Home » Posts tagged "OOGEEP"

Posts tagged "OOGEEP"

OOGEEP Trains 1,000 Firefighters for Oil & Gas Industry

Wednesday, May 15th, 2013 | 0 Comments

The Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP) firefighter training program reached a milestone recently when it trained its 1,000th firefighter to respond to an oilfield emergency.  Since 2000, firefighters from seven states have participated in the one-of-a-kind program which is funded entirely by revenues from Ohio’s oil and gas producers.

Source: OOGEEP

The training provides background information and practical guidelines to assist responders in communicating and evaluating a potential emergency site, and the capability to respond an unforeseen emergency.  OOGEEP even provide hands-on training including “live burns” utilizing crude oil and natural gas props.  One of the instructors for the program, Brent Gates, a Fire Chief and Ohio Certified Fire Instructor from New Concord, Ohio, explained the importance of hands-on training:

“This is by far one of the best training programs I have been involved in. The information and hands-on training we provide makes a difference to so many communities who are impacted by the development of oil and gas.”—Brent Gates

OOGEEP developed the training to prepare communities for possible emergencies and they believe the 13 year old program is part of the reason the state has a strong safety record in oil and natural gas production. OOGEEP’s executive director, Rhonda Reda, commented on the program’s success and how it could serve as a model for other states:

“Ohio citizens should be honored that many other energy producing regions have looked to Ohio as a model to set up similar safety programs in their respective states.”—Rhonda Reda

The training is endorsed by the Ohio Fire Chief’s Association, the Ohio Society of Fire Service Instructors and the Ohio Fire and Emergency Services Foundation.  The program provides each firefighter the opportunity to receive up to 12 CEU credit hours and an optional college graduate credit through Hocking College upon completion.

Charlie Dixon, lead fire instructor and OOGEEP’s safety and workforce administrator, explained how the program can benefit individual communities:

“Ohio has always been a leader in developing safety programs. While there have been very few natural gas and crude oil emergencies in Ohio, often times fire departments are often called to respond to non-emergency incidents simply because there is a lack of knowledge or unfamiliarity of equipment, standard practices, and advanced technologies used by Ohio’s industry. The fact is not all incidents reported are emergencies, and we are hopeful that this program will mitigate those types of reported incidents that could tie up community resources that may be needed elsewhere.”—Charlie Dixon

As Ohio’s oil and natural gas production increases its comforting knowing that innovative OOGEEP has already trained over 1,000 firefighters on how to handle unforeseen emergencies if they occur.  While incidents in Ohio’s oil and gas fields are rare, it’s comforting knowing that if an event occurs that the most courageous among us are armed with the best strategies and approaches in tackling this situation.

Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube !

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Down Home Folks Get Down To The Facts in Portage

Thursday, May 9th, 2013 | 0 Comments

Last night at the Maplewood Career Center in Ravenna, Portage County, a public forum was held to address concerns, answer questions and provide information to the public on Utica shale development.  The event drew about 50 people who learned about the history of the oil and gas industry in Ohio, the oil and gas production process and the economic and energy security opportunities associated with Ohio’s shale development. Energy in Depth was proud to moderate and our team enjoyed interacting with our neighbors and friends in Portage County.

DSC00361

The first speaker was Rhonda L. Reda. Ms. Reda serves as Executive Director of the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program and the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Foundation. She helped form the organization in 1997. Prior to OOGEEP, Ms. Reda served as Vice President of Internal Affairs and Public Information for the Ohio Oil and Gas Association for more than a decade. She knows a thing or two about oil and natural gas production as she’s worked in the industry for more than twenty-five years.

Rhonda discussed the history of the industry and how crude oil and natural gas provides thousands of products we use in our  everyday lives.

Picture1

The second speaker was David R. Hill. Mr. Hill is President of David R. Hill, Inc., which is an oil and natural gas producer in Ohio and West Virginia. He graduated from Muskingum College in 1980, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Geology. Mr. Hill is Vice President of the Ohio Oil & Gas Association and is a past Chairman of the Ohio Oil & Gas Association Energy Education Program. Mr. Hill has served under Governors Taft, Strickland, and Kasich on the State of Ohio Technical Advisory Council and has been a member of the American Association of Petroleum Geologist for 31 years.

David talked about the process of developing an oil and gas well and the state regulations that are enforced during the entire process of production. David also discussed waste water disposal and class II injection wells and explained what an injection well is and why we use them.

DSC00362

“The water that we inject into the ground in Ohio represents 1/2 of 1% of all of the water that is injected in the United States.” — David Hill (1:19)

This educational forum was co-sponsored by Lakeside Sand and Gravel, Therm-O-Link, Kimble Companies, the Ohio Energy Resource Alliance, and the Ohio Shale Coalition. These are local companies that are seeing a direct benefit from the exploration and production of Utica shale resources. Since Energy in Depth is an active part of the Ohio Energy Resource Alliance it is important to be present in communities all across Ohio talking about oil and gas development with co-sponsors like these local businesses.

Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!

Tags: , , , , , , ,

Trucking Job Fair Shows Growing Importance of Shale in Ohio

Friday, April 5th, 2013 | 0 Comments

This week, Oilfield Trucking Solutions, an affiliate of Chesapeake Energy Corporation, held a job fair in New Philadelphia in hopes of finding more than 20 qualified workers to drive water trucks in Canton and Wheeling.  As many have heard around the Buckeye State, truck drivers are in high demand, and a large part of the 38,000 jobs shale development created in the state last year were in the trucking industry.

Oilfield Trucking Solutions attracted more than 90 applicants to the job fair, meaning more than four applicants showed up for each job available. Indeed, with high unemployment rates throughout the country, many are looking for well-paying jobs, and work connected to the oil and gas industry certainly fits the bill.

Since we all recognize the need to connect the best-qualified workers with available jobs, organizations like the Ohio Oil & Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP) are partnering with training centers, universities, and technical schools to help train a workforce for the industry.

Jobs in the trucking industry specifically have a variety of requirements, including commercial driving experience, a Class A license, and the ability to pass background checks and road tests. Finding applicants that can check all those boxes can sometimes be difficult, which is another reason why OOGEEP has committed to helping train the next generation of Ohio’s workforce.

As more jobs become available throughout the industry, whether direct or indirect supply chain jobs, Ohioans need to be prepared to work in a safe and highly regulated industry.  Although we’re still in the early stages of Ohio’s shale development, companies like Chesapeake and their affiliates have already hired thousands of Ohioans.  Chesapeake alone has hired more than 550 people since the company came here in 2010.  The company has paid more than $34 million in wages and spent around $3.3 billion on capital investment.

As companies continue to invest in Ohio’s future, we’ll see more Ohioans getting the jobs they need — and a continued revitalization of Ohio’s economy. The recent job fair is but a snapshot in the broader progress being made, and that’s certainly good news for our state.

Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube !

 

Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Exterran Plant To Come Online in Youngstown

Tuesday, March 26th, 2013 | 0 Comments

In 2010, Exterran Energy Solution Inc. announced it would build a new manufacturing plant in Youngstown.  Now, after years of planning and construction, the 60,000-square-foot plant is set to go online in April.  Michael Grimland, director of manufacturing at Exterran gave more information about the plant at the Ohio Shale Development: Economic Opportunities Forum Energy In Depth covered in Youngstown.

Grimland explained the company could see $15 million in revenue this year from the plant and once the plant is running at full capacity, revenue could be as high as $40 to $60 million.  That, to some extent, depends on the type of equipment the market demands.  Exterran built the plant to provide needed equipment for the growing oil and gas industry in the Utica and Marcellus, including compressor stations.  Grimland explained in the Youngstown Business Journal the purpose of the plant:

We designed and built this facility to be able to handle all of our different products—Michael Grimland (Exterran Plant to Ramp Up Production in April, 3/12/13)

Of course, the plant will require workers.  The company has already hired 61 people and plan to reach 80 as the plant comes online.  Exterran selected Youngstown to construct the plant because of the available skilled workforce.  Grimland explained that workers in the area are supportive of the industry and possess skills such as welding and fitting and design work.  That can’t be found in all parts of Ohio.  Many in the industry have expressed the need for more skilled workers throughout the state and organizations like OOGEEP are partnering with universities and training centers to make that happen.

Projects like Exterran’s plant are helping Youngstown and Ohio’s revitalization through permanent hiring, tax revenue, and a need for construction work.  Energy In Depth has extensively covered the uptick in construction throughout Ohio’s shale region.  Stark County has recently seen an increase in commercial construction thanks to shale, Chesapeake is building three new buildings in Louisville, M3 Midstream is building 3 processing plants and 2 cryogenic plants, and MarkWest Energy Partner’s is building a $500 million project in Cadiz.  Those are just a few.

From shale development, Ohio has seen companies flock to the state and build offices and plants.  As production continues and midstream facilities come online, more construction will be needed and more jobs will come to the state.

Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube !

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Oil & Gas Industry Links Up With Logistics Council

Thursday, March 21st, 2013 | 0 Comments

This week the Columbus Region Logistics Council (CRLC) hosted an educational event titled “Central Ohio Logistics and the Shale Play”.  CRLC members got first hand advice and information from key people in the industry including Rhonda Reda of the Ohio Oil & Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP), Mark Matusick of Chesapeake Energy, and Linda Woggon of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Ohio Shale Coalition.  The council saw the need to educate the members after learning shale development will benefit and affect all of Ohio, not just eastern counties.

It made sense for CRLC to get involved and understand their potential role in the shale supply chain because much of their mission benefits the growing oil and gas industry.  The CRLC aims to do the following:

Members of CRLC first heard from Rhonda Reda with the OOGEEP.  She gave an Oil & Gas 101 while also explaining to the crowd where the industry is today and also how to interpret things they hear in the media.  For example, she told members to be wary of headlines.  Over the past year, some media outlets have claimed the oil and gas industry is slowing down and less wells are being drilled than ever before.  The latter is true, but it’s misleading.  She explained that because of technology, we can develop less wells but produce more oil and natural gas.  She also explained the difference between Ohio and other states including what is actually coming out of the ground and where we are with midstream development.

Since the council’s pillars include workforce training, Reda highlighted some of OOGEEP’s work including teacher training, firefighter training, and the organization working with more than 55 training centers, universities, vocational schools, and technical centers in Ohio.  She ended her presentation by giving some advice.  She told the crowd to find out where their company fits in.  She urged them to find out what their good at and find out how that benefits the industry.

Next, Linda Woggon Executive Vice President of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and Executive Director of the Ohio Shale Coalition, talked about the economics of Ohio’s shale development and how big it could really be.  She explained the Coalition’s economic assessment and the benefits coming Ohio’s way including jobs, investment and tax revenue.  She took time during the event to chat with Energy In Depth about the event:

I specifically talked to them about our economic assessment study. It showed them how this is going to have a broad impact on Ohio’s economy. Whether you’re upstream, midstream, or downstream there’s an opportunity for everyone.  We’re going to create thousands of jobs and have a huge impact on growing Ohio—Linda Woggon (:18)

Mark Matusick of Chesapeake Energy gave CRLC members an industry perspective.  First, he gave the crowd and update on Chesapeake’s operations in Ohio.  He stated they are the largest leaseholder in the state and have hired 550 employees since coming to Ohio in 2010.  They’ve paid $34 million in wages and spent $3.3 billion on capital investment.  They’ve spent $50 million direct investment on Ohio roads, upgrading more than 150 miles.

He then focused on explaining the different jobs available to Ohioans from the shale play.  He said most of the jobs won’t be direct, working with actual operators.  He said many will be indirect and induced.  Of the 38,000 jobs created by shale development last year, only 4,000 were direct. Therefore, there are many opportunities for those in the logistics industry.

Overall, the CRLC hosted a great event.  Many members had insightful questions for the speakers and were eager to get involved.  If there’s something we’ve learned over the past two years, it’s that every industry has a role in Ohio’s growing oil and gas industry.

Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

OOGEEP Encourages Local Schools To Prepare Students For Oil and Gas Opportunities

Thursday, February 28th, 2013 | 2 Comments

The Franciscan University of Steubenville recently hosted the Principals’ Leadership Academy.  The event, which included superintendents and principals from Belmont, Harrison and Jefferson Counties (all shale producing counties), came together to discuss programming, hot topics, and a subject on everyone in the areas mind – shale development.

The forum was attended by elementary, middle, and secondary principals and superintendents seeking to learn more about what oil and gas development could mean for possible opportunities for their students when they graduate high school.

As with any subject matter, it is good to get the students involved early.

The final topic of the day was titled “Opportunities & Challenges: Education and the Utica/Marcellus Shale Industries,” which featured a dynamic presentation from Charlie Dixon, who is the Safety and Workforce Administrator for the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP).  Mr. Dixon discussed at length all of the teacher workshop programs and scholarships OOGEEP provides on a yearly basis, a topic of intrigue to the audience as many of them are seeing significant oil and gas development on their areas recently.

Now, with this recent development, a primary goal is to educate our educators and our youth about the opportunities out in the oilfield; whether it be through teacher workshops, science fairs or classroom presentations.  Utica Shale/Point Pleasant development will be a major job creator in eastern Ohio and we need to let our student know there are opportunities out there when they graduate.

 

We don’t have enough people to work on diesel trucks; we don’t have enough machinists, things like that, jobs like that.  We’re in trouble in this country.  We’ve got to start engaging.  One of the things career counselors tells me, Charlie we’ve got 4 minutes and 38 seconds to talk to each student per a class.  My message to you today is we need to figure out a way to open the doors of opportunity to them about this industry.- Charlie Dixon, Safety and Workforce Administrator for the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP)

Mr. Dixon also touted the successes of Eastern Gateway Community College as well as Belmont College, both of which offer courses for the oil and gas field.  Mr. Dixon spoke highly of Marietta College’s Petroleum Engineering program, which is the oldest petroleum engineering program in the eastern portion of the United States.  These schools provide opportunities for students  and those reentering the workforce through certificate programs, two year programs or 4 year programs.

Thanks to Utica Shale/Point Pleasant development, educators are now more in tuned with the possibilities this industry can have for their students who are interested in science, technology, engineering or mathematics.  Their students will also have more opportunities coming out of technical schools then they have ever had before.  Hopefully, with the guidance from OOGEEP and Mr. Dixon, these administrators can go back and look to ways to implement these jobs into the career choices of their students.

Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube! 

 

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Daily Jeffersonian OpEd: What is really going on in Ohio?

Monday, February 18th, 2013 | 1 Comment

In late 2011, the Ohio Oil and Gas Energy Education Program (OOGEEP) released the Ohio Oil and Gas Industry Economic Impact Study. The Study, conducted by Kleinhenz & Associates, recognized the significant impact of both the current oil and gas industry, as well as the economic and job potential of the Utica-Point Pleasant Shale formation. The report was met with skepticism, with critics making claims of skewed exaggeration.

Today, barely a year later, billions of dollars have been invested in our state, and a recent study conducted by IHS-Cera on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, shows 38,000 Ohio jobs have been generated thanks to the development of our local energy resource. Our state has also jumped from 48th to fourth in overall job creation, and in the Midwest, Ohio ranks first in this category.

The evidence has shown our numbers were not exaggerated, but rather ones that now appear to have been too conservative. Over the past year, our focus quickly shifted from projections to actions that are ensuring Ohioans are prepared to maximize the incredible opportunity this industry continues to offer to our state.

Preparing our local workforce afforded by the industry in the years to come, is the utmost priority for the industry. With funding from Ohio’s natural gas and crude oil producers, and no burdensome taxpayer dollars, OOGEEP is now working with 45 Ohio colleges, universities, career centers and vocational schools gearing up to help meet the continued demand for trained workers in the next several years. Another 1,800 Ohio industry workers and 978 Ohio firefighters have completed specialized technical and safety training programs.

In 2012, an additional 35 scholarships were awarded to Ohio students through our industry funded Scholarship Foundation, and to date more than 1,300 K-12 schools and 2,600 teachers from all 88 Ohio counties have participated in state and nationally recognized STEM based curriculum workshops. The investment in education and workforce training our industry makes today is paramount to our future success.

We conducted 208 public presentations around the state last year to local communities, business leaders, chambers and professional groups in order to educate the public not only on the common practices and technical processes involved in the exploration, drilling and production of natural gas and crude oil, but also on the number of local communities and businesses that can best position themselves to take advantage of the potential benefits afforded by the Ohio geological gift beneath our feet. There is still too much misinformation surrounding Ohio’s oil and gas industry.

In the coming year, and the years ahead, we will continue our focus on education, and preparation with our schools, our communities and our workforce. By working together in this shared experience, we can ensure a future of great promise, and immeasurable opportunity.

Truth be told, the thousands of jobs already created — and the billions of dollars in Ohio investments — are only a glimpse of what’s to come in the years ahead … and we are just getting started.

**Editor’s Note: This article first appeared in The Daily Jeffersonian on January 25, 2013.**

Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!

Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

BP’s Energy Outlook 2030 Highlights America’s Shale Resources

Tuesday, January 22nd, 2013 | 0 Comments

Last week, BP released their third annual Energy Outlook 2030 report, based on up-to-date analysis, and taking into account developments of the past year.

Last year’s outlook led the way in showing how North America is likely to become self-sufficient in energy. This year’s edition examines more closely the development of shale gas and tight oil – the phenomenon driving America’s energy revival – and highlights its impact on our global energy future.

Key Points of the BP analysis:

In an column in this morning’s Warren Tribune on the study, one key factor was highlighted – energy produced by natural gas will continue to be the fastest growing of all the fossil fuels (with demand rising at an average of 2 percent a year for the next 17 years), and the United States will be leading in its production.

While we expect other regions will adapt over time to develop their resources, by 2030 we expect North America still to dominate production of these resources. -  Christof Rühl, BP Group Chief Economist (Release, 1/16/12)

Ohio plays a key role in the increase in production, a fact recognized by the company.

BP is well-known throughout Ohio. In fact, through its heritage companies of Standard Oil of Ohio (SOHIO) and Amoco, BP’s roots in the state date back to 1870.

Back in March of 2012, BP announced that they would be joining the “Shale Revolution” in coming back to Ohio through leasing some 48,000 acres in the Utica formation in the eastern part of the state.  BP also operates the BP-Husky refinery near Toledo,  a joint venture with Husky, LLC. BP heritage companies have also been active in the upstream business throughout its history in the state of Ohio.

We are very encouraged by what we have seen of the Utica-Point Pleasant formation. Our focus in 2012 will be to better understand the geology and devise a plan to safely develop the resource. BP is committed to hiring and purchasing locally whenever possible, and we anticipate having a positive impact on the region while providing a new source of energy for America. - Tim Harrington, regional president for BP’s North America Gas (BP Release, 3-27-12)

While BP has not begun any exploration operations in Ohio yet, their CEO Bob Dudley voiced their interest last summer during a speaking engagement in Cleveland.

We’ve got to do the exploring and unlock it. If BP finds natural gas liquids in the shale, as expected, the number of jobs will really begin to take off, certainly in the thousands. Not just drilling jobs. Jobs in finance, accounting, leasing. – Bob Dudley, CEO BP (BP CEO says the shale gas revolution is real, especially for Ohio, 7-13-12)

BP’s plan is to start with 10 exploratory wells beginning in April in Trumbull County. BP’s development adds to production already in place here in Ohio such as the Gulfport, Consol and Chesapeake wells. Ohio finds itself as one of only a handful of states with access to the right geology for development of crude oil and natural gas reserves – a gift that is reshaping our energy future, and our economy.

In September of 2011, Kleinhenz and Associates released their Economic Impact Study, conducted for the recent report conducted by IHS-CERA on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce echoes the OOGEEP study, citing the  38,000 jobs  that are already supported by the industry  in the past year as a result of this development.

BP joins a multitude of producers, midstream, and downstream companies that will play a major role in creating and supporting jobs all across Ohio for the foreseeable future.

The U.S. will not be increasingly dependent on energy imports, with energy set to reinvigorate its economy. – Bob Dudley (BP looks to the future, 1/22/12)

As we continue to emerge as a leader in domestic energy production, Ohio is poised to contribute greatly to our future energy security.

Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube !

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Ohio’s New Energy Promise

Friday, December 21st, 2012 | 1 Comment

This week the United States Chamber of Commerce, through its Institute for 21st Century Energy, released part two of a three-part series studying the topic of shale benefits state by state in a study called America’s New Energy Future. The comprehensive study was completed in conjunction with the American Petroleum Institute, American Chemistry Council, America’s Natural Gas Alliance and the Natural Gas Supply Association.

Some of the key highlights of the study show us that in Ohio more than 38,830 jobs have been created, including direct, indirect and induced categories.  Also, 143,595 new jobs will be created by the year 2020. By the year 2035, the number will climb to 266,624.

Karen Harbert who serves as President and CEO of the Energy Institute at the U.S. Chamber explained the importance of shale development in Ohio:

Shale energy is a game changer for American and for Ohio, the latest installment of this study allows us to quantify just how significant the impact on Ohio’s economy will be. It provides all the more reason to strongly support responsible shale energy development (U.S. Chamber’s Energy Institute Co-sponsors Study on Shale Benefits by State, 12/19/12)

IHS, a leading global energy research firm, looked at three main components of job creation in order to gain the full scope of job creation in the state.

Direct: Contributions of unconventional oil and gas energy development are those required to explore, produce, transport and deliver products to downstream elements or activities that provide critical on site equipment and services.

Indirect: Contributions are activities in outside industries that supply materials and services to the developers of unconventional oil and gas and to their tier of suppliers.

Induced: Contributions are the economic effects from workers spending their wages on salaries on consumer goods and household items.

The report also showed remarkable increase in tax revenue both at the local and state level. In 2012 over $911 million was paid to state and local government in Ohio and is estimated to grow to $4.5 billion a year by the year 2020. The total paid in taxes by this industry from the year 2012 to the year 2035 will be a staggering $120 billion to both local and state government.

According to Linda Woggon who serves as both executive vice president of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the executive director of the Ohio Shale Coalition Utica Shale development is already having a positive effect on local communities here in Ohio and will provide significant revenue in the future for our state.

Ohio is already seeing a significant boost to our economy from shale energy, and this new study shows that much more is to come,” said Linda Woggon, executive vice president of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and executive director of the Ohio Shale Coalition. “The billions of dollars in new state and local government revenue will help support schools, infrastructure and other needs for our state, while the hundreds of thousands of new jobs will provide an economic boost for our families. (Shale expected to bring jobs, 12/20/12)

Unions throughout Ohio are also recognizing the significant impact shale development is having on our state.  In a recent interview, Butch Taylor, Business Manager, for Local 396 Plumbers and Pipefitters, said he has seen tremendous growth throughout their local, going from 40 percent unemployment among members to 100 percent employment, with a 12 percent growth in membership.

Due to the growth, Local 396 has now increased the number of times per year they take applications due to the influx of work they are receiving.

We’ve put 108 new members in the last two years. It’s really growing. And about 13 new contractors through that time period so it’s really growing and growing fast. Applications for the apprenticeship program will be taken on the third Wednesday of each month through April.  – Marty Loney, Local 396 (Shale Industry Leads to Growth of Pipefitters Union, 12/19/12)

During this holiday season, it is great to know that over 38,000 Ohioans are now working thanks to Utica Shale development.   As noted in the study this number will continue to increase providing more good paying jobs for our residents throughout Ohio, helping to lead our state back to prominence.

Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube !

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Something Doesn’t Smell Right: Activist’s Theatrics Fail in Youngstown

Thursday, December 13th, 2012 | 0 Comments

This October, the Youngstown City Council invited Rhonda Reda, Executive Director of the resulted in an arrest.

At the Youngstown event Elizabeth Khumprakob, 30, began screaming over Ms. Reda early into her presentation. The outburst was addressed by the council members, who asked the young woman to be respectful of the speaker – a request she ignored, prompting Councilman Mike Ray to request that security remove her from the meeting.

Aside from vocally disrupting the meeting, Ms. Khumprakob removed a jar of what she claimed to be brine – or “hazardous material” as she phrased it – which she indicated came from a disposal well near her house.

As she was escorted from the premises, she left the jar on a table inside the council room, enclosed in a paper bag.
As the presentation continued, a fire chief for the City Office Building came into the room. It would later come to light the activist had placed a call to 911 to report “hazardous material” in the council chambers.

Upon finishing her presentation, Rhonda Reda spoke with the fire chief and offered to test the contents of the jar, and proceeded to do so at the fire chief and Councilman Ray’s request.

BioSolutions, LLC of Chagrin Falls, OH, analyzed the contents, and returned a report with interesting results.

The analysis showed the fluid certainly was NOT hazardous, but rather had a composition completely unrelated to any aspect of oil and gas development. And, it appears to be wholly man (or woman) made.
From the report:

Analysts noted the sample had odors of vinegar (acetic acid) and chewing tobacco. We lack the necessary organic analytical instruments and knowledge to corroborate these observations.

Continued:

Using a pH probe and meter was deemed too likely to damage the probe with the associated expense of probe replacement. pH using pH paper was in the 3-5 pH range. Conductivity was not measured for the same reason.

The visual paucity of microbes in the photographs is explained by the low pH. The oil layer on top will impede, if not eliminate, oxygen exchange to the aqueous portion of the sample, but facultative and anaerobic bacteria should still have been visible in the microscopic photographs had they been present.

A 1/100 dilution of the sample was analyzed via ion chromatography. Chloride is present at around 10,000 mg/L and sulfate around 480 mg/L. Chloride and sulfate concentrations vary, but are both in the 5-100 mg/L range for most water wells we have analyzed.

Hypothesis

If cider vinegar was supplemented with table salt, vegetable oil and some leafy material such as chewing tobacco, a sample with similar characteristics could be the result (emphasis added).

Cider vinegar, vegetable oil, and chewing tobacco – all elements not likely to be used in oil and gas development, nor would they likely be found in any naturally occurring brine.

Though Ms. Khumprakob’s actions were akin to yelling “fire” in a movie theater in an attempt to incite panic over this “hazardous waste.”  In the end, her theatrics posed the greatest threat that night in Youngstown.

These dramatic and visually stunning tactics are not new to the organizations that oppose the safe development of fossil fuels. From the misleading imagery used by Josh Fox in Gasland, to Mark Mangan’s “brown jug”, activists repeatedly use these props, but only rarely do they accept the offer for testing.

It’s something we’ve experienced in Ohio before, something we’ve witnessed quite recently and something we are likely to see again.

During a Chesapeake job fair earlier this year, while hundreds of Ohioans waited in line to learn about employment opportunities in Ohio, one gentlemen was showcased a jar of what was supposedly contaminated well water. To the passers-by, the image would be alarming. A closer inspection would probably be even more alarming, given the nature of the deceptive effort:

We’ve got some ‘Frack-accinos’…this is tap water from a well, tap water near a well that has been ‘fracked’, it is poisoned, we’ve added food coloring for dramatic effect.. (0:14)

The young activist goes on to explain the water has caused serious illnesses in Mahoning County – a situation that would surely be news to the region’s residents.

Sometimes, the line between fact and fiction is long and wide.

Ohio’s continued development of our oil and natural gas resources holds too great a potential to be discussed in anything but an honest, fact-based fashion, not one based in theatrics, innuendo and misleading props. It is unfortunate that there are those, like Ms. Khumprakob, who would seek to instill fear in order to promote an agenda that is refuted by experience and scientific analysis.

This most recent example serves as yet another reminder of the importance of diligent and vigilant research on the subject to ensure legitimate education is taking place.

Check us out on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!

Tags: , , , , , , , ,

« Older Entries