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Methane Mapping at Williams Production Barnett Shale Facility in Flower Mound, Texas

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Methane mapping revealed extremely high levels of methane at this Williams Production Co. Barnett Shale facility in Flower Mound, Texas.

Methane levels get new check
Researcher visits Barnett Shale natural gas sites
Thursday, March 4, 2010
By Peggy Heinkel-Wolfe
This report includes a well done video

“Stealth” measurements contradict Shale Gas industry safe air claims, new technology shows

Methane Mapping in the Barnett Shale

Last night I made an odor complaint on Williams using the TCEQ Complaint Hotline because the odor at this facility was horrible. It was late so most of the people in the neighborhood were probably sleeping while their heating systems drew in outside air that could easily be contaminated.

The TCEQ promptly responded and this morning an investigator went to the site.

Dallas Morning News
Researcher finds methane plumes near natural gas facilities in Barnett Shale counties
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
By PEGGY HEINKEL-WOLFE

UPDATE: From a scientist who used to work in the industry:

This site is doing some kind of gas processing. The tall cylinders seem to be for drying the gas (absorbing the water that is vapor in the gas stream) The steam appears to be escaping from near a horizontal cylinder that may be a three phase separator. It would have a gas outlet at the top, a liquid hydrocarbon outlet somewhat lower, and a liquid water solution at the bottom. None of these outlets would vent to the atmosphere. So I don’t see why this steam should be vented there. My guess is that the vent, which we can’t see in the video, is venting water vapor from a tank in which the liquid water is at near boiling temperature. This water, I’m pretty sure, is produced water containing all the nasty chemicals in raw gas and fracking fluid that dissolve to some extent in water. Do you know if there is a compressor station nearby? This could be a processing plant where raw gas is processed into sales gas and compressed for injection into a transmission line (around 1000 to 1200 psi).

What’s the big deal about methane in the Barnett Shale

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. scubawithdogs says

    They can paint it white and put a $50,000 fence around it but it still looks and smells like a piece of s*** to me.

  2. Anonymous says

    Just looking at the photo, it stinks like the plants in Big Booger. Really bad. Bet after the TCEQ finishes their investigation, you will get one of those "they're clean" letters and a report which says a "very slight odor" was observed!!! Know it well.

  3. Anonymous says

    Sharon, you and the rest of your bunch really should seek some mental health help. I really think you guys are cracking up. This video of the Sam Wilson Compressor site, those are plumes of steam from the boiler. And 40ppm of methane is nothing, if you aimed that devise at a pile of dog or cow poop, you would get the same reading. I was their when the TRC, came by for an inspection, and found nothing wrong. They were in complete compliance. You don't have to report steam as an emission release. And I love your google earth video and methane map. The wind is clearly blowing in from the north, but yet you say the plume is over the "Wellington" neighborhood where the cancer cluster is purported to be. But Wellington is 2 miles due East of the compressor site. That is some kind of methane, it can fly all by itself. I am amazed, I am amazed that anyone would believe this crap. Keep it up, I find it very entertaining.

  5. Anonymous says

    How can you smell methane? It is colorless, and odorless. Whatever you smell is not methane. It could be hydrogen sulfide, but that seems unlikely. Methane is biologically inert and only poses a toxicological risk as an asphyxiant, since it contains no oxygen. Methane is commonly found in most soil and is commonly expelled by humans as gas, as well as from farm animals. I guess you folks don't fart.

  6. TXsharon says

    Methane carries with it toxins from the formation and possibly toxins from the frack chemicals.

    All the toxins that have been detected throughout the Barnett Shale have been carried in methane.

    Sometimes methane does have an odor, depending on the formation and what might be mixed with the methane. However, I'll be happy to concede that methane is completely odorless. In that case, what the heck smelled so strong that 3 of us got headaches, one got an upset stomach and one had watery eyes? Must have been some bad chemicals in that methane.

  7. Anonymous says

    "I was their when the TRC, came by for an inspection, and found nothing wrong." – Yeah, they are really good at doing nothing, like most government agencies. Wow, you just narrowed it down to about 3 people you could be, do you have a block shaped head and ego as big as Texas? If so, I just narrowed it down to 1. ;-P

  8. Anonymous says

    The cow poop question gave him away. I do like the personality description though. Hey Chris.

  9. Anonymous says

    Well, guess what? The RRC finding nothing is wonderful. It just show that they are what they are and always were. Worthless for helping citizens. Now lets go to "steam". Many toxins are dissolved in steam. It is a well known and recognized way to emit toxins to the air without detection–and the agencies say it is only STEAM! Send it out in steam and it's OK. The TCEQ does not regulate or concern itself with the emission of STEAM–guess why–it's because that's the way the polluters want it to be! Now go ahead and tell me that it's only STEAM! WOW.

  10. Anonymous says

    I love the cow SH** argument. Now if the person making such an argument would tell me how many cow patties would be required to simultaniously emit the same quantities of toxins that one amine gas plant emits!! I wait for your numbers.

  11. none says

    I just feel so bad for everyone. I can smell and see it over here. We are on the border of Collin and Denton. There is a haze and the clouds are filthy. We are not that far from the DFW and Addison airports and I did not know that they were digging for gas at the dfw airport. It is so polluted around here. I have had several people that moved from these apts citing odors and not being able to breath. Some 911 calls about odors and people wearing masks and rags on their faces. We also have the planes, highways, pipelines full of jet and diesel and natural gas lines and I dont know if they are already fracking in dallas, but they need to STOP this right now all over. The earthquakes in ellis counties. I have loved ones with lung disease, leukemia, and breathing problems. I have been sick from lethargy, stomach aches, burning eyes, two nose bleeds, not hungry, dizzy, passing out, etc etc. I feel like death warmed over, but when I am away from it, I feel much better. The chemical smells are disgusting. The beautiful hamlets all over dallas county and collin and ellis are ruined. I am po’d at the crazy people who would allow this. I suppose they are uninformed or oblivious or have stomachs made of stone or are superhuman if they are not affected. If they ever stop fracking will the land and air go back to the way it was? I hope so, and I hope these companies go bankrupt or something. sorry so slpy. am tired.

  13. none says

    oh and we grew up all around north and south dallas and in dallas, and I have probably been up and down every road around here. I love dallas and know it and these suburbs like the back of my hand and this is like being in hell now with the unbearable air quality, and I can’t imagine what people who are right by the wells must be going through. It is truly unlivable and deplorable what chesapeake etc are doing. They are unscrupulous. There are more people who are against it, but the govt and municipalities and the companies have a stronghold. I read that mike moncrief was accused of conflict of interest because he takes 600000 a year from chesapeake. disgusting. he needs to be reported to the ethics commission. several people do. what do we do? I am used to being run over and choose my battles, so have never really had any, but this is different. This is our lives, and not just our quality of life. It has got to be stopped.

  14. lg says

    We can’t let these companies drive us off our land and put us ten feet under. I am going to run my own tests for chemicals, benzene, various gases, etc, and take them to court. If you care to join me, number is 2148750250. If you have a class action let me know. Sue them to pay to clean it up, if you would. I would advise to buy a device like a cb that will record all the 311 and 911 calls for sickness from the odor in the different cities. I am no longer going to put up with anyone telling me it is not big deal. If they do this it is not only because they have no conscience but because they want to downplay things because they stand to profit. It is one thing not to care about people but is another to put them in harm’s way. That is attempted murder in my book. Erin brokovitch’s story is a perfect example of what people are capable of. If whole cities, councils, or whoever denies this is a problem then they either can’t see or breath or they are corrupt. Let’s face it, people are corrupt.

    http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20100410-Most-Barnett-Shale-facilities-release-emissions-8486.ece

    http://topics.dallasnews.com/topic/Barnett_Shale An earthquake rattled the Barnett Shale area

    http://energyandenvironmentblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/11/report-barnett-shale-air-tests.html
    Barnett Shale air tests find benzene

    http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20100128-High-benzene-levels-found-on-Barnett-3021.ece

    High benzene levels found on barnett shale

    http://dallasdrilling.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/argyle-texas-gas-compressor-station/

    I don’t have everything together yet, cause am having to move again, but will start on it as soon as am able. A suggestion is to pool all our money and do our own independent tests. Test kits are inexpensive. There is a vie that tests most gases chemicals etc. There are ways to do our own tests.