In light of the Gulf oil spill, many citizens are becoming increasingly distrustful of energy companies and the methods they employ. In a very positive step, Range Resources has decided to voluntarily disclose the chemicals that it uses in order to break through sediment and acquire natural gas. The decision comes under mounting concern from citizens who live near the natural gas extraction sites.
In order to acquire natural gas, a well is drilled and then massive amounts of water are shot at high pressure along with some chemicals into the well to fracture the underlying rock and release the gas. Since natural gas companies have never disclosed any information about these chemicals, there is justifiable concern that they could be toxic and enter our aquifers and drinking water. Range Resources is doing the right thing and we hope other companies follow suit. It seems this is one positive result of the Gulf spill.
-Mitchell Flexo
(Via Wall Street Journal)
Photo: A drill rig near the town of Pinedale, Wyo. (Abrahm Lustgarten/ProPublica)