Natural gas presents risks to environment

In this mention

Colin R. Hagan, Federal Policy Associate at the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy, writes a letter to the editor arguing that natural gas drilling presents similar environmental risks to oil drilling and should not be promoted as a cleaner alternative for offshore operations. Hagan cites the difficulty in predicting well contents and the comparable pollution and toxic chemical use in both drilling processes.

Original clipping

PDF didn't open? Open it in a new tab →

Published Sunday, November 2, 2008

An Oct. 12 Packet article offered a fair comparison of the substantial risks and minimal
opportunities associated with drilling off our coast. But it featured some misleading
information, specifically, the following sentence: "When the legislative dust ... settles, will
tourist destinations be facing oil rigs a few miles offshore or the less environmentally risky
natural gas drilling operations 50 miles or more offshore?"

Natural gas drilling is not less risky or cleaner to drill. To claim that natural gas drilling is
cleaner than oil drilling is disingenuous for two reasons.

First, natural gas drilling rarely occurs independent of oil drilling. According to Johnnie
Burton, former director of the Department of Interior's Minerals Management Service,
"Natural gas seldom comes totally by itself. It has some liquids with it ... but you do not
know that until you drill." It's impossible to know whether a well will yield only gas or oil.

Second, the risks and pollution associated with natural gas and oil drilling are similar. In
fact, the processes are nearly the same. Both require toxic chemicals and generate harmful
waste, which pollute the ocean and nearby fisheries.

The fact that natural gas often occurs deeper than oil means that you have to drill farther for
natural gas. That results in more air pollution and a steady decline in local water quality.
When it comes to protecting our coast and the tourism revenue it generates, we can't afford
the risks associated with offshore drilling -- whether it's for oil or natural gas.

Colin R. Hagan

Federal policy associate

Southern Alliance

for Clean Energy

Greenville