Padilla Law, P.C. - Colorado and New Mexico Attorneys At Law. 970-764-4547
  • Home
  • Attorneys
    • Beth A. Padilla
    • Paul E. Padilla
  • Areas of Practice
  • First Draft Blog
  • Client Testimonials
  • Resources
  • Contact Us

What's Your Fracking Problem?

5/11/2012

0 Comments

 
This week, the Department of the Interior, through the Bureau of Land Management, published new draft rules requiring the disclosure of chemicals used in fracking operations. On the national level, this is major news. But, here in Colorado, it isn’t so revolutionary.

Fracking is a hot topic right now, because it is one of the newest forms of oil and gas development, and it is a growing trend as developers use the technique to become more efficient and pull more resources out of existing well heads. While fracking still makes up only a small portion of total oil and gas development, its use has grown substantially over the past ten years.

Fracking consists of pumping water mixed with proprietary chemical solutions down well heads at high pressures to fracture the rock and subterranean structures around the well shaft (hence, “fracking”). By making these fractures, oil and gas developers are able to pull more resources through the fractured areas. Over 99% of the water and chemical solutions are recaptured, but environmental groups oppose the practice because of instances where the chemicals have made their way into the water table.

The oil and gas industry has opposed disclosure of the chemicals based on trade secret laws. Each company has developed its own chemical mixture, and therefore does not want to publish the recipe for other companies to see. On the other side, activists have fought to require disclosure of the mixtures to understand what chemicals are being pumped into the ground.

While the new rules are an attempt to find a middle ground, this story is long from being over. The release of the draft rules was major industry news across the country, but really didn’t have much effect here in Colorado. That is because last year Colorado adopted its own set of rules that already require such disclosure.

The Colorado rules were the result of a joint effort between the oil and gas industry and activists, lead by Governor Hickenlooper, to find a happy medium. The Colorado rules were unprecedented at the time, and set the standard for both other states and the federal government.

So, while there is sure to be continued fall-out from the new draft rules, fracking operations will remain relatively unaffected in Colorado.
0 Comments

    Padilla Law, P.C.

    First Draft is a collaborative effort between Beth and Paul Padilla, both equity partners in the firm, and is intended to give you a brief overview of current legal topics and let you know what effects those issues may have in your life.

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn

    Archives

    March 2022
    September 2021
    June 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    July 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    June 2019
    May 2019
    March 2019
    October 2018
    May 2018
    August 2017
    July 2017
    March 2017
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    May 2015
    April 2015
    September 2014
    June 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011

    Categories

    All
    Administration
    Banking
    Community
    Constitution
    Criminal
    Employment Law
    Environmental
    Family
    Immigration
    Insurance
    Juvenile
    Land Use
    Marijuana
    Oil & Gas
    Probate
    Property
    Real Estate
    Recreation
    Small Business
    Technology