News & Updates
A training webinar for companies wishing to report chemicals to the FracFocus disclosure submission system is now available. The webinar shows operators how to register their company and set up the company Representative, Supervisors and Data Submitters. It also discusses the disclosure template, how to complete and submit it and how to manage records and users in the system. Designed in concert with the Environmentally Friendly Drilling Systems Program managed by the Houston Advanced Research Center and the Texas Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), affiliated with Texa
Due to the addition of many Non-MSDS components on the disclosure forms, the language regarding MSDS components at the bottom of each form is being updated. Effective 3/29/2012, the new language will say:
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission and Texas Railroad Commission this week adopted new rules that call for the disclosure of chemicals intentionally added to hydraulic fracturing fluids. The Commissions require oil and gas operators to post their disclosures on FracFocus, the national chemical registry site.
Colorado Commission rulemaking:
http://cogcc.state.co.us/RR_HF2011/Rulemaking2011.htm
On 11/9/2011, the State of North Dakota proposed new rules governing the practice of hydraulic fracturing. The proposed rules can be seen at https://www.dmr.nd.gov/oilgas/rules2012changes.pdf. With respect to chemical disclosure the proposed rule states:
11/17/2011 A hearing is scheduled for today concerning a proposal by the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association to develop rules governing the reporting of chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing process. Further details on the results of this hearing will be published as they become available.
November 1, 2011 (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) Denver — The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has started the process of adopting rules for the public disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing.
A rulemaking hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5.
Fracturing, or fracking, involves injecting water, sand and chemicals under high pressure into rock formations to release oil and natural gas. Some residents have expressed interest in knowing exactly what's being blasted underground.
10/7/2011
The FracFocus website has added information about the propogation of fractures in the subsurface.
Certain
predictable characteristics or physical properties regarding the path of
least resistance have been recognized since hydraulic fracturing was
first conducted in the oilfield in 1947. To see more about the properties of hydraulic fractures go to Hydraulic Fracturing: The Process page.
September 2, 2011 (Billings Gazette) From now on, producers drilling for oil and gas in Montana have to disclose most of the chemicals they are using in hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” under rules that recently were implemented.
The proposed rulemaking will modify the Department's existing regulations and promulgate new regulations related to the use of high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) to facilitate production of natural gas from wells permitted by the Department. Also included in the proposed rules are updates to the Department's oil and gas and State Pollutant Discharge Elimination System regulations.
HOUSTON August 24, 2011 (OGJ) The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection has issued an emergency rule to increase regulatory oversight of unconventional natural gas drilling.
Acting Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin wrote an executive order July 12 telling DEP to create regulations until legislators agree on permanent unconventional drilling regulations. Existing rules only cover conventional drilling.
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