeared to stop “singing” for up to several months during a seismic survey. Sanctuary Ireland is a declared whale and dolphin sanctuary, and the group maintains the State is obliged in any case to comply with the EU’s environmental impact assessment (EIA) directive and habitats directive when licensing surveys.
This would ensure oil and gas firms carried out baseline whale and dolphin abundance surveys for areas which they are seeking licenses to survey and explore.“As all development costs incurred by oil and gas exploration in Irish waters is tax–deductible, the costs of these baseline surveys will not affect company profits,” the group said.
A seismic survey licensed f or the Corrib gas field last year resumed last month, and is due to last four months.
The group sent a complaint to the European Commission and to Minister for Energy Pat Rabbitte last May, pointing out that the licensing for this should have been subject to the EIA directive.
It also maintains Ireland failed to comply with the EU habitats directive in approving the survey. The group says a risk assessment for the Corrib field survey which was published by Shell E&P Ireland was “deficient” because baseline information was not collected, or requested, by the regulatory authorities. Protection The commission informed the group it had raised the issue with the authorities here, and noted that all cetaceans (whales and dolphins) were in need of “strict protection” under the habitats directive.
It also asked the State to explain whether EIA directive requirements were applied to approval for site investigation and exploratory well drilling on the Kish Bank off the east coast.
A Department of the Environment spokesman said it had already informed the commission that Providence Resources had surrendered its foreshore licence for Kish, because elements of the directive were not transposed correctly into law in 1999 by the Government.
The Department of Energy said last week its initial understanding was that seismic surveys were not listed as an automatic requirement relating to the EIA directive. Shell E&P Ireland did not respond to a request for comment.2 Apr 2013The Irish TimesLORNA SIGGINS Marine Correspondent
EU -NEWS
The Council of Europe runs a weekly WebTV journal with the highlights of the Organisation’s news, as well as insightful interviews with politicians and programmeleaders.
It’s a new initiative designed to improve understanding of the Councilof Europe's work and policies among our partners, including the media,in our member states and beyond.
Take a look at the website each Friday to discover the weekly newsreview. This week’s edition, dedicated to corruption issues and safetyof raw materials, is here:http://webtv.coe.int/index.php#clip=447528&time
Feel free to share the Journal throughout your network of viewers and readers.The Council of Europe is also on Twitter – check us out at @coe, andon Facebook.
Thanks!
Barbara OrkwiszewskaPublic Relations and PublicationsDirectorate of CommunicationsCouncil of Europehttp://www.coe.int--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Eu Member states refuse to even try to clean up toxics in water http://www.eeb.org/EEB/index.cfm/news-events/news/eu-member-states-refuse-to-even-try-to-clean-up-toxics-in-water/------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ALDE MEPs pave the way for more transparency in the extracting business and less accounting burden for SME's -
Large oil, gas, diamond and logging companies will be obliged to disclose full information about every single project whose payments to the governmental authorities exceed the threshold of 100.000 Euros. And administrative accounting burdens for small businesses will be reduced considerably.
http://www.alde.eu/press/press-and-release-news/press-release/article/alde-meps-pave-the-way-for-more-transparency-in-the-extracting-business-and-less-accounting-burden-f/
http://www.alde.eu -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SPAINCantabria becomes first region in Spain to ban fracking !!and GOV gives backing to frackinghttp://elpais.com/elpais/2013/03/19/inenglish/1363691267_285489.html
Reporter: Hector
Cantabria's ruling People's Party (PP), which has an absolute majority in the regional parliament, proposed the law to ban the practice, and yesterday afternoon, the law was unanimously passed :) You can read more about it in here in EN:
http://elpais.com/elpais/2013/01/30/inenglish/1359554752_960260.html
and
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/08/us-energy-spain-shale-idUSBRE9370G220130408
"Those scavengers are bleeding the Earth." That is how Manuel López describes his battle against energy companies involved in fracking in Cantabria. The controversial hydraulic fracturing technique, to obtain gas from depths of over 2,000 meters, has been denounced by environmentalists all over the world because of its possible health consequences on people in surrounding communities.López, an environmental technician from Santander, has joined forces with Daniel González, a public works engineer who lives in the Cabuérniga valley, and Ángel Saiz, the mayor of the town of Villacarriedo, to stop fracking in their northern region, as well as throughout Spain.
Their campaign has pushed the Cantabria regional parliament to begin debating a bill to make this practice illegal, even though the technique has the endorsement of the Industry Ministry.
Since 2011, six shale gas exploratory permits have been granted in the small mountainous region: five by the Industry Ministry and one by the former regional government of Miguel Ángel Revilla. In the rest of Spain, the ministry has given permission to 22 companies to
explore for gas by fracking in some 400,000 hectares of land, with most of the operations now taking place in the Ebro river basin.
Hydraulic fracking is an extreme water-intensive process for obtaining gas encrusted in small pockets of rock deep beneath the Earth's surface, at around 2,500 meters. Between seven and 15 million liters of water mixed with sand and chemicals - some reportedly carcinogens - are pumped below under high pressure to ensure the rock breaks and gas is released.
After months of protests in the region, the Cantabria government of Ignacio Diego, of the Popular Party (PP), last December drafted a bill to prohibit fracking. If passed in two to three months -- as the regional government expects -- Cantabria will become the first region in Spain to ban the method.
Industry Minister José Manuel Soria has defended fracking on more than one occasion. "The government will continue authorizing permits for non-conventional gas extractions, which are known as fracking, as long as their methods follow environmental controls and comply with European directives," Soria said last December in Congress.
The Cantabria government stands to lose around 100 million euros in investment funds if the local bill is passed. "No one is going to make an investment if there are no guarantees that they cannot make a profit," said Margarita Hernández, secretary general for the Spanish Association of Research, Exploration, Energy Production and Subterranean Storage Companies (Aciep).
"Industry grants permit for energy exploration but they don't specify what methods can be used. What we want to say with this new law is that exploration can take place but not fracking," explained Cantabria's environmental commissioner Javier Fernández, who adds that regions have the legal right to introduce their own environmental regulations.
But Aciep maintains that shale gas can only be obtained through this technique.
The Anti-Fracking Association is suspicious about the future. "It should be banned in all of Spain because water doesn't recognize borders; if one aquifer is contaminated, they will all be contaminated," said González.
But the Cantabria government isn't trying to "export" its anti-fracking law to other regions. "It is more important for us as an environmental issue rather than an energy issue but we respect other people's decisions," said Fernández.
In Cantabria, the permits that have been issued affect a third of the region. "Myself and other mayors didn't know anything about this until we were called by the [regional] parliament," explained Mayor Saiz.
The anti-fracking campaign has so far been successful. After one year of educating people about the dangers, many residents of Cantabria now know the risks involved. This is evident by the number of signs and graffiti that have appeared: "fracking =cancer" or "fracking=Cantabria finita."
Some 30 municipalities have already approved petitions against the energy companies, and on October 6, more than 2,000 people demonstrated in Santander.
Mayor Saiz explains that the region's food supply is even more at risk because 80 percent of the economy relies on cattle ranching. "If the water is contaminated, we will suffer irreversible damage; the wells, the noise from the trucks will shatter our peaceful environment," the mayor said.
Shale Gas España, a platform that groups various multinational petroleum firms, said the concern is unjustified. "We are not going to be digging wells behind every tree," said spokeswoman Mónica Cristina. "Every well has its risks but we work responsibly to minimize them."
She adds that Spain imports 99 percent of the gas it consumes. "We are trying to stop that dependency." Both Aciep and Shale Gas España say they want people to separate the facts from the rumors.
But the three anti-fracking crusaders are preparing to take their campaign throughout Spain. "If the trucks come, I will be the first one to throw myself on the highway to stop them," said Mayor Saiz.
Fantastic news :)¬hector
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SCOTLAND
Reporter Mary
Dart Energy are the leading unconventional gas player in Scotland. A Sunday Herald investigation on the weekend revealed that the calorific content of the gas from their flagship Airth coal bed methane project is too poor to feed directly into the grid. It seems as though they will have to boost it by adding propane, which will damage profit margins and make the project even more unpopular with locals.
Story below plus links to coverage of Dart's financial woes and misleading public re fracking. cheers
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/environment/revealed-secret-scots-fracking-plans.20661744
http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/burning-issue-poor-gas-quality-could-end-scots-drilling-plan.20723754http://www.heraldscotland.com/mobile/business/company-news/dart-energy-scraps-ipo-and-sheds-jobs.20683286
Burning issue: poor gas quality could end Scots drilling planBy Rob Edwards Environment EditorSunday 7 April 2013Controversial plans to exploit underground gas in central Scotland could be stymied by problems with the quality of the gas, the Sunday Herald can reveal.
The troubled Australian company Dart Energy has applied for planning permission to extract up to 60 billion cubic feet of coalbed methane at Airth, near Falkirk.
It has signed a £300 million deal with SSE for the supply of gas over the next seven years, and has said it hopes to start delivery before the end of this year.
But the Sunday Herald has seen evidence that the calorific value of the gas, which is crucial in determining its price for consumers, is unlikely to be high enough for the National Grid.
Dart has been warned about the problem by independent consultants.
The company has been told that the gas may need to be blended with higher-quality gas on the grid, which, if permitted, would have cost implications.
(...) The councils have postponed consideration of the applications, which will not now be heard until next month at the earliest. -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Electromagnetic fields (EMF) and its health implications
This is about the concerns of electromagnetic fields (EMF) and its health implications
If you want more information about EMF issues, please consult the following resources:
http://international-emf-alliance.org/ (here you can find a list of national organizations working on EMF)
http://www.emrpolicy.org/ (USA based organization)
http://ehtrust.org/
http://www.healthandenvironment.org/initiatives/emf
Yet another way wireless is spreading in the environment. Residents near this monitoring probably don't/won't know of the wireless from the stations.
POLAND microseismic frac monitoring array in place
HOUSTON, Apr. 3
04/03/2013
By OGJ editors
MicroSeismic Inc., Houston, said it has installed equipment to monitor, map, and analyze hydraulic fracturing of an undisclosed customer’s exploration and field development program in Poland.
Geophones are spaced across 10-12 radial arms and can number in the thousands. Stations can be deployed using standard cabling technology or wirelessly to minimize field operation time and reduce cost. This enables the monitoring of primary, secondary, and tertiary recovery activity, in a variety of reservoir conditions.
Using real-time monitoring services, customers can adjust pumping rates and the type of proppant and fluids being used during a frac job to optimize well completion.
The installed array is able to cover a 12 to 40 sq km area, said Peter Duncan, founder and chief executive officer----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THE NETHERLANDSDutch National Television promotes shale gas and minister still says he is awaiting the outcome of the environment report. from Schaliegasvrij harenKijk bij uitzending gemist en zie hoe Brandpunt het dieptepunt in de journalistiek bereikt. Wouter Kurpershoek en Dirk Kagenaar maken reclame voor schaliegas en minister Kamp speelt nog even een slim spelletje door te benadrukken dat hij het onafhankelijk onderzoek afwacht. Terwijl hij al zijn strategie klaar heeft? of vreest hij toch de waarheid?
http://brandpunt.kro.nl/seizoenen/2013/afleveringen/07-04-2013/fragmenten/de_schalierevolutieof http://www.uitzendinggemist.nl/afleveringen/1336190
Earth quakes, gas and flooding in the NetherlandsHere's interesting news from the Netherlands. A public discussion has started on earthquakes and soil subsidence generated by the rapid depletion of the Groningen gas field. This also may influence the discussion on shale gas.
Gas extraction started in the 70's, and in the 80's a series of small earthquakes occurred in this area, which was previously seismically inactive. Also subsidence occurred in this area, largely located at or below sea level and protected by dykes. The subsidence was foreseen and taken as a calculated risk, but the a relation between the earthquakes and gas extraction was denied at first. Later, after a seismic study it was admitted that the quakes were related to gas extraction, but the quakes were said to remain below a magnitude of approximately 3.
Last summer several shocks occurred, the largest had a magnitude of 3.4, causing over a thousand damage reports in the area. Damage compensations is not generous and very bureaucratic.
This week a report was published by the State Mining Inspection, saying that the frequency and magnitude of the shocks will increase if the rate of gas extraction continues as it does at present. The Inspection advised to reduce the rate of gas extraction. The Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr. Kamp, decided not to follow the advice of his own mining inspection, saying that reduction of gas extraction would decrease state revenues substantially. Interestingly, when it comes to protests against shale gas, it is always said by the government that our top level mining inspection will prevent fracking companies from doing any harm to the environment.
Today the head of the local polder board warned in a radio interview that, with an increasing earthquake risk, also the dykes in the area are severly at risk. He painted a bleak scenario, with high water and water-saturated dykes, which would readily break when a quake of the predicted magnitude would occur. This would cause widespread flooding, including the area with gas wells, and the cities of Groningen and Delfzijl, the latter with large chemical industry complexes.
http://www.bnr.nl/nieuws/politiek/972292-1301/gaswinning-kan-leiden-tot-een-nationale-ramp?s_cid=blogitems
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Parts of Low Country Are Now Quake Country
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/27/world/europe/more-earthquakes-in-loppersum-the-netherlands.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
(...) Mr. de Jong, 60, a civil engineer by training who now heads the local school board, disagreed. The risk of greater tremors, he said, “affects the whole region. Banks don’t want to invest anymore, and you cannot sell a house here.” (...)
GLOBAL NEWS
EPA (US)
From: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency <[email protected]>Date: 9 April 2013 16:39Subject: SAB announces meetings for EPA’s Hydraulic Fracturing Study AND Deadline to submit information for EPA’s hydraulic fracturing study approaching
Greetings, EPA’s Science Advisory Board (SAB) released Federal Register (FR) Notices announcing a public meeting and a teleconference where the Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory Panel will
provide feedback on the Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources: Progress Report. The public will also have the opportunity to provide comments for the Panel’s consideration. Information on how to view a webcast of the meeting will be posted on the SAB website prior to the meeting. More information on the Science Advisory Board’s Hydraulic Fracturing Research Advisory Panel and its activities is available at: http://yosemite.epa.gov/sab/sabproduct.nsf/0/B436304BA804E3F885257A5B00521B3B?OpenDocument In addition, EPA’s Federal Register Request for Information to Inform Hydraulic Fracturing Research Related to Drinking Water Resources will be closing on Tuesday, April 30, 2013.
REPORTS - RESEARCH
Frackademics In UK Pushing Industry Spin
No Conflicts Of Interest Here!
The latest fracking PR extravaganza, centred around the publication of an academic paper, Induced Seismicity and Hydraulic Fracturing for the Recovery of Hydrocarbons, highlights the extent to which universities are being hijacked by the industry PR machine. Hype around the paper, whose lead authors are from Durham University, regurgitates the usual industry spin, conflating fracking of conventional wells with the massive slickwater hydraulic fracturing used to extract shale gas and conflating hydraulic fracturing with the whole process of unconventional gas extraction. While attempts by Cuadrilla to get in on the ground floor, establishing a business partnership with Lancaster University, are being actively resisted, some universities have already been co-opted far more thoroughly.
Full article: http://frack-off.org.uk/frackademics-in-uk-are-pushing-industry-spin/
REPORT:Fracking 'not significant' cause of large earthquakes - BBC News, (10 April, )http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-22077230 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
DisclaimerThis newsletter aims to be an open, international information platform about unconventional shale gas extraction. I see my role as a facilitator for all concerned people, to inform them and post their comments (like a letter to the editor in a newspaper). For that reason I aim to be as neutral as possible and I am not liaised to any anti-fracking group or political party. Ineke Scholte
