PITTSBURGH (AP) — The final report from a landmark federal study on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking found no evidence that chemicals or brine water from the gas drilling process moved upward to contaminate drinking water at one western Pennsylvania site.
The Department of Energy report released Monday was the first time an energy company allowed independent monitoring of a drilling site during the fracking process and for 18 months afterward. Scientists used tracer fluids, seismic monitoring, and other tests to look for problems.
A separate study published this week by different researchers examined drilling sites in Pennsylvania and Texas using other methods. It found that faulty well construction can cause pollution, but not fracking itself.
The DOE study monitored six wells at one site. Other drilling locations could behave differently.
___
Online: https://1.usa.gov/1u21vuL
Please read our comment policy before commenting.