Comments on: Fracking right

By: Andy

Andy — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 06:05:00 +0000

Gareth Hughes shows us his views on Smith’s article on the Green’s blog
Comments are open

http://blog.greens.org.nz/2012/08/16/smith-gets-it-wrong-on-fracking

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 08:17:21 +0000

The same guys complainig about fracturing rock to extract gas probably have no problem with a similar technique being used to inject CO2 into the ground for carbon capture and storage.

By: ChrisM

ChrisM — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 06:47:01 +0000

I see in todays Dominion Post, Gareth Hughes claims no geothermal well has been fracked in NZ. I think that thisstatement demonstrates yet again why he should never be allowed to have any position of influence. Never let facts stand in the way of your prejudices.
In answer to Richard, reasoned and Greens aren’t two words I would use in the same sentence.

By: Stanley

Stanley — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 02:58:00 +0000

Do the Greens support wind power backed by shale gas?

By: Bulaman

Bulaman — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 07:45:42 +0000

Try fracking without water!!

http://newenergyandfuel.com/http:/newenergyandfuel/com/2012/07/31/a-new-way-to-fracture-oil-and-gas-wells/#comments

By: Richard Treadgold

Richard Treadgold — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 06:59:50 +0000

Yes, do keep us informed.

Good point about emissions from these technologies. Perhaps we can spark a considered response from the Greens.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 06:43:56 +0000

By the way, I contributed a small quantity to Phelim McAleer and Ann McInhilhenny;s movie “FrackNation” which not only will make me an “executive producer”, but also I believe give me the rights to distribute the DVD to anyone who wants it.

I have also done the same for Gordon McDowell’s “LFTR 2012″ documentary on Thorium energy, which also has distribution rights via Creative Commons.

I’ll keep you posted on developments of these documentaries

As an update, these are both energy solutions that can mitigate CO2 emissions, so I’d like to see some robust objection from the environmental lobby

By: Richard C (NZ)

Richard C (NZ) — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 05:32:39 +0000

“Fracking ……. is the least of New Zealand’s environmental worries”

Planet Earth does a bit of fracking on its own account from time to time.

Rather less constrained than the human kind and with some very expensive and inconvenient consequences for human economies and lifestyles (think Christchurch)

Doesn’t seem to care too much for it’s own environment when doing so either.

By: Andy

Andy — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 04:58:48 +0000

Micheal Mann, of all people, has been singing the praises of shale gas as a way to reduce CO2 emissions. Moving form coal to gas in electricity generation has been one of the key factors (it is believed) that has resulted in a big drop in CO2 emissions from the USA.

When you present this to the Greens though, it falls on deaf ears. They’d rather have wind backed by gas which for the UK will cost 10 times as much – for the capital cost – as gas alone (according to the Hughes report)

There is an article in the Listener this week about some Aussie activist who will soon be gracing our shores to make trouble for all shale gas developers.

By: ChrisM

ChrisM — Sat, 18 Aug 2012 04:31:30 +0000

Geothermal well hydraulic fracturing as a deliberate policy is very rare. It is usually only done in hot dry rock projects, none of which are in NZ. There have been some attempts to improve the permeability of geothermal reinjection wells (most notable being WK301 at Wairakei in the early 80s) but they have generally been failures. One of the main problems has been the thermal expansion characteristics of rock.
Nick’s article was well reasoned, but it will fall on deaf ears. You don’t expect the Greens to actually respond with facts do you?