The naysayers obviously haven't seen the plan, and make themselves look rather ignorant about modern drill technology. It's not going to be some wildcatter rig out of a 50s James Dean movie.
We can do with less hysterical alarmists and Chicken Littles, thanks.
In general terms, oil and gas drilling should not occur too close to residential areas. Woe to the person who asks me what "too close" means, for I will pester you with questions, comments, and details until you beg for mercy. The people who know me well know enough not to get me started.
The problem isn't with the technology. Properly applied, in skilled hands, dangers to humans and environment are minimal. The problem is with irresponsible companies that cut corners and otherwise don't do the job right the first time. (Gee, can you name one such firm that's been in the news? If not, you've been in a coma for how long?) Also, from what I've seen neither the city nor the county has the power to enforce safety and environmental rules. While distrust of the federal government's effectiveness shouldn't be a surprise, some League City people I know are becoming less confident that the State of Texas can do any better. With a Mad Max style of oversight, no wonder our neighbors are concerned about public safety.
Now a neighborhood on the west side of League City is being assaulted by a developer who wants to drill a well next to a day care center and people's homes. The developer doesn't even own the land.
Let me say this another way. The well pay zone in League City can be tapped from a drill site in Bacliff using underground directional drilling if they want it badly enough.
Directional drilling is a proven technology. But I think there is more to it than that. Too far horizontal means more well pipe and more cost. For natural gas, another issue is how far the well head is to existing pipelines. A short distance means less feeder pipe, less cost, and more profits. This seems to be the reason why a developer wants to drill in the narrow space between Magnolia Creek and Rustic Oaks.
They are going a mile-and-a-half down. Add another eight miles (Bacliff to League City) and multiply costs by that much. At what point does any reasonable profit disappear?
That is a cost analysis that Forza Operating should have made already. All I'm saying is that this company is not out of options if they aren't permitted to drill a vertically. If the geology reports are that promising, then they'll figure out a way to get to the oil.
No decision by a city government should be swayed by what is advantageous to a third party's bottom line.
10 comments:
Paco Morratto (Pirate Paul)
The naysayers obviously haven't seen the plan, and make themselves look rather ignorant about modern drill technology. It's not going to be some wildcatter rig out of a 50s James Dean movie.
We can do with less hysterical alarmists and Chicken Littles, thanks.
In general terms, oil and gas drilling should not occur too close to residential areas. Woe to the person who asks me what "too close" means, for I will pester you with questions, comments, and details until you beg for mercy. The people who know me well know enough not to get me started.
The problem isn't with the technology. Properly applied, in skilled hands, dangers to humans and environment are minimal. The problem is with irresponsible companies that cut corners and otherwise don't do the job right the first time. (Gee, can you name one such firm that's been in the news? If not, you've been in a coma for how long?) Also, from what I've seen neither the city nor the county has the power to enforce safety and environmental rules. While distrust of the federal government's effectiveness shouldn't be a surprise, some League City people I know are becoming less confident that the State of Texas can do any better. With a Mad Max style of oversight, no wonder our neighbors are concerned about public safety.
If the pay zone geology is that promising they can drill the well to the target using directional drilling from a properly zoned parcel of land.
Now a neighborhood on the west side of League City is being assaulted by a developer who wants to drill a well next to a day care center and people's homes. The developer doesn't even own the land.
Let me say this another way. The well pay zone in League City can be tapped from a drill site in Bacliff using underground directional drilling if they want it badly enough.
Morgan,
Directional drilling is a proven technology. But I think there is more to it than that. Too far horizontal means more well pipe and more cost. For natural gas, another issue is how far the well head is to existing pipelines. A short distance means less feeder pipe, less cost, and more profits. This seems to be the reason why a developer wants to drill in the narrow space between Magnolia Creek and Rustic Oaks.
They are going a mile-and-a-half down. Add another eight miles (Bacliff to League City) and multiply costs by that much. At what point does any reasonable profit disappear?
That is a cost analysis that Forza Operating should have made already. All I'm saying is that this company is not out of options if they aren't permitted to drill a vertically. If the geology reports are that promising, then they'll figure out a way to get to the oil.
No decision by a city government should be swayed by what is advantageous to a third party's bottom line.
Agreed.
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