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North Carolina’s Shale Play: Not Yet. By Ben Winikoff. Brief History. Unlike conventional natural gas and oil which has pooled and collected under a layer of impermeable rock, shale oil and gas is trapped within an impermeable source rock and cannot escape on its own. . USGS Assessments.
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North Carolina’s Shale Play: Not Yet By Ben Winikoff
Brief History • Unlike conventional natural gas and oil which has pooled and collected under a layer of impermeable rock, shale oil and gas is trapped within an impermeable source rock and cannot escape on its own.
USGS Assessments These reserves are from ancient freshwater sources that formed during the Mesozoic period. Much smaller than the Backken, Marcellus, and Barnett Shale
Roughly 10 billion dollars in Natural Gas Reserves in the state 1, 709 Billion cubic feet of Gas. In Surveyed NC Basins Compare to: Marcellus Shale, 141 trillion cubic feet (TCF) Source: USGS
Why a State Problem? • Lobbying groups have successfully carved out exemptions for natural gas Source: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/green/news/2011/06/03/9886/bringing-fracking-to-the-surface/
Pre-Drilling Standards • Baseline Water Data on Water Quality • Biggest problem states face is lack of information about the water quality before drilling begins
Environmental Recovery • Preventing Cleanup Costs From Shifting to Taxpayers • Bonding Requirements • Spill Response or Contingency Plans • Strict Liability