Barnett Shale Futures when ExxonMobil buys XTO

Here is the future of the already scarred Barnett Shale. Hey Eagle Ford Shale residents, are you paying attention?

Exxon’s Oozing Texas Oil Pits Haunt Residents as XTO Deal Nears

Exxon, the biggest U.S. oil producer, has neglected this stretch of Texas since its oil fields began drying up in the 1970s, said Jerry Patterson, the state’s General Land Office Commissioner. Now Patterson and other state officials are urging Texas lawmakers to follow the examples of California and Pennsylvania in cracking down on oilfield practices that have left leaking pipelines, wells and storage tanks.

Oozing chemical pits and Vavrusa’s scarred skin are emblematic of a legacy Exxon has sought to keep buried in court, even as it gears up for a return to active exploration within miles of the ranch through its pending $29.3 billion acquisition of Fort Worth, Texas-based XTO Energy Inc.

And our beloved Mrs. Burns is featured in this article.

I think the whole future of oil and gas in this country depends on the companies having to pick up the last mess,” said Elizabeth Burns, 43, who lives with her family on the Encinitos Ranch where Vavrusa was injured. “Places like Pennsylvania and New York need strong laws or this is what they’re going to get.

This article makes the Texas Railroad Commission look corrupt. Imagine that?

more later…

About Sharon Wilson

Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.