Arkansas commission votes to ban wells (NG drilling fluid disposal)

[phantom power]

EL DORADO, Ark. – The Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission on Wednesday voted to ban wells for the disposal of natural gas drilling fluids from a region where hundreds of earthquakes have struck, a move officials said was necessary to prevent a potential catastrophe.

Commissioners voted 6-0 to close a disposal well between Greenbrier and Enola in the Fayetteville Shale, an area rich in natural gas that stretches across the state. The commission also voted 7-0 to issue a moratorium on new disposal wells in a 1,150-square-mile segment of the shale in central Arkansas north of Conway, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

Three other disposal wells in that area have already been closed by their operators.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/07/27/arkansas-commission-votes-to-ban-wells/#ixzz1TWUV6237

[Coyote_Bandit]

1. I find it interesting that

this small little state has been so proactive on this issue.

[Champion Jack]

2. Yeah, I wish MY small little state (WV), would get it together

[jwirr]

4. An earthquake can be very scary in a state that is not used to them. nt

[Coyote_Bandit]

5. My understanding

is that most of the quakes have been very small and have largely not been felt.

[jwirr]

7. Yes, but if you have never had a quake before and you know the

history of that one huge quake that happened centuries ago - even a small one has you worried.

[FogerRox]

3. But quakes still occur months after disposal wells closed.

While in Colorado and Dallas saw quakes diminish after wells were closed.

[txlibdem]

6. Drilling fluids are: 1. OK to drink, or 2. Toxic?

I'm putting my money on #2.