Changes

Of course, nearby the United States, activity has been high in Canada, whereas only recently has activity been under way in Mexico's Burgos Basin.

Of course, nearby the United States, activity has been high in Canada, whereas only recently has activity been under way in Mexico's Burgos Basin.

The worldwide exploration effort for shale-gas resource plays will continue for years to come and will likely impact global energy resources in a very positive way. Although recent concerns over groundwater contamination are of extreme importance to all of us both outside and within industry, it should be noted that more than 40,000 shale-gas wells have been hydraulically stimulated and more than one million conventional wells.<ref>Montgomery, C. T., and M. B. Smith, 2010, [http://www.jptonline.org/index.php?id=481 Hydraulic fracturing: History of an enduring technology].</ref> Hype often takes precedence over facts as indicated, for example, by recent cases involving groundwater wells in the Fort Worth Basin. The United States Environmetal Protection Agency cited recent drilling operations in the Barnett Shale as the cause of these groundwater wells, but this was not substantiated. Geochemical data conclusively proved that although gas existed in these water wells, the gas migrated from shallow gas-bearing reservoirs in the basin and not from drilling operations in the Barnett Shale itself (Railroad Commission of Texas, 2011). Although there is and should be concern over any groundwater contamination issues, most of which are the result of ongoing geologic processes, the track record from drilling all the shale-gas wells and such evidence as cited in the Railroad Commission of Texas (2011) hearing provide support for the safe drilling record of industry. Accidents will occur in all industries, and human endeavors and regulations assist in minimizing such unwanted results by all parties, including companies doing the exploration and production, because their livelihoods also depend on positive impact. Perhaps the biggest concern should be the rapid expansion of shale-gas drilling that has stressed the need for availability of a qualified and knowledgeable workforce. As such, management and the supervision of work and drilling crews become perhaps of equal importance as regulatory efforts to improve environmental safety based on new geologic and chemical information.

The worldwide exploration effort for shale-gas resource plays will continue for years to come and will likely impact global energy resources in a very positive way. Although recent concerns over groundwater contamination are of extreme importance to all of us both outside and within industry, it should be noted that more than 40,000 shale-gas wells have been hydraulically stimulated and more than one million conventional wells.<ref>Montgomery, C. T., and M. B. Smith, 2010, [http://www.jptonline.org/index.php?id=481 Hydraulic fracturing: History of an enduring technology].</ref> Hype often takes precedence over facts as indicated, for example, by recent cases involving groundwater wells in the Fort Worth Basin. The United States Environmetal Protection Agency cited recent drilling operations in the Barnett Shale as the cause of these groundwater wells, but this was not substantiated. Geochemical data conclusively proved that although gas existed in these water wells, the gas migrated from shallow gas-bearing reservoirs in the basin and not from drilling operations in the Barnett Shale itself.<ref name=RRC>Railroad Commission of Texas, 2011, [http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/meetings/ogpfd/RangePFD.PDF&sa=U&ei=WIAQT9DPA6Xu0gGBxlC_Aw&ved=0CAcQFjAB&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHn-_WOT9BMMdwJJalA1JclwbfUfw Texas Railroad Commission hearing, 2011, Docket No. 7B-0268629] - Commission called hearing to consider whether operation of the Range Production Company Butler unit well no. 1H (RRC No. 253732) and the Teal unit well no. 1H (RRC No. 253779), Newark, East (Barnett Shale) Field, Hood County, Texas, are causing or contributing to contamination of certain domestic water wells in Parker County, Texas, v. 1, 123 p.</ref> Although there is and should be concern over any groundwater contamination issues, most of which are the result of ongoing geologic processes, the track record from drilling all the shale-gas wells and such evidence as cited in the Railroad Commission of Texas<ref name=RRC /> hearing provide support for the safe drilling record of industry. Accidents will occur in all industries, and human endeavors and regulations assist in minimizing such unwanted results by all parties, including companies doing the exploration and production, because their livelihoods also depend on positive impact. Perhaps the biggest concern should be the rapid expansion of shale-gas drilling that has stressed the need for availability of a qualified and knowledgeable workforce. As such, management and the supervision of work and drilling crews become perhaps of equal importance as regulatory efforts to improve environmental safety based on new geologic and chemical information.

==Conclusions==

==Conclusions==

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* Railroad Commission of Texas, 2011, [http://www.rrc.state.tx.us/meetings/ogpfd/RangePFD.PDF&sa=U&ei=WIAQT9DPA6Xu0gGBxlC_Aw&ved=0CAcQFjAB&client=internal-uds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHn-_WOT9BMMdwJJalA1JclwbfUfw Texas Railroad Commission hearing, 2011, Docket No. 7B-0268629] - Commission called hearing to consider whether operation of the Range Production Company Butler unit well no. 1H (RRC No. 253732) and the Teal unit well no. 1H (RRC No. 253779), Newark, East (Barnett Shale) Field, Hood County, Texas, are causing or contributing to contamination of certain domestic water wells in Parker County, Texas, v. 1, 123 p.

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