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Amanda Gardner, geology student at UCCS, challenged Bent County residents to do their homework before signing leases with oil companies who want to drill on their land. This happened as she presented the HBO documentary “Gasland” on Saturday evening at the Las Animas High School. The 101 minute movie depicts different individuals stating their drinking water has been contaminated by drilling on their land or close to their property.
Joshua Valdez, Tracker Services petroleum landman, also spoke and gave out information saying that “Gasland” is not factual. “The movie is a very biased documentary and doesn’t have all the facts,” he stated. He gave out material which disputes the claims made in “Gasland.” He does not say what oil company is behind Tracker nor will he state how many leases have been offered or how many companies are making the offers.
Some of the information from Valdez centers on fracture stimulation, a technology which uses fluids forced deep into the earth’s surface. This is also called fracking. This fluid is 99 percent water, sand and an additional 1 percent is special-purpose additives. “Gasland” states that these additives are dangerous to the population, but Valdez’s material denies this claim. The injection pressure volume and rate are carefully monitored, said the oil company handout. The Environmental Protection Agency regulates the development and production of natural gas in the United States, according to the handouts.
Bill Long, Bent County Commissioner, also said the county is closely observing what is going on in Bent County and wants the best outcome for local land owners who may sign a lease with an oil company. He does say he feels regulations on the industry have increased in the last two years, but admits there could be problems with drilling in our area. “But for the economic growth of our country, we need to look at providing more energy, but do it carefully,” he said.
Then there is the concern of landowners about 2010 land lease deals made in Michigan where as many as 800 Michigan landowners had their leases terminated by Northern Michigan which was a shell company for Chesapeake. Chesapeake is the second largest oil drilling company in the United States and is reported to be here in Bent County, but this is unconfirmed at press time. In Michigan , 115 land owners are suing Chesapeake for an average bonus loss per farmer of $95,000.
Ninety-five leases have been signed and have been registered at the Bent County Courthouse since Dec. 1. Five of those leases were written by Tracker, one from Sorensen Co. LLC and 89 were from Diamond Resources. The actual oil companies behind the three have not been identified.
Amanda Gardner, geology student at UCCS, challenged Bent County residents to do their homework before signing leases with oil companies who want to drill on their land. This happened as she presented the HBO documentary “Gasland” on Saturday evening at the Las Animas High School. The 101 minute movie depicts different individuals stating their drinking water has been contaminated by drilling on their land or close to their property.
Joshua Valdez, Tracker Services petroleum landman, also spoke and gave out information saying that “Gasland” is not factual. “The movie is a very biased documentary and doesn’t have all the facts,” he stated. He gave out material which disputes the claims made in “Gasland.” He does not say what oil company is behind Tracker nor will he state how many leases have been offered or how many companies are making the offers.
Some of the information from Valdez centers on fracture stimulation, a technology which uses fluids forced deep into the earth’s surface. This is also called fracking. This fluid is 99 percent water, sand and an additional 1 percent is special-purpose additives. “Gasland” states that these additives are dangerous to the population, but Valdez’s material denies this claim. The injection pressure volume and rate are carefully monitored, said the oil company handout. The Environmental Protection Agency regulates the development and production of natural gas in the United States, according to the handouts.
Bill Long, Bent County Commissioner, also said the county is closely observing what is going on in Bent County and wants the best outcome for local land owners who may sign a lease with an oil company. He does say he feels regulations on the industry have increased in the last two years, but admits there could be problems with drilling in our area. “But for the economic growth of our country, we need to look at providing more energy, but do it carefully,” he said.
Then there is the concern of landowners about 2010 land lease deals made in Michigan where as many as 800 Michigan landowners had their leases terminated by Northern Michigan which was a shell company for Chesapeake. Chesapeake is the second largest oil drilling company in the United States and is reported to be here in Bent County, but this is unconfirmed at press time. In Michigan , 115 land owners are suing Chesapeake for an average bonus loss per farmer of $95,000.
Ninety-five leases have been signed and have been registered at the Bent County Courthouse since Dec. 1. Five of those leases were written by Tracker, one from Sorensen Co. LLC and 89 were from Diamond Resources. The actual oil companies behind the three have not been identified.
