Indiana Fracking Update

Well, I haven’t posted in a while! I assure you I have been very busy researching and studying. I have also been busy updating my Multipure information all over the net and my computer. Change can be tough, but it will all work out in the end.

So, my research, It seems Indiana is becoming more aware and concerned about hydraulic fracturing in our state. There is a lot of information available on hydraulic fracturing and the entire process. Big oil will tell you it is safe, but in reality, even a novice observer can see how bad this can be.

Think of the Earth as a human, its core being akin to human bones, the process for getting natural gas out of the ground does just that, it breaks the Earth’s bones. Do a search for news in fracking areas. Pay attention to the news and media, there are more earthquakes, contaminated water, people getting sick, and even dying.

So here is what I found in the Safe Drinking Water Act documentation in regard to wells and hydraulic fracturing in Indiana:

Class II Wells
Because this discussion of hydraulic fracturing is related to oil and gas production, this report focuses primarily on regulatory requirements for Class II wells rather than other categories of wells in EPA’s UIC program. If authorized or mandated to regulate hydraulic fracturing broadly under SDWA, EPA might regulate hydraulic fracturing as a Class II activity, which would parallel its approach for regulating the injection of diesel for fracturing purposes. However, it is possible that EPA could classify oil and gas production wells that are hydraulically fractured under a different class, or develop an entirely new regulatory structure or subclass of wells.

A Class II well may be used to dispose of brines (salt water) and other fluids associated with oil and gas production or storage, to store natural gas, or to inject fluids for enhanced oil and gas recovery. EPA estimates that some 80% of Class II wells are enhanced recovery (ER) wells. These wells inject brine, water, stream polymers, or carbon dioxide primarily into oil-bearing formations (also called secondary or tertiary recovery). Enhanced recovery wells are separate from, and typically surrounded by, production wells. Table 2 outlines basic requirements for Class II wells.

Regulatory requirements for wells related to oil and gas production (Class II wells) are located at 40 C.F.R. Parts 144 and 146.

EPA historically has differentiated Class II wells from production wells. The agency’s UIC website states that “[p]roduction wells bring oil and gas to the surface; the UIC Program did not regulate production wells.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Class II Wells—Oil and Gas Related Injection Wells (Class II), “What are the types of Class II wells?,” http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/index.cfm.

If some of this is dutch to you like it was me, this might help

According to the Indiana DNR, January 2011, there is a moratorium that prohibits such drilling, and they(DNR) are trying to lift it.

I also found an interactive map to find wells in any state. So far, Indiana does not have any wells on this site, but this is a good place to keep track.

I will continue to watch and update Indiana Fracking information here and on FaceBook