Asbestos in Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid and Other Drilling Products

You might remember the videos posted showing the “vapor/steam” emitted when hydraulic fracturing occurs. Industry calls me a “lunatic” and says it’s only sand but a quick Google search reveals that it’s more likely silica which is similar to asbestos in the damage it does to lungs.

The physical characteristics of a chemical can contribute to its becoming a chemical of concern, as well as its application or use. For example, crystalline silica is reported in 33 products on this list ranging from <1% href="http://www.damascuscitizens.org/images/TEDX-NYnarrative_9-11-08.pdf">
Page 4-5

But, silica is not the only concern…

Asbestos In Drill Water Helps Cut Drilling Costs
http://www.universitip.com/term-papers/Asbestos-In-Drill-Water-Helps-Cut-Drilling-Costs-278087236.html
Asbestos – with all its implication for disease to the human body if inhaled – is still utilized as a drilling fluid viscosifier (thickening agent), primarily because of its inherent ability to keep down costs. That asbestos is not nearly as advantageous as clays, which are the predominant choice, speaks to the limited usage this fibrous silicate material – such as a binding agent – can contribute to the drilling process; however, when asbestos is incorporated into the drilling fluid, the cost-saving components are derived from a combination of ready availability and the inexpensive nature of soluble silicates as bonding agents. Bibliography lists 10 sources.

Well Drilling in Texas Leads to $1.2 Million Asbestos Verdict
http://www.asbestosnews.com/articles/well-drilling-in-texas-leads-to-1-2-million-asbestos-verdict/
Friday, October 30th, 2009. A Texas jury awarded $1.2 million this month to the wife of an engineer who died from mesothelioma cancer, allegedly caused by working with asbestos additives to drilling lubricants and cement. The suit was originally brought by Danny Puckett and his wife; he died earlier this year from the disease – for which the only known cause is asbestos exposure.

Ben K. DuBose — Attorney at Law
http://www.dallasmesotheliomalawyer.com/about.html
Ben DuBose has over a decade of asbestos litigation experience, successfully fighting for hundreds of mesothelioma victims in courts throughout the United States. . . . Ben has discovered asbestos containing properties of products that had not been widely recognized in asbestos litigation. For instance, Ben is nationally known for investigating the asbestos content of oilfield drilling mud additives and has successfully represented oilfield workers that were exposed to asbestos drilling mud additives on drilling rigs in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, North and South Dakota.

SF Jury Awards $1,083,000 in Asbestos Cancer Case
http://www.braytonlaw.com/news/verdicts/2006sandy.htm
San Francisco, CA — February 17, 2006 — A jury awarded $1,083,000 to Merle Sandy, a 60–year–old retired pipefitter suffering from asbestos pleural disease, asbestosis and colon cancer caused by his on–the–job exposure to asbestos. The defendant, Exxon Mobil Corporation, is the former owner and operator of an oil refinery located in Benicia, California, where Merle Sandy did industrial maintenance work. He was exposed to hazardous levels of asbestos while removing insulation and while working with asbestos gaskets, packing and welding blankets. Employed by an independent contractor, Mr. Sandy worked at the Benicia refinery from 1970 through 1974. He also worked at the refinery in 1977 and 1979. . . .
From 1963–1966, Mr. Sandy worked as a roughneck at oil drilling operations throughout the San Joaquin Valley in central California. He was exposed to asbestos while dumping hundreds of bags of dry drilling mud mix. He wore no respiratory protection. . .