Comments on: Natural Gas Climate Benefits Not All They’re Fracked Up to Be, Study Finds

By: East Africa to See Natural Gas Boom? - CleanTechnica

East Africa to See Natural Gas Boom? - CleanTechnica — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 12:34:13 +0000

[…] “bridge fuel” to more truly clean, renewable energy. However, others have shown that it’s effect on the climate is so bad that it’s not worth using as a bridge fuel (even if that’s all it would be […]

By: Dave Burton

Dave Burton — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 03:14:00 +0000

Even if you don’t burn it, methane oxidizes into CO2 (and water) within a few years.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:38:00 +0000

Thanks. On climate change, the science is pretty absolutely clear. As far as this natural gas issue, it seems to still be up in the air — which is why i don’t post on it much in either direction (positive or negative). But this study seems to be from a neutral source and has simple, clear findings.
I don’t have a strong pull or push for or against it. But I’ve yet to see anything really indicating that we should be putting more resources into it compared to clearly clean alternatives.

By: Zachary Shahan

Zachary Shahan — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:29:00 +0000

Is this method more expensive? Is that why it is being shunned?

If you have more info, I’d be happy to take a look at it. Have looked at a bit. But not seen much.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:44:00 +0000

Zack,
This article on methane leakage reinforces what I tried to explain is one of the major environmental advantages of waterless LPG [ propane ] fracking. Because there is no frack water to purge, LPG fracked well cleanup is completed in hours instead of days or weeks . The Company that has developed this process also is field testing a mobile recovery system that is closed off from the atmosphere and would be used where immediate tie in to a gathering pipeline is not available.
Howarth, in his first article, showed on one of his charts that one fourth to one half of the methane lost over the life cycle of methane use was during this well completion [ purging ] stage. LPG fracking would reduce this to a miniscule amount.
No one in the hydro-fracking industry wants to talk about this because they are already heavily invested in water fracking although they are well aware of LPG fracturing and over 40 companies have used LPG fracking in tight oil formations where it is more effective than water or water oil .
Environmentalist are generally unaware of this technology and could slow gas development if they were to insist on this method over hydro-fracking and in the end have a environmentally safer way of using NG.

By: Tommie

Tommie — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:00:00 +0000

I am not an expert in this field but i read that there is also a peer-viewed study also from Cornell Uni questioning the data and scientific method and validity of the interpretation of the this also Cornell Uni publication by the same Professor. Like I said I am not an expert so i don’t understand the jargon and not sure which one I should believe. Climate change is such a contentious issues as such that both climate change denier (oil/gas/coal industry) and green activist (renewables/wind/solar industry) are just manipulate the public with their vested-interest funded study and lobbying.
I don’t know which side to believe now.