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VIDEO: Carrizo gas well venting in Pantego, Texas near school

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This is a video of life near fracking. You can see the neighbors roof tops in the video.

Raise your hand if you want this near your home and your children’s school.

Hopefully we will have more information soon. So far the response has been the typical “Who’s on first.”

UPDATE: As you can see from the comments, this video might be from sometime around October. But, everything is perfectly fine because Carrizo has informed the City Manager, Sean Fox, that it’s just steam. See his email reply in the comments.

He is right about this:

The Texas Railroad Commission is responsible for regulating the well and pipeline control and maintenance the amount of venting that is allowed and they stated the gas companies have the right to “unload” water and/or vent gas during the course of normal operations as long as the unloading or venting does not exceed 24 hours or 72 hours in one month.

If they want to vent longer the RRC will gladly give them permission. However, they can vent and call it an emergency any old time they want to.

The one thing I’m working on with the gas company currently is the makeup of the water vapor being released or atomized. It is most likely frack water, meaning it is a mixture of gum guar (an emulsifier), an insecticide, and a rust inhibitor (like antifreeze) and sand and water but…the sand and water make up 99.5% of the mixture so all the other chemicals involved are less than ½ percent. I’m just not certain what affect that ½ percent has when atomized.

First, they don’t have to tell you what chemicals are involved. Carrizo has not bothered to register any of the fracking chemicals used in Tarrant County on FracFocus. So we are forced to look at the scant information provided by Carrizo in the Eagle Ford Shale. A few of the chemicals for one randomly selected well are:

  • Hydrochloric Acid
  • Silica Quartz – a carcinogen
  • Hydrotreated light petroleum distillate (diesel)
  • Quaternary ammonium salt – Confidential Business Information 1
  • Aldehyde – Confidential Business Information 2
  • Isopropanol
  • Methanol
  • Acetic acid
  • Ammonium acetate
  • Borate salts – Confidential Business Information 3
  • Guar gum
  • Glutaraldehyde
  • Quaternary ammonium compounds, benzyl-C12-16-alkyldimethyl, chlorides
  • Alcohols, C12-16, ethoxylated
  • Amines, coco alkyl, ethoxylated
  • Amines, hydrogenated tallow alkyl, acetates
  • Ammonium chloride
  • Ammonium phosphate
  • Ethoxylated Nonylphenol – Confidential Business Information 4
  • Fatty Acids, Tall Oil – Confidential Business Information 5
  • Inorganic mineral – Proprietary
  • Modified Bentonite – Confidential Business Information 6
  • Naphthenic acid ethoxylate
  • Polyacrylamide Copolymer – Confidential Business Information 7
  • Polymer – Proprietary
  • etc.

Second, on the FracFocus website it says the chemicals make up between 1/2 and 2%. In a minimal frack of about 2.5 millions gallons of water, that would be a minimum of 80 tons of chemicals.

Third, it’s not steam. We have proven this.

  • Venting from flowback tanks contains the chemicals used during the fracking process, methane, volatile organic compounds and impurities from the formation including the possibility of radioactive material.
  • Venting from the condensate tanks contains many of the same substances.
  • Venting from the produced water tanks, ditto.

This has been proven over and over. Peer reviewed studies have documented the health impacts to humans and animals from exposure to these toxins.

Engineer Larry Hulsey works for industry. He is paid to say things like that there should be no danger to the residents.

It is irresponsible for cities to be so uninformed.

 

 

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.

Comments

  1. kim Feil says

    So when the maker of this video emailed me these videos, I ascertained that the youtube account was opened for the sole purpose of these videos. What I feel helpless about is that they are allowed to vent…at least the old rural drilling rules apply..no new rules for urban areas have come to pass…the only thing that has passed is cash during the boom. Now that Carrizo is busy in the boom of the oil rich Eagleford Shale….all I could do was leave a message for them. I read that they/Carrrizo recently divested some Barnett Shale assets…maybe this drill site doesn’t even belong to them anymore? I’d say this drill site near Bailey Junior High could still be as I type this in “B O O M” mode…literally.

    • TXsharon says

      They are required by law to have identifying information on the signes at the gate. It would be helpful if people would video that information when taking videos but there is no training when you suddenly find yourself in the fracking sacrifice zone.

    • kim Feil says

      Yep Carrizo still owns it cause I looked at the agenda items coming up and Carrizo wants a Compressor Special Use Permit
      “Carrizo Gas and Oil have made application to install a compressor on the pad site on S Bowen Rd. Additional information that has been requested by staff has been provided by the applicant and is under review. The item is scheduled to be placed on the Planning and Zoning Commission agenda for December 3, 2012.”

        • kim Feil says

          FOR THE RECORD>>
          —– Forwarded Message —-
          From: Sean Fox
          To: kim feil
          Sent: Tue, November 27, 2012 11:45:05 AM
          Subject: RE: Which Pantego venting video(s) are you speaking about here?

          Kim,

          I do not know who Aaron Roach is but after viewing the two videos posted on YouTube under his/her name and the video provided to me by Mayor Pro Tem Surratt, they appear to be one in the same, which would be the one I referenced in the October 2nd Council session.

          Sean

          Sean P. Fox
          City Manager

  2. kim Feil says

    aaaahhh this venting could have happened months ago. Here are the minutes from the 10/2/2012 meeting……..
    http://tx-pantego3.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/2695
    “COUNCIL INQUIRY
    Mayor Pro Tem Surratt mentioned the Carrizo Well site which vents a substance from the site that is both audible and able to be seen. Mayor Pro Tem Surratt provided a video to City Manager Sean Fox and he is interested in learning what Carrizo says the substance is and stated that the present ordinance does not allow venting.”
    City Manager Sean Fox stated that he has spoken to Carrizo who informed him that the substance is most likely water vapor. Mr. Fox also stated that he spoke to Engineer Larry Hulsey who informed him that there should be no danger to residents from the venting.” I have asked the Pantego City Manager if these were the same videos and he wasn’t sure. yeah right. SO now that the new City Manager realizes they are venting and violating thier ordiance…here is what he had to say in defense of this venting……..

    —– Forwarded Message —-
    From: Sean Fox
    To: kim feil
    Sent: Mon, November 26, 2012 12:02:38 PM
    Subject: RE: Video response to “Fracking Near Bailey Junior High Arlington in Pantego TX Carrizo Site

    Kim,
    From what we’ve be able to determine, it is most likely water vapor that is being vented in the video you forwarded to me. We had a similar inquiry just over a month ago regarding two similar ventings that had been filmed…that is why I thought the video may be older. After some research and direct conversations with the gas company, I’ve come to understand that there are two agencies involved in regulating venting in regards to the amount and air quality. The Texas Railroad Commission is responsible for regulating the well and pipeline control and maintenance the amount of venting that is allowed and they stated the gas companies have the right to “unload” water and/or vent gas during the course of normal operations as long as the unloading or venting does not exceed 24 hours or 72 hours in one month. If they were to exceed 24 hours or 72 hours in one month, they would need RRC’s written permission to do it. TCEQ is responsible for the air quality and they’ve stated that although there may be a minuet amount of gas being vented at the same time, the methane would go straight up and dissipate almost immediately. The specific gravity of methane is just over half that (.554) of air. The one thing I’m working on with the gas company currently is the makeup of the water vapor being released or atomized. It is most likely frack water, meaning it is a mixture of gum guar (an emulsifier), an insecticide, and a rust inhibitor (like antifreeze) and sand and water but…the sand and water make up 99.5% of the mixture so all the other chemicals involved are less than ½ percent. I’m just not certain what affect that ½ percent has when atomized. I do know that TCEQ currently has stated that the Pantego well site is within TECQ and RCC tolerances as far as venting.
    Sean

    Sean P. Fox
    City Manager

    • Gary says

      Pantego has a city ordinance that that prohibits venting of any kind from a gas well. The reason that is in the ordinance is because these wells are so close to homes, businesses, parks, and schools in the area. Down to around 300 ft I might add. What does your city manager have to say about that? If the gas extraction company is going to play by rules other than those of the city, then they are in violation of the original SUP. Any violation of the ordinance should carry heavy fines and eventual evocation of the permit if the violation continues.

      Instead of defending this company, this city manger needs to do his job and protect the public by enforcing the city ordinance.

      • TXsharon says

        Many city ordinances prohibit venting but they do not enforce that ordinance. What they don’t tell you is this: It is currently impossible to produce gas from shale without venting. They are allowed scheduled and accidental releases. Sad fact.

        • Gary says

          That is absolute BS. If pressure must be released then it must be recaptured, not vented into the atmosphere.

          I still say if they cannot hold to the restrictions of the SUP then it should be revoked.

          • TXsharon says

            I couldn’t agree more! Keep watch and let me know if the city fines Carrizo.

            Often they get around it by calling it something other than venting.

          • kim Feil says

            Through open records no penalties or action will be taken….

            —– Forwarded Message —-
            From: Lindsay Wells
            To: kim feil <kimfeil
            Sent: Tue, November 27, 2012 2:51:46 PM
            Subject: RE: Open records request for videos of Carrizo venting

            Good afternoon,

            In regards to your questions, we do not have documents responsive to the request.

            Thanks,
            Lindsay

            From: kim feil [mailto:kimfeil@sbcglobal.net]
            Sent: Tuesday, November 27, 2012 11:45 AM
            To: Lindsay Wells
            Subject: Re: Open records request for videos of Carrizo venting

            Thank you for the prompt response. My questions are…
            1) will the “no venting mandate” in the ordinance be enforced?
            2) what is the model number of the proposed Carrizo compressor and estimated annual emissions/breakdown?
            3) what will the blowdown schedule and emissions/breakdown be for maintenance of the compressor?

            From: Lindsay Wells
            To: kim feil
            Sent: Tue, November 27, 2012 11:05:29 AM
            Subject: RE: Open records request for videos of Carrizo venting

            Good morning Ms. Feil,

            Attached is the single video shared by Mayor Pro Tem Surratt as requested. In regards to the second piece of information requested, the Town of Pantego has no documentation that Carrizo is under litigation or penalties for violating Pantego ordinance. Please let me know if you have any additional questions.

            Thanks,

            Lindsay Wells, CPM
            City Secretary

  3. Andy Mechling says

    Thank you Kim.
    You are unstoppable.
    City Mgr guy seems a bit confused. Methane is the stuff they keep. Acid gases get vented. These are concentrated contaminant streams. Any methane vented along with these waste streams is unintentional or coincidental at best.

    Also; notice Borate Salts in that fracked focus disclosure? Notice no CAS ID #? Those wouldn’t be dithiocarbamate “Salts” . . . Would they?

    These “salts” are derived from carbon disulfide; and rapidly break down to form caCS2 once downhole. When forst patented

  4. Andy Mechling says

    Oops. When dithiocarbamate salts were first introduced (Unocal) in the late 1980s; they were billed as a “safer form of CS2”.

  5. Anonymous says

    Water Vapor—ha, ha, ha. Also the RRC is big on STEAM, Landfarming, and SALT WATER—ha, ha, ha. If you believe the RRC or one of the many BBO’s out there, you are being fooled, ha, ha, ha.