Frickin' Fracking  

      A report published just a couple of days ago described the results of extensive studies in the regions around fracking sites.  The verdict is in.  There is definitely groundwater contamination near some of the fracking sites.  Personally, that's no big surprise to me.  It's only logical, that if you break up all the bedrock in an area - bedrock that used to separate natural gas pockets from ground water pockets, then the contents of the two pockets would mix.  
      It's kind of like a horrifying version of the old Reece's commercials.  "Hey! You got groundwater in my gas!" 
      "Well you got gas in my groundwater!"  

      I know, we've been told all along and promised by oil company executives, and their personal politicians that groundwater contamination from fracking wouldn't happen, couldn't happen, and even that it was impossible.  We were also promised by politicians since the 1960's that wiretapping without a search warrant wouldn't happen, and couldn't happen because it was unconstitutional, but.... (enough on that subject before I get on an IRS list - oh wait, I'm a historical reenactor, therefore I already am)
       Robert B. Jackson and his colleagues at Duke University tested 141 water from wells in a fracking region in Pennsylvania.  They found that methane levels in drinking water from wells within a kilometer of natural gas wells were six times higher than from homes farther away.  They also found that the concentrations of ethane levels in drinking water were twenty three times higher. 
      The researchers stated that drinking water contaminated with gasses is not linked to any known health issues (yet, I say), but fire hazards and explosions could be a problem (yeah, I could see that).  The results of their findings were published in this weeks issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.  

Burning water: Natural gas coming from a bathroom faucet.  Concentrations are high enough to ignite it. 

      Jackson and his crew from Duke concluded two possible explanations for the contamination of dissolved gas concentrations in the drinking water.  The first is that the pipe casing from the gas well is faulty, thus allowing the gasses to escape.  The other possible explanation they came up with is imperfections on the cement seal surrounding the well.  
      This is where it's hard to just take a journalist stance and merely report without editorializing.  But, what the heck - this is a blog, not a major periodical that has to worry about sponsors.  My opinion on the matter is still the consequences of breaking up the natural sealant known affectionately as bedrock, but I could be wrong too.  It wouldn't be the first time.  It just makes the most sense to me.  In that these results were only published this week, I wonder if there will be any fall out for Duke with any oil company sponsors.  
      Anyway,... what is known for sure is that there are huge amounts of gas contamination in drinking water from wells near fracked natural gas wells, and there isn't in wells that are not near fracking sites.  
      It must be added here however, that not all wells leak out their contents int the surrounding drinking water.  Jackson and his colleagues concluded that local geologic conditions could play a big role. 

      Note: as I was searching for an image of "burning water" Every picture I found of fire coming out of a faucet came from other articles about fracking contamination.