The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[OakesCS]

Wilma Subra, chairwoman of Stronger, a nonprofit group made up mostly of state oil-and-gas regulators, said that cracks caused by fracking can extend out of the shale and "allow natural gas and frack fluids to migrate out."

That is an extremely well crafted but completely disingenuous statement. Of course, fractures can extend out of the shale and fluids can migrate out. However, that does not mean that those fluids ever make it to an aquifer.

It is counter-productive for gas companies to fracture formations in such a way that the fractures extend out of the producing horizon - not because they fear losing gas to higher formations but because what usually happens is that water enters the gas-bearing formation and causes the loss of gas production.

Others say that even if fracking is safe, it doesn't mean drilling poses an acceptable risk. "You may be able to fix one issue, but it doesn't make the whole drilling process OK," said Maya Van Rossum, head of the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and an opponent of gas development in the river's watershed.

hate to borrow your word again but this person defines Luddite.

On a investment related note: this is the kind of article that service companies love to hear. They'll be more than happy to provide more cement logging services and nobody in the industry will cry if margins on cement improve. The larger production companies won't care too much because they'll pass on the additional costs. This will be another stake in the well-being of small producers.