Coal Ash

mommucked said:
...me either, I wish one would explain how this shit is safe and sound.
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1. They've been doing it for 60 years.

2. It has an amazingly safe track record.

3. Most of the "risks" you hear about aren't real, and the "non-profits" publicizing them are funded by Russian oil oligarchs.
 
shawn said:
1. They've been doing it for 60 years.

2. It has an amazingly safe track record.

3. Most of the "risks" you hear about aren't real, and the "non-profits" publicizing them are funded by Russian oil oligarchs.
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OK, "Most" makes me think some of my fears are real or have occurred somewhere, but It really doesn't matter anyway because the fracking is gonna happen lawsuits, public opinion want it or not and it's gonna spread all over the southeast unless it goes wrong here before that.
 
Ok so I've heard why we shouldn't do it, but still no reason why it's so good for us. $, less dependence on foreign oil? ?
 
Weather there is natural gas down there or not:

I think the only thing they got to go by right now is a black and white sketch done in the very early 1900's maybe and the early experience from old mines.

We do know there is coal in the area and the only noted coal in the state. And that the Cumnock / Egypt Mine experienced several explosions throughout it's history. And the only way a coal mine explodes is the accumulation of either coal dust or natural gas. And we know coal and NG go hand in hand and are found usually within close proximity of each other.

Was just too long ago without the technology. But the technology is available now to determine if. Just that it is a large expense. But the cost will be privately funded. And without a doubt it will create jobs. And the jobs themselves will create more jobs.

Weather it's safe or not:

Who knows....
 
Everyone thinks holes drilled in the ground are just holes...

But, there is a lot that goes into the borings, much more than you'd expect. There are grouted in casings (2"+/- concrete) with multiple pipes and tubes that extend tbrough the boring, through confining layers, through the water table, through bedrock, etc. that aid in the protection of the water supply. There are well defined and viable methods to abandon wells that preserve the integrity of aquifers and the water table, etc.

Think about a well dug below a confining layer in the soil to give you water at your house but expand that idea to much greater depths and some more details.

Frankly, I'd be more concerned about contaminating a water supplyby improperly installed water wells or surface runoff (oils/chemicals, etc) that could enter an existing well.
 
mommucked said:
That's not fair Ron. I gave my thoughts and tried to not type a book to reply to your post as requested. I'm no expert but who is when it comes to fracking N.C.s geology? It has never been done here and I doubt our geology is the same as the areas that have been fracked apparently successfully. I swear I don't want to be an "I told you so" but if this fracking goes wrong it's gonna go very wrong IMO. I'm not sure the risks are worth the damage that may be done and will no doubt be very hard to reverse if that happens.
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Why is it a good idea?
Thats not really my point in the argument. My point is its as safe as any other energy harvesting source. Coal, Nuclear, Hydro-Electric...all have massive risks. Entire towns have been flooded because of failed dams, yet we'd all vote for more hydro electric plants if we had better locations. But I digress.

I keep hearing and read in this thread that "fracking has never took place in NC". The good people of Western, NC would like to disagree with you. Fracking for private wells has been a standard practice for 50+ years. I'm not a fracking expert either, but I can assure you that no one sets out to destroy the planet or poison a bunch of people. Do we need to research what ever chemical may be mixed with the water for safety, sure we do. Absolutely. But once we determine it is safe, or determine a safe alternative no reason not to use it. I keep haring idiots on WBT in Charlotte talking about "upsetting the tectonic plates" and other such nonsense.

Finally there are a lot of people with a very high sense of self worth. The earth is a resilient bitch. It will self recover even from some horrific human encounters. Drilling a small hole doesnt concern me.
 
Fracking used for wells uses a fraction of the pressure and uses water instead of chemicals. Fracking for wells uses pressurized water in burst to move/lossen material that slow water flow rates. I am NOT an expert on Fracking for wells but a family member does well drilling and fracking for a living and this is what he has told me the difference was in between the two
 
Loganwayne said:
Fracking used for wells uses a fraction of the pressure and uses water instead of chemicals. Fracking for wells uses pressurized water in burst to move/lossen material that slow water flow rates. I am NOT an expert on Fracking for wells but a family member does well drilling and fracking for a living and this is what he has told me the difference was in between the two
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^^^^ This forcing water, even dirty water into the ground is not the same as the long list of chemicals they use in fracking water. I'm guessing the reason they won't disclose them is because they are highly toxic and dangerous in very small amounts if they enter the water tables where many wells and springs get their water. I understand the mechanics of the well heads and casing Rockcity mentioned and am not too concerned about leaks from them, I'm worried about leaks that may occur through the ground from the areas of the fracking into the water table. They will only be discovered after contaminated water is sampled from surface wells or found flowing out of springs and by then the damage will be a long time being remedied.
 
Water is, in general, usually isolated between confining layers. Typically when wells extend through these confining layers, casings are installed to prevent the cross contamination into the water, whether it be surface water, water table, or deep aquifers. Typically, the depth that is required for fracking, water doesn't exist anymore.
 
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