Finishing Up on my Book on Fracing, Trying for Balence....

[M.D. Holloway]

I've been writing my first of several volumes on Energy Initiatives - first vol is on hydraulic fracturing. I have the technical stuff nailed down. From the geo stuff to pad site to equipment to chemicals and production. It's encyclopedic and informative. I also have written about the concerns. In an attempt to keep it balanced I want to voice the public concerns and perceptions. What I am finding is that 95% of what the public is concerned about are not just for Fracing. While points made are sensational, half of them are based on complete misconceptions or lack of basic understanding of the technology or even basic science.

While some other concerns are legit, they are more to do with industry in general. That's all well and good and the points are valid to an extent. It is also very apparent that many people lump Fracing in with well prep. That's a concern of semantics that shall be addressed.

So the biggest challenge I have going forward is not getting all the information done and written in a form that is both usable and correct, it's establishing a balance that provides illumination without bias. Tough call when that last and final statement that an anti-frac person puts out when confronted with facts are "but what about the children?"


Hey! That's a great title!!!!

[GH85Carrera]

No matter how hard you try you will be accused of having a bias. It is almost impossible to write much without some personal bias creeping in.

Good luck. Are you sponsored by the National Institute to end Insomnia?

[masraum]

"balence" - I hope you're paying the proof reader / speeling checker well.





You know there's an app for that?

[MBAtarga]

I've seen at least one documentary where the "water" faucet is turned on and then a lighter is used to ignite the output!

[M.D. Holloway]

Man you guys are harsh! I'm typing this with fat thumbs on my iPhone as I keep my dogs company in a garage on a farm in Iowa that is 18 freaking degrees because according to my wife "oh they will be fine, their dogs"....

And yes, I do have a proof reader and an editor thank you very much but I tell ya what, please be so kind and buy each one of my books and for every mistake you find I shall pay you a dollar .
This technique will cure any sleepless nights for sure!

You guys slay me

[monoflo]

I am in the business --the real issues are what to do with produced water and water in general as well as air pollution from flaring off gas when it cannot be used. And yes frac fluid can be nasty.

The tenchnology continues to move and with out the current energy sector boom there is not real recovery for the US's pathetic industrial base

The bit about faucets on fire would most likely be from poor cementing practices. There is no free lunch when it comes to energy.

Mflo

[livi]

You really are impressively productive! I hardly find time to get six hours of sleep, let alone writing encyclopedias..

[72doug2,2S]

How about explaining how frac water comes into being, how and to what extent it spreads to the drinking water and how long it will effect the the drinking water. What health risks are associated with fract water. Property values before and after the frac operation occurs. Myths about fracing. What legislation is out there, and what is still needed.

And what about the children?

[MRM]

Mike, one of my firm's specialties is representing frac sand producers. The Upper Mississippi Valley is sitting on bedrock that is essentially one huge piece of frac sand. It's huge business up here.

We spend considerable time working with the environmental engineers to collect the best available data on the health risks of frac sand mining, transportation and use and then presenting the evidence to the governmental bodies and public as part of the permitting process.

I would like to think we have a ballanced view because our firm's position is that we will not damage our credibility by taking on a project that is not completely environmentally sound. Our clients demand that because if their facilities aren't surounded by a population now, they soon will be as the raw land around them is developed. Our clients plan on living with their neighbors for decades as they grow and prosper with the surounding neighborhood. It does them no good to get a permit now and have an ongoing fight over environmental issues. And I think it is fair to say that none of our projects have become a problem after they've been completed. Most of the neighbors forgt they're even there because they're well shielded from view and have almost no impact on the surounding area.

I'd be happy to share our experience and perspective with you. We'll also probably want to order some copies of your book for our clients and prospective clients. I could write up a case study for you or something like that if you think it would be helpful.

Something you might want to explore is the history of industrial sand mining and use. Sand has been mined for industrial uses since the begining of time. The mining process and actually the uses of sand hasn't changed much in two thousand years. The fracing technology has gotten better, and the costs ahve come down to the point that it's economically viable, but there has been sand mining for thousands of years and fracing for more than a hundred. There's nothing new under the sun.

[Rikao4]

friend of mine..
who had little..
except 2 acres of dirt in valley..
is now retired..
south of SA..
if your not working in // for the fields..
your selling something too the fields..

problem now...
traffic & roads getting torn up..

Rika

[IROC]

Originally Posted by LubeMaster77

In an attempt to keep it balanced I want to voice the public concerns and perceptions. What I am finding is that 95% of what the public is concerned about are not just for Fracing. While points made are sensational, half of them are based on complete misconceptions or lack of basic understanding of the technology or even basic science.

Why do you care about public opinion in a technical journal? It's not relevant. That's like including a section on intelligent design in a book on biology or trying to accommodate those who think a BWR power plant can explode like an atomic bomb in a book on reactor design.

That's the beauty of science and engineering - you don't have to pander to those that don't actually know what's going on. Only reality matters.

Now, if you're writing a book on the public policies, etc. regarding these things, that's different. Otherwise, why even pander? Personal biases and anecdotal stories add no value when it comes right down to it.

[M.D. Holloway]

Doug, yes those topics are covered.

MRM - yes, I would love all that! Please send me a PM and anything you care to share is great.

[M.D. Holloway]

IROC - the book goes beyond something for engineers. It's a work for many that consider various aspects. In my other volumes (nuke, wind, solar, etc....) I will also include public opinions, it's important otherwise it shall only resonate with a certain type. While there shall be folks completely set in a certain way of thinking I am looking to provide insight to the vast middle as well as give the fanaticals a voice (albeit unfounded) as well as present facts about the technology that some of the fence sitters can make opinion from.

IMO more techical books should have myth and ridicule built into the chapters.

Also, a few points are valid.

[Laneco]

I want to read this.

Let us know when it goes to print and where to purchase.

angela

[john70t]

You might briefly mention peak oil, and/or the Carboniferous Period when existing stocks were created(before wood fungi existed) .
The Energy Story - Chapter 8: Fossil Fuels - Coal, Oil and Natural Gas
Coal, Oil and Gas: A brief Introduction to Fossil Fuels | Renewable Energy

[vash]

Fracing? i'm not tech savvy..but i really really would like a "K" vanna.

is that really how you spell it? or is this something entirely different?

[M.D. Holloway]

John, I actually do go into detail about the various periods and explore different theories on how the product came to be

[M.D. Holloway]

Vash, yup it's Fracing - slang. Some folks also spell it with a k and others a ck.

[M.D. Holloway]

Angela, while its not a pre-requisite, my first three books would be a wonderful prep and lead in!

[matt f]

Originally Posted by MBAtarga

I've seen at least one documentary where the "water" faucet is turned on and then a lighter is used to ignite the output!

I grew up in Susquehanna Co., PA.
That along with Tioga, Bradford and Lycoming Co's. are 4 of the larger natural gas producing counties in PA.
35 YEARS AGO I WOULD GO TO MY BUDDY'S HOUSE AND WE WOULD LIGHT HIS TAP WATER ON FIRE FOR *****S AND GIGGLES.

The "documentary" you saw interviewed people that either signed a gas lease too early for little$, or were not offered a lease.

My friend who has a lease on his 1000+ acre dairy farm with 3 producing wells continues to milk 110 head of holsteins 2x a day, just as his father and grandfather before him.

Wish to know what he does with the millions he recieves annually?

He bought a nicer tractor!