I read this as well, thanks for posting it.

I agree, it would have been nice to see this back in 2008 when Forest released news, but hear is the argument I have that would have been the same back then.

What do we have in Quebec? In a full production case, we could be looking at 20,000+ wells over the life time of the project. Right now, we sit at 31...only 18 fraced. Most of those fraced wells tested different areas etc, just to learn. Not to hit 15mmcf/d rates and sell the gas, but to optimize and define a resource.

It just doesn't make full sense to me to conduct a study like this (and hopefully not waste time doing it) when Quebec has nothing proved in terms of commerciality. To do that, we need to keep drilling around 30 wells to say definitively that we have something real here. Now we know these companies aren't polluting water. QEC/TLM do baseline readings of water aquifers before AND after drilling to make sure things are in line right. You could easily set up a committee to go on these sites as they drill these 30 wells and do all the testing that they possibly can. This way you make an assessment of the fracing, and you allow the industry to give you a straight answer.

30 extra wells have probably been fraced in Alberta alone just today. It is a very tiny number of wells and would contribute greatly to understanding the play.

Now the US has a number of shale states that have hard regulators on the industry, and there seems to be no problems. Over a million wells have been fraced, yet an incident happening is very low and rare to see. Now I know the BAPE went to consult with various states...they clearly didn't trust any other people, which is sad to see but they are doing what they feel is right.

Back to my original point, slowing down something that hasn't shown to be there is a bit odd. Alberta will easily have 10,000+ this year alone, to do 30 in a year to assess the potential makes sense does it not.

Just last couple weeks, articles were coming out about radioactive chemicals coming back with frac water and dumped in a water supply near the marcellus. Then this came out recently:

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/03/08/interior-considers-fracking-regulations-pa-says-radioactivity-levels-normal/

The Department of the Interior is considering enacting regulations on the natural gas drilling process known as fracking, as Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has announced test results showing that river waters downstream of fracking operations have normal or lower amounts of radioactivity.

“We deal in facts based on sound science,” said DEP acting Secretary Michael Krancer. “Here are the facts: all samples were at or below background levels of radioactivity; and all samples showed levels below the federal drinking water standard for Radium 226 and 228.”

The water they tested was from 7 rivers, and all had the same result. The testing stations were put in last fall too, so it was a long testing. Quebec actually doesn't have that in the shale, so that's not a concern...but my point is people went crazy about it, and now these test conclusively say levels are normal if not lower.

Before that, they were going crazy over treatment of frac water. That they can't do it etc. Then this came out:

http://translate.google.com/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.radio-canada.ca%2Fregions%2Fmauricie%2F2011%2F01%2F06%2F004-eau-gaz-schiste-trois-rivieres.shtml&sl=fr&tl=en&hl=&ie=UTF-8

http://www.apgq-qoga.com/en/2010/12/10/shale-gas-water-easier-to-treat-than-sewage-director-of-trois-rivieres-water-plant/

Trois Rivieres treatment plant which just March 1st recieved more frac fuid from Talisman (they paid the plant $192,000 to treat a certain amounth, so big business)...and easily treated it saying they found it easier to treat than sewage, that it has less chemicals. They actually have to test it after treating for 21 days...I believe they put trout fish in it, and none died...also they test it afterwards...it came out cleaner than tap water.

This is what the media does:

http://www.nypost.com/p/blogs/capitol/shocker_new_york_times_report_is_cLlp6sP8ohc3mZIXbFT7EM

Isn't it interesting you never hear about this from the BAPE or anyone...people only talk about the negatives, but can't say anything in defense when you actually prove them wrong...so they move onto something else.

Also that the industry recycles whatever they can in full production onto another well. They only treat it now because we are in exploration and we're not drilling 100 wells back to back to be able to do this, so the water has to be cleaned.

NY is the only place to put a moratorium last August on fracing...calling it a de facto moratorium. They initially said they will wait for the EPA report in 2012. Well just recently they are getting their regulations up to date and will instead be this June/July, and they can start again...they will not be waiting. Yes their regulations need to be tightened...but they are doing just that to avoid problems...taking action. They saw the affects to their economy, jobs, and revenue.

I hope Quebec study members will see what others are doing in making things go smoothly and looking at the clear facts...the ones that are positive as well. You don't need to keep re-inventing the wheel, just make it your own and companies will abide by it, they have no choice. Companies like we have in Quebec already do though.

Rocco