Fracking could ruin German beer industry, brewers tell Angela Merkel

[Crazy_Ivan80]

I don't have any skin in the fracking game but all the unbiased research I've read on it indicates that fracking specifically is not really the problem people think it is. Because of the depths at which fracking is done, there's not really ever been any confirmed evidence deep-well fracking causes anything to permeate up (a vast distance) into the water table. Instead, there is evidence that all natural gas drilling, susceptible to leaks and other problems at the well head can sometimes pollute the water table. Fracking has increased the total amount of drilling, but it's really drilling itself, and not fracking specifically, that is the problem.

It may seem a minor difference, but I find it annoying people seem to believe it is specifically the physical activity specific to fracking that causes water contamination. It isn't, and in fact as deep as fracking actually occurs it is highly unlikely that has any impact on the water table. What makes most sense and is the only thing I've seen confirmed is that like all oil and gas drilling there is a non-zero chance of things happening which can pollute ground water.

Everything above is completely correct.


While there are a few fracking related problems with gas migration (gas moving from the shale into the formation rather than into the well) they are easily dealt with by following regular completion practices.

Facts are not welcome in most of these discussions...
I want cheap gas dammit!

[Viking]

Everything above is completely correct.


While there are a few fracking related problems with gas migration (gas moving from the shale into the formation rather than into the well) they are easily dealt with by following regular completion practices.

Facts are not welcome in most of these discussions...
I want cheap gas dammit!

I was saying that the only fracking specific problem is easily solved by present standard procedures. You can have your cheap gas.

[MadImmortalMan]

I support Germany importing their gas from North America. 

[crazy canuck]

Too much German Beer can also ruin fracking.

[KRonn]

I support Germany importing their gas from North America. 

Lately I've read some articles about how US and European companies are coming to the US for drilling and fracking. With the  large reserves found of natural gas and oil it's making a lot of sense, very enticing. Plus no worrying about drilling in unstable countries, and it's probably cheaper to do business in the US. So in some cases corps are selling assets in other places to move operations to the US. Supposedly the US may out produce the Saudis by 2020 and is already a leader in natural gas, or close to leading. Also read that Russia is feeling the effects for their strong arm tactics in supplying gas to Europe, since some of those countries have good alternatives now with the US.

[11B4V]

USA USA

[Scipio]

It's the lack of a domestic market that's ruining German beer.