America's Latest Export to China - Fracking

[wtmusic]

"New and improved horizontal drilling, combined with hydraulic fracturing technologies, enable the United States to develop its abundant supply of natural gas from shale rock deep below the earth’s surface. China holds huge shale reserves as well and plans to follow suit. It would like to import technologies from the United States to do so, but the United States and its oil companies should not supply China with hydraulic fracturing technology without combining that technology with safety standards and environmental best practices. This includes capturing fugitive greenhouse gas emissions, monitoring the chemicals used in fracking fluid, and treating the wastewater to avoid contaminating local waterways.

This brief will review the factors leading China to seriously consider shale gas development and the potential problems the country faces in making this development a reality. It then examines shale development in the United States before closing with recommendations on how both countries can safely extract shale gas."

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"China also lacks the technology to develop these deposits. China’s oil companies are depending heavily on the United States for shale technology. Their firms are acquiring overseas assets to gain horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technology in addition to the exploration partnerships mentioned above. PetroChina, for example, purchased stakes in EnCana Corp. (Canada) and in Shell’s Arrow Energy. CNOOC purchased stakes in Chesapeake Energy (United States) and Exoma Energy (Australia)."

http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2011/10/china_fracking.html

At least we lead the world in something.

[benld74]

1. China also lacks the ability to tackle environmental issues,,,,,

like waste water treatment facilities, clean potable water for its people, dirty air caused by coal burning power plants.

BUT

When a disaster DOES HAPPEN there, fault lies with the HEAD of the operation that cauased the problem to occur. In THAT RESPECT, I would HATE to be in charge of a fracking operation when the CHinese discover they can light their water on FIRE!

[zbdent]

2. While in Pittsburgh a few weeks ago, I heard a "spokesperson" for the fracking industry ...

you could term her a "paid mouthpiece" ... she owned a huge tract of land that just signed for beaucoup $$$$$$ to be drilled on.

She was saying that all the people concerned about the "environmental impact" were fearmongering ...

Trouble is, when she pointed out where her land was (family land), it all made sense ...

She was the proverbial "absentee owner" ... her land was somewhere in southwest Ohio ... and she lives north of Pittsburgh ... so no fears of her drinking water tainted by the fracking process on her property ...