I have compiled research and my personal opinion of the development of the shale gas industry in New Brunswick within this commentary. This is indeed a touchy subject for many, and I am well aware that this opinion piece may not be appealing to some. However, that is a risk I am more than willing to take.
Shale gas is natural gas stored deep beneath our feet within organic-rich, very fine-grained rocks, such as shale, mudstone and laminated siltstones.
Natural gas is a combination of hydrocarbon gases, primarily methane and ethane. It is found in pore spaces of some sedimentary rocks. Shale mainly consists of clay and parts of other minerals, such as quartz and calcite.
Currently, the only known process to extract this type of gas is called hydraulic fracturing, also known as "fraccing." In fraccing, a fluid consisting of water, sand and a small amount of chemicals is injected into the ground using high amounts of pressure.
Fluid which is often compromised of water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen gas or propane is pumped down a well until the pressure is greater than the strength of the rock. This causes the reservoir area to crack. The "frac" fluid is then pumped down the well. Frac fluid has a high content of proppant, or ceramic beads of sand, which help keep the fractures open, as they could close when the pressure is released. The process of fraccing has been widely used for decades in order to extract gas.
Currently, New Brunswick's shale gas industry is in the exploration stage. Exploration is carried out using seismic testing, which uses sound waves to map the layers below the ground's surface. Test wells then are drilled. This stage of the game will help to determine if the amount of gas in the ground is enough to make this industry viable.
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| "NO Shale Gas!" sign at the Falls Brook Fair in September |
In all fairness, the owners of property that companies have intruded on do have a right to be upset. It is not right for a company carrying out work of this nature to enter private land and avoid informing someone. Why exactly they did not tell property owners about their presence is miles beyond me.
Perhaps they knew that people are against this, and that they would have denied them access to their property. Maybe the property owner could not be found. The true reason shall remain a mystery.
Nine companies have been issued Crown licenses to search and/or lease within New Brunswick. One of those companies has suspended exploration work in the province due to vandalism of their equipment and threat(s) to their employees. To vandalize the equipment a company is using to carry out their work is wrong on all levels. If you do not support fraccing, then voice your opinion to your local MLA. Damaging the exploration firm's machinery shows pure disrespect, whether or not you support the work they are doing.
Another one of the exploration firms has allegedly explored within the Sussex town limits without permission from the municipal council. If the company has already been issued a license by the provincial government to do what they're doing, then do they really need the approval of a town council?
In an era where a wealth of information can be accessed in no time at all, it is easy to find out about the negative impact of fraccing on other communities. The majority of this information can easily be found online. However, I will go by what I read in my local newspaper.
The closest area to my hometown of Woodstock which has been licensed for the purpose of exploration is also the largest. It covers approximately 1 million hectares, or one-seventh of the size of New Brunswick, and stretches northeast from St. Stephen through Fredericton and over to the Acadian shore between Miramichi and Moncton. The license for this section has been awarded to a Houston, Texas-based firm, Southwestern Energy Company.
In other areas where the gas industry has been developed, drinking water has been contaminated, and the fumes from the numerous chemicals used in frac fluid have affected breathing air. Calvin Tillman, former mayor of Dish, Texas, had to move miles away from the community because the effects of fraccing in his community were putting his family at risk. Tillman told his story at Connell House in Woodstock in the fall.
There likely were regulations in place to prevent this from happening, but the gas companies did not adhere to them.
The New Brunswick government claims that strict regulations are in place to prevent damage to the environment or the quality of New Brunswickers. The bureaucrats, however, have not really specified what they may be. In a recent insert in the local newspaper, many of these regulations were disclosed. I will list some of them here:
1) The provincial government has specific setback requirements outlining the distance that seismic testing operations must remain from water wells, homes and other buildings.
2) The province requires that water wells within at least 200 metres of seismic testing operations be tested before and after seismic testing work is carried out.
3) The gas industry must adhere to the criteria mentioned in the Department of Environment's Clean Air Act.
4) Government regulations currently state that noise from industrial zones cannot exceed noise levels from surrounding areas by ten decibels. All industries must follow these regulations.
I have researched the facts behind the gas and oil industry and will form an opinion based on the facts I have found.
The province of New Brunswick is facing a deficit of approximately $545 million, and a net debt of nearly $10 billion. The rate of unemployment currently stands around ten per cent. This should be enough to send the message loud and clear that we are in the midst of challenging times and we need something to stimulate the province's economy.
The development of the natural gas industry in New Brunswick could potentially create over 10,000 high-paying, long-term jobs. It could bring approximately $300 million in revenue to the province.
David Alward, New Brunswick's current premier, included the continued development of the shale gas industry in the province in his platform during the 2010 election. It was originally started under Shawn Graham's Liberal administration. New Brunswickers voted for Alward and his party in the 2010 provincial election, which sent a message that they support this industry. Alward's continued development of the industry means that he is keeping his promise. We all know that politicians who keep their promises are few and far between.
Word has gotten out about the industry's impacts on other areas, such as Dish, Texas, Arkansas, and even British Columbia. People then fear that similar things will happen to them.
Therefore, local opposition to this industry is based solely on fear. People need to get the facts before they protest something. Opposition to fraccing in New Brunswick has worked the other way around--protesting before finding the facts.
If shale gas exploration and extraction can be carried out safely without damaging the environment or our quality of life, then I support it. Natural gas can serve as a transition fuel when working towards renewable energy, however, there is no hurry to develop this industry in New Brunswick.
Note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely the opinions of the author. They may not reflect the opinions of The Shiretown Blogger's readers.
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