photo: New York State Environmental ReviewNos voisins du sud vivent l'expérience de la fracturation hydraulique en temps réel. Les gazières zieutent la vallée du Saint-Laurent pour y extraire des gaz fossiles, alors il est bon de voir ce qui se passe ailleurs.
Une compagnie du Québec, Gastem Inc., en partenariat avec Covalent Energy Corp, en Virginie a creusé un puit sur une montagne dans l'état de New York, tout près d'un camps d'été de Scouts, près de la rivière Black River qui se jette dans le lac Ontario. Pour le moment, les eaux usées sont traitées par l'usine de traitement de la municipalité de Watertown. Mais les problèmes sont nombreux.
La recette de fluides de la fracturation hydraulique des gazières est gardée secrète. Alors l'usine de traitement ne sait pas à quoi elle a affaire. Chaque voyage de camion est différent. L'article du journal local que j'ai trouvé décrit spontanément l'opération de forage dans le shale: "C'est impressionnant. Il semblait avoir une cinquantaine d'hommes qui travaillaient au forage. Il y avait une douzaine de camions avec un nombre considérable de tuyeaux et de la grosse machinerie. La fumée de diesel était épaisse et il y avait beaucoup de bruit."
Traduit d'un extrait d'un article écrit par Robert Brauchle publié dans le quotidien Watertown Daily Times ici: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20100117/NEWS03/301179986
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"City treating toxic water
'HYDRO-FRACKING' TECHNIQUE: Groups warn of potential damage to Black River
Environmental groups are warning Watertown officials that if the waste fluid the city is now treating from a hydraulic-fracturing mine isn't processed properly, it could harm the Black River and damage the city's sewage treatment facility.The salinity content of the discharged water can exceed federal limits, killing freshwater species near discharge points. In the city's case, that water is put into the Black River, which then flows into Lake Ontario. The state does not mandate that well operators reveal which chemicals they use in the hydro-fracking process, meaning it does not know the exact contents of what is being pumped into the ground.
Gastem Inc., Quebec, which sent the flowback fluid to Watertown, drilled the Ross No. 1 mine in the town of Maryland, Otsego County. It has received permits from the state to drill five vertical wells at the site that tap into the Utica shale formation.The hydro-fracking technique, which uses high volumes of water, is a relatively new activity in New York. Its development, however, in Pennsylvania and the subsequent flowback water created by the process have overwhelmed that state's municipal treatment plants in the past two years.
Individual treatment plant operators also should be wary that each shipment of hydro-fracking fluid can differ, depending on the company and depth and location of the wells. Because treatment plants are designed to process natural waste, the chemicals could slow or stop the bacteria from working correctly.
The Ross No. 1 well is on 1,923-foot Crumhorn Mountain, close to a Boy Scouts of America camp. "It's impressive. There seemed to be a crew of 50 working with the fracking operation. There were dozens of trucks with a number of hoses and large equipment. The diesel smoke was very thick and there was a significant amount of noise."
Excerpts of article written by Robert Brauchle published in the Watertown Daily Times here: http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20100117/NEWS03/301179986
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