Panel of scientists say economic impact from fracking overstated

[hrmjustin]

By MATTHEW DONDIEGO

Whether to permit or ban hydrofracking in New York has become one of the most polarizing issues in the state, with proponents insisting that horizontal gas drilling will provide an economic boost to the state's Southern Tier Region.

However, testifying before members of the state Senate during a hearing on the economic realities of green lighting fracking, a panel of scientists argued the economic impact that hydrofracking would have on the state is vastly overstated.

The panel — which included Brian Brock; a retired geologist; Jerry Atcon, a former systems engineer; Chip Northrup, a former executive for the gas company ARCO, and Louis Allstadt, former executive vice president of Mobil Oil — explained New York simply does not have enough gas reserves to provide the type of major economic boon pro-fracking interests claim it will.

According to Brock, "the geology of shale limits how much gas could be produced from them." Brock says a well's productivity depends on a number of factors, although organic content, thermal maturity, shale thickness and depth are particularly important to the amount of gas that can be produced from a given well. Based on these four major factors, Brock said much of the Marcellus and Utica Shale formations will not produce an abundance of gas as some gas industry and fracking proponents have claimed

http://www.legislativegazette.com/Articles-Top-Stories-c-2014-02-05-86665.113122-Panel-of-scientists-say-economic-impact-from-fracking-overstated.html

[KoKo]

1. At first I misread the Title. This article says NYS will NOT benefit from Fracking...

Last edited Thu Feb 6, 2014, 02:20 PM - Edit history (1)

Which is hopefully good news. Although the Pro-Fracking Groups will probably round up a group of "paid for" Scientists to refute this group of Scientists...at least, for now, this is hope that saner heads will prevail.

[hrmjustin]

2. I hope your right.