Geology, of course, is everything in natural gas exploration. Bill Kappel, a geologist with the USGS, presented a powerpoint two weeks ago in Jeffersonville, New York to a group of anti-gas folks and also testified at the New York State Assembly hearing this past week. Kappel  has his undergraduate and graduate degrees from Penn State University and has studied hydrogeology for many years.  He made some very interesting points in both presentations and they didn’t necessarily please his sponsors.

It was apparent during the Jeffersonville meeting that the crowd was geared up to turn the event into an anti-gas rally, but it didn’t quite work out that way because Kappel presented facts and studies that supported natural gas exploration.  Some similar faces were present from a meeting in North Branch about a month earlier when Roger Downs tried to convince attendees the SGEIS was flawed.  Kappel, however, supported many of the efforts made by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) in revising the SGEIS.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoraFlIE2lg

Kappel noted the SGEIS mandates at least 3 cement casings per well which will create a safety net to ensure the protection of groundwater acquifers.  He also indicated natural gas exploration can benefit an area although he was sure not to endorse or repudiate the exploration as this was not his role.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?edit=ev&feature=menh&v=q8BEeLbycUA

Reviewing the geology of New York, Kappel concludes the most productive natural gas areas within the Marcellus Shale region of New York are likely to be along the Pennsylvania border in the Southern Tier.  His main point  in both presentations was simple; that DEC should mandate baseline geology and water testing prior to exploration, a point to which virtually every industry representative agrees.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNs64Fq7muc&edit=ev&feature=uenh

Kappel also dismissed the contention “the gas companies use too much water and it isn’t regulated” by explaining the responsibilities of the Delaware and Susquehanna River Basin Commissions in regulating water quantities being used by gas companies.  He noted the Susquehanna River Basin regulates every gallon diverted from the river’s watershed.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWNA3Ut4or0

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eINSVEhckNc

The hydraulic fracturing fluids used in the process of natural gas exploration also raised concerns. In the video clip below, he dissects the general composition and use of each item included in the fluids.  Also, the SGEIS indicates gas companies will be required to keep listing of the composition of these fluids on site.  Of course, this information is also already being made available on a wellpad-by-wellpad basis at Fracfocus.org

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMI0jzLGoGQ

Anti-gas folks also argued the gas companies wouldn’t test wells before proceeding.  Kappel corrected this and explained the companies choices.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuVAv0mIKDQ

Kappel made the point, at both the Jeffersonville meeting and the New York State Assembly Hearing on the SGEIS that natural gas exploration can be done safely.  Some  anti-gas crowd members attending the Jeffersonville meeting seemed shocked he did not take a firm stand against natural gas exploration and spoke well of the DEC revisions to the SGEIS.  For me, it was expected.  When one focuses on science and facts instead of speculation it is clear the SGEIS is one of the strongest natural gas regulatory regimes in the nation.