Hydraulic Fracturing: Garfield County
LEGEND
About Us
This website is part of a larger project for the Earth and Environmental Studies capstone class, GLG 464 Solving Environmental Problems, at Arizona State University. Along with 6 other teams of varying focuses, it is our goal to solve some of the problems posed by an increase in hydraulic fracturing activity, specifically in Western Colorado. This is not a course designed to determine if such mining practices are good or bad, instead a class effort on minimizing environmental impacts, while providing the most benefit in the sense of national energy availability.
Hydraulic fracturing is a method of oil and natural gas mining that uses a fluid mixture that is pumped deep into the earth at great pressure in an effort to fracture the country rock below housing this oil and natural gas. As a mining practice, hydraulic fracturing has been around for many years, but has only gained widespread traction in the recent decade with the rise of foreign oil prices and the limited availability of conventional energy reserves.
Hydraulic fracturing is a method of oil and natural gas mining that uses a fluid mixture that is pumped deep into the earth at great pressure in an effort to fracture the country rock below housing this oil and natural gas. As a mining practice, hydraulic fracturing has been around for many years, but has only gained widespread traction in the recent decade with the rise of foreign oil prices and the limited availability of conventional energy reserves.
Mission Statement
The Geology group's responsibility is to assess the local structural geology of the
Colorado Plateau, and the specific basins and major aquifers associated with the region.
Geological Structure
Provides information on this local geology including the
stratigraphy and geologic makeup of this basin as well as the estimates of
resources they contain.
Hydrology
Assesses the impacts that natural gas fracturing has on the four major aquifers
that make up the Colorado Plateau, as well as an overview of the groundwater
quality.
Induced Seismicity
Addresses the problem of earthquakes caused by this mining.
Specifically their size and magnitude as well as the risk involved and possible
solutions and mitigation of these risks.
Colorado Plateau, and the specific basins and major aquifers associated with the region.
Geological Structure
Provides information on this local geology including the
stratigraphy and geologic makeup of this basin as well as the estimates of
resources they contain.
Hydrology
Assesses the impacts that natural gas fracturing has on the four major aquifers
that make up the Colorado Plateau, as well as an overview of the groundwater
quality.
Induced Seismicity
Addresses the problem of earthquakes caused by this mining.
Specifically their size and magnitude as well as the risk involved and possible
solutions and mitigation of these risks.
This video content accompanied ODNR Director Jim Zehringer's testimony to the
Senate Energy & Public Utilities Committee in support of Senate Bill 315.
Senate Energy & Public Utilities Committee in support of Senate Bill 315.