where is potts?, page-18

Arjeff,
This fracking thing has become very emotional. I put the blame on a few shoddy USA operators and on Josh Fox who actively marketed a film showing 'fracked' gas igniting a kitchen fawcett.

In the last five to ten years or so the shale industry has been reformed by the USA EPA ( Environmental Protection Agency ). If you want to frack a well then you had better get your ducks in a row because the EPA has some very demanding procedures and controls.

By the way gas has been bubbling up to the Earth's surface for about 150 million years. It bubbles up and chooses the least path of resistance even if that means it has to pass through a pristine aquifer. There are no policemen down there saying you can't bubble through here.

The oil industry put up a bit of a fight against Josh Fox but the emotional damage had been done. Apparently at one Fox meeting an experienced gas spokesman asked to show another film showing a kitchen fawcett fire. He was welcomed but when he advised the audience that this film was taken 26 years BEFORE fracking was ever invented, Fox said it was 'besides the point'. For goodness sakes. Natural occuring methane leaks have been killing stock and wildlife for yonks. Way way before fracking was ever heard of.

There have been over a million successful fracs in the USA and the EPA have very tight controls. As regards NWE they have already had to fight several local environmental wars to frac Arrowsmith which cost them dearly. WA has put into place similar EPA controls. NWE has complied fully.

The reason the WA shales have been selected for fracking is that they have been identified by the IEA as being in one of the 10 best shale basins in the world. The world is turning to gas, especially China which recently had to close down a city for 4 days because they will literally choking to death on coal smog. China needs all the gas it can get and some of it will be coming from Australia.

I do admit these Greenie Groups are becoming more vociferous but those with a clear head can see what a boon shale gas will be for WA and Australia. The water and chemical issues are real but have been dealt with thoroughly. The WA authorities have now spent years studying fracking and have given it their blessing.

So don't get paranoic. Leave the decisions to those who have done the homework.

Happy New Year.