DEP Confirms Data “Completely Refute” Duke Methane Study
A number of interesting things coming out of API’s workshop on fracturing technology in Pittsburgh this week, but one storyline that appears to be getting some pick-up by the press involves a couple of things that were mentioned during the panel discussion of state regulators convened on Wednesday afternoon.
As you can see from the event itinerary here, the panel featured senior oil and gas regulators from Arkansas, Oklahoma, North Dakota and Pennsylvania — several of the states leading the way when it comes to the responsible development of shale. By all accounts, Lynn Helms of N.D.’s Dept. of Mineral Resources took home the prize for funniest presentation of the day — taking a shot or two at rival South Dakota while he had the mic (in jest, of course), but ultimately conceding that “the nights are pretty quiet” up there where he calls home (likely not in jest). Larry Bengal of the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission also caught folks’ attention, stating quite clearly that “hydraulic fracturing had nothing at all to do” with the minor seismicity issues that have been getting lots of ink in the papers (he also took some time to walk the crowd through Arkansas’s new disclosure database, which you can check out here).
Unfortunately, not a whole lot of what Mr. Bengal has to say made it into the papers — but comments from Scott Perry of the Pennsylvania Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) did. Mr. Perry was asked to comment on the issue of shallow methane in northeast Pennsylvania, a condition that’s been in place in our corner of the state since time immemorial. And when the opportunity arose, Mr. Perry used the occasion to directly comment on the study issued earlier this year by Duke, which sought to make the case that water wells within the vicinity of natural gas wells were more likely to contain higher levels of methane.
Here’s how E&E News, a well-respected, DC-based energy trade publication that shares content with The New York Times, reported Perry’s comments in a story posted on Wednesday:
“We’ve collected enough data to completely refute the Duke study … We have a large sample set. It really shows there’s no correlation.”
Here’s where you have to tip your cap to E&E News — because the reporter here didn’t just stop with Perry’s comments; he actually found a way to reach out to (and get a response from) Duke Univ. researcher Rob Jackson on the fly:
“When Scott Perry says they have enough data to refute our study, what does that mean? Does it mean that the high methane concentrations we found were imaginary?”
No Prof. Jackson, that’s not what it means. It means your study failed to ask critical questions about why sources of thermogenic gas were found in water wells nowhere near natural gas wellsites. And it means that the findings of your study may be a bit skewed because your team cherry-picked the sample universe, over-sampling wells from Susquehanna Co. well-known to have methane issues, while not including any samples at all from “non-active” wells in the Lockhaven formation.
Jackson, for his part, said in that same article that he’s interested in getting his hands on any data that DEP may have, and “learn[ing] as much as I can from it.” That’s a heartening development — and one we hope will help inform the professor’s work on this issue moving forward.
Comments are closed.
Where is the DEP data?
The E&E website is restricted, and I take it that they just reported on Mr. Perry’s comments.
Stanley R Scobie, Ph.D., Binghamton, NY
Stan,
Give me a call and I can e-mail you quite a bit of data for your review. You’ll be shocked how environmentally insignificant Dimock is. What is your PhD in ? Like Vic said below, my number is in the book. That’s how Vic found me !
If you want the most recent data, just FOIL PADEP.
I spent some time in Albany via 83 today listing to the Legislative hearings on Hydro-Fracturing now called “Fracking” because the anti side adopted that word as it sounds so nasty to someone who doesn’t know what it is, and to those who want it too. I listened with intensity to Barbara Lifton as she is I believe working for Josh Fox. of course if she’s not an employee or volunteer worker for Fox, then judging by the quality of her questions presented to her peers, it is not hard to figure out that she got her “fracking education” from Hugo Chavez’s production “Gasland” nararated by Josh Fox. she asked questions while addressing her peers that have been presented in this widely debunked movie that are asked and answered continually at anti gas meetings over and over seemingly to appease her constituents. How can she not know that her concerns are not hers but those of NYRADS elite, She sounded unlike what a politician should sound like, a broken recorder using the assembly to push her anti drill stance impaled into her mind with old and answered questions. She is being boondoggled by her constituents and doesn’t even know it
Then I chose to listen to some of the presentations by the anti drilling groups who gave themselves tittles such as, Chairperson of the Clean Water Consortium, or Oversight Chair of radon and radioactive cuttings from the Marcellous. WHAT A JOKE… anti drilling groups making titles up for themselves to look important and official at these hearings. I have decided to make up a title for myself and I am even getting a certificate giving me that title.
Sincerely yours in the fight to the rights of Landowners….
Chair person of the Greater Upstate NY region of Clean water and Responsible Drilling coalition
Co-chair of the Stop the BS Foundation in NY and PA.
I was asked to be in the continuation of the Duke Study and politely declined. I am participating in the EPA study which I feel will put the fracking issue to bed once and for all.
I was asked to be in the continuation of the Duke Study and politely declined. I am participating in the EPA study which I feel will put the fracking issue to bed once and for all.
What a crock!
Professor Resirchityercelf
My staff and I are prideful people and we do our own research for the facts, Stan. Try it instead of putting your non impressive title in every one of your letters. I will do it for you for a research fee.
wannaboxyouin
I see yet another attack on Someone who is not afraid to sign there name ” what a Crock!” Three little words but I couldn’t find your name in a phone book, Loren’s is there ! I guess when your a loyal activist against the truth you can’t put your real name down, perhaps most likely because your afraid of the recognition by peers who may not know that you stand against domestic fuel production in favor of foriegn fuel. We send over 600,000.00 a minute to buy that imported fuel. Could you imagine what we could do keeping that money here. Most people who are against domestic fuel on the fear of fracking were sold a bill of goods by Hugo Chavez’s produced movie “GASLAND”, introduced by an amateur film maker named Josh Fox, who claimed the movie as his own because if Chavez took credit for it the movie may not have got the recognition it did. You probably think I am crazy but I think you may own a copy of this movie. Fast forward pass the flaming faucet and go right to the credits at the end of the movie. Advance the credits in slow motion and their it is…. the link to Hugo Chavez, of Venezuela and even stars an actress from that country. What’s that you say there are no actresses in a documentary…. I agree there shouldn’t be but then again when Josh was interviewed after winning the Sundance film Festival he readily admitted in his own words ” this movie has it’s artistic and entertainment value” .
The problem Is wannaboxyouin” is most people who watch this movie believe that it is true when through out the entire movie, much of the scenes are props and lies nothing else. In fact I bet if someone were to do a study on this lying production being passed off onto the public as a truthful documentary they would find that it is the most debunked documentary of record.
I know, I Know….. I am just a greedy landowner looking for some quick cash so I can destroy my property and move out…. again another lie…. but there is no convincing those who have been brainwashed, not even if it were just trying to get them to break from the cult and research fracking for themselves. You have a good day and remember… DON’T FRACK ME BRO !!! (I saw that on TV Bill Houston Presents) thought you might like it. It is funny how most land owners supporting NG work for the cause without pay are referred to as shills and most of the people against NG get a grant check from the park foundation…
http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/gas-drilling/high-methane-level-recorded-in-dimock-water-well-1.1215258#axzz1aLpwPU00
Thanks for the link mooned. This statement is about correlation between natural gas activities and methane in water wells. One high level of methane in one well does not a correlation make- especially when there is currently no activity taking place in that location. Thanks for bringing this article to our attention, we were already on it. Will have a post up on this soon.
Why do give a link to a story about a link to a watertest Sautners…. why not put up your results instead…. we all know how honest the reporting has been on your story. Bout as honest as you. What has more trash the a 180 lbs trash receptical….
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V
Nothing if you heard it speak
I think it’s maybe 240 not 180lbs
Wasn’t a youtube video done by them to the song 16 tons?