Tilting at Windmills in Westcliff
by Steve-OOnce upon a time, I used to love reading the Sunday paper. These days, not so much. Case in point, Sunday’s front page:
Another front page love letter to the Star-Telegram’s best friend, the Barnett Shale. It has a soft advertorial feel to it, like one of those fake newspapers they print up to use in made-to-order corporate videos. But it gets even better. Turn the page and you get this:
It’s a huge Chesapeake ad about how the Barnett Shale is a giant flu shot against recession for the local economy. The advertorial feel is complete. A huge coincidence? I don’t think so.
I believe that the Star-Telegram’s business ties to Chesapeake Energy in particular have made the paper reluctant to ask hard questions about urban gas drilling. Hell, forget the hard questions — I think it has made them reluctant to ask basic and fundamental questions about urban gas drilling.
What kind of questions? How about safety? I saw this item about a a gas pipeline explosion in McCook County, courtesy of my good friend Sharon. The story says that flames from the explosion at one point “were shooting about four to five hundred feet from the ignition source.”
That’s not all. “Authorities were not sure exactly how this explosion happened but they are aware of similar explosion that happen across the United States. ‘They happen every now and then, they’re pipelines and they’re subject to wear and tear just like any other equipment that’s out here,’ [Hidalgo County Emergency Management Coordinator Tony] Peña said.”
Well, “it just happens” may fly OK in a rural area where there aren’t any folks around, but what about an urban area? Why do I see lots of headlines touting the latest lease deal are town, but not so many headlines asking questions about safety? We are about to run gas transmission lines all across our city, so doesn’t it seem that we should be asking questions about how safe this is? Shouldn’t the paper do that? Aren’t they supposed to be the watchdogs?
Last week, I saw three Star-Telegram reporters at City Hall for the Gas Drilling Task Force workshop when Chuck Silcox mentioned the proposed pipeline along through Westcliff along Alton Road that will transport gas from the TCU gas wells. I thought this was one of the most interesting aspects of the meeting, but if it appeared in the S-T, I missed it.
So, if the S-T won’t ask the question, I will. What if a blast like the one in McCook County — the kind that Peña says happen every now and then — what if that just happened at Alton Road and Hilltop Road along the route of this proposed gas pipeline?
That red dot is epicenter of the hypothetical blast and the red circle is the 500-foot radius where flames reached in the McCook County blast. That’s about 50 homes and the better part of four city blocks you are talking about losing. Don’t think it can happen? It can. All it takes is one guy working with a backhoe who doesn’t know what he’s doing. I heard one gas company executive fret over this just last week. If an industry person worries about that, shouldn’t we? Shouldn’t the newspaper?
And this is just one pipeline in one neighborhood. And a fairly affluent neighborhood at that. What’s happening in the less well-to-do parts of town? The questions go on and on. What about injection wells? Eminent domain issues? Air quality?
I really believe these are important questions, but maybe I’m the only one. Maybe this is nothing more than tilting at windmills.
Some say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. I keep reading the Star-Telegram expecting something different than valentines to the gas drilling interests. But in these days of declining circulation and advertising revenue, I guess that is insanity. These days, the public interest will take a back seat to the interests of a big advertiser.
Shame on me for believing it should be otherwise.
Tags: star-telegram
24 Comments, Comments or Pings
Dred Deadly
Several good points. Why not put their intentions to the test - and a wider audience - by submitting an editorial (or an op-ed piece)? If they don’t print it, then point proved, and you can let everyone here know.
Feb 18th, 2008
Steve-O
I actually like that idea, Dred. Not being one to shrink from a challenge, I’ll give it a go. I’ll let you know what happens.
Cool name, BTW.
Feb 18th, 2008
Don Young
Excellent report, Steve-O. The McCook explosion is just one in a long string of deadly accidents. It’s only a question of WHEN not IF something similar happens in Fort Worth. In my opinion, the responsibility for any deaths that occur from gas production in Fort Worth lie squarely at the feet of one person: Mr. Mike Moncrief. There would be no widespread urban drilling without his water carrying for Chesapeake, XTO, Devon, Quicksilver & Co. Ditto surrounding municipalities who foolishly used the FW ordinance as their model. His new “quality of life” ad campaign is a deal with the devil.
DY
Feb 18th, 2008
John Peter Smith
Steve-O: I’m betting that like most of Fort Worth, the homes in Westcliff are served by natural gas. If that’s the case, then there are already natural gas pipelines in the neighborhood, either in the street right-of-way or in the back in utility easements or alleys. Burying natural gas pipelines in nothing new, it has been done for decades.
Mr. Young: the McCook explosion is not “…just one in a long string of deadly accidents” for one simple reason. No one died. In fact the Dallas Morning News is now saying that the initial report that one person suffered minor injuries was wrong and that there were no injuries at all.
Gas pipeline safety records are available on the net. Anyone that wants to take the time to look into it will find that there are very few deaths or serious injuries state-wide.
But hey, let’s not confuse the issue with real facts huh?
Feb 19th, 2008
Pete Wann
Are the pipelines that serve homes for their cooking gas and heating as big as the ones that act as collectors from natural gas wells? If the lines from wells are bigger, wouldn’t that pose a greater potential threat?
The FACT is that there are NO FACTS about urban gas drilling and its side effects. Yes, it’s entirely possible that nothing will come of any of this except for some ugly-ass hardware installed around town.
It’s also possible that there could be an explosion of the sort that has happened elsewhere, only this time instead of some cows getting spooked, people’s homes and businesses are destroyed or damaged.
Conservatives are supposed to be cautious about things and resistant to change. Where is the outcry from the Republican party and other conservative groups?
Feb 19th, 2008
UncaMikey
Remember your recent posts about Heritage Park being allowed to fall into disuse, closed with no plans to restore and reopen it?
This morning there’s a story about a gas well near Heritage Park.
http://www.star-telegram.com/local/story/481095.html
Think how easy it will be to allow this: “Well, the park is not being used anyway, so why not a well?”
Feb 19th, 2008
Steve-O
Pete:
To address your point, Chuck Silcox — who is quite conservative — does seem concerned about the eminent domain aspect. He mentioned the house that I’ve pictured because the construction of the pipeline would require that entire flowerbed thing to be ripped out and not rebuilt. When government or another entity starts telling people what to do with their private property, I would think conservatives would be concerned.
Feb 19th, 2008
Steve-O
Regarding the difference between a natural gas line to your house and a transmission pipeline, I know that a faulty gas line in your home can blow up your house. But the McCook County explosion was spouting flames 400 to 500 feet away. That’s a different order of magnitude. That could level a couple of city blocks.
And honestly, if I’m living along Alton — and there are some nice houses there — I’m wondering what it would do to my property value.
Feb 19th, 2008
Annie
It’s interesting to read the back and forth views of urban drilling–I love capitalism and any chance we have to find gas or oil in our own country is a plus. I don’t have a fully formed opinion on urban drilling, but I will say this–we live in a more rural part of Tarrant County and are “covered” with gas wells—these companies basically rape the countryside, their trucks leave GIANT potholes in the roads, they leave a mess behing and go on their merry way with millions of dollars in tow. From what I understand the companies are heavily taxed??? so that the city/county can come in and make repairs. I don’t see it happening yet which leads me to believe that Mike Moncrief and his city are simply putting money away……for what????? It’s so frustrating!!!!
Feb 19th, 2008
Steve-O
The city negotiated fees from gas drilling companies to cover road use, wear and tear, that kind of thing. However, in the task force meeting last week, a city official said basically that the city had NEVER bothered to collect these fees. THAT is frustrating.
Feb 19th, 2008
Darin
When it comes to Texas in general, and Fort Worth in particular, it is my experience that, to paraphrase Mr. Eisenhower, one should beware the city hall-industrial complex. As for present day Republicans, which group would Mr. Wann suggest we pin our hopes on; the Christian Jihad Wing or the Montgomery Burns Wing?
Feb 19th, 2008
Pete Wann
I think the realistic wing would be nice. Honestly, I consider myself a conservative in the sense that I prefer to conserve my money (both personal funds and the money I give to the government in the form of taxes and fees), energy, and personal freedoms/civil rights.
It’s weird to me how favoring limited government intervention in one’s personal life makes you a liberal these days.
Feb 19th, 2008
John Peter Smith
Pete:
I’m no gas expert but I would guess that generally, collector lines are larger than service lines. But does that make them more likely to rupture? I doubt it.
Put it this way. Which would you rather have in your front yard? A two inch gas line that was installed 80 years ago, the location of which Atmos only has a vague idea of. Or, a brand new six inch line clearly marked and mapped with the latest technology?
Honestly, I don’t think one would be that much “safer” than the other. The main point I’m trying to emphasize is that transporting gas and other hazardous materials underground is not new technology. It’s been done for years and we have all grown accustomed to living with it. The fact that we rarely think about the potential dangers is one indication of how safe the procedure is. Anyone that bothers to look at the facts will find that it is safe as well.
While “FACTS” about urban gas drilling and its side effects may not be totally known, transporting natural gas via pipelines is nothing new and the risks can be defined. Records are kept at both the federal and state level. Anyone truly interested in looking at facts can look the numbers up and see for themselves what the minimal risks are.
Scary pictures are fine for drawing attention. But serious debate should be based on facts.
Feb 19th, 2008
Pete Wann
I didn’t ask if the lines were any more likely to rupture of their own free will. I don’t think any of the incidents we’ve seen with gas drilling have had anything to do with outright equipment failure. They’ve all been due to some sort of operator error.
If I’m given a choice between the amount of gas that can run down a typical residential line exploding and the amount of gas that can run down a collector line exploding, I know which one I’d choose.
What you seem to consider to be fearmongering and scare tactics to me are just plain honest questions about potential risks.
WHAT IF something like the explosions and fires in Wise county were to happen in the Westcliff neighborhood? Is the piddling amount of money the residents of that neighborhood will collect for their gas leases enough to make up for the potential loss of life and damage to property that could result?
I’ll try to dig up some facts over the next few days and see what I can come up with, since I really am truly interested.
Feb 19th, 2008
Steve-O
And I fear that serious debate is in short supply. The attitude at City Hall is don’t ask questions and let us handle it. Our Mayor made $620,000 off of his oil and gas holdings in 2006. Do you really think that he is going to ask questions that will rock the boat? The Star-Telegram signed a drilling lease on 40 acres underneath their printing facility? Are they inclined to rock the boat? The commissioners at the Texas Railroad Commission take hundreds of thousands of dollars in “contributions” from the industries they regulate. Will they rock the boat? I don’t think so.
Those are some facts that concern me. And if we can’t count on these institutions, who are we left with to assist us in this serious debate?
The risks involved in urban gas drilling are not zero percent. Fort Worth is undertaking something that has never been done before. Accidents happen. Equipment fails. Those are facts. When an accident happens in a rural area, there are few people around. The McCook County blast was in the middle of nowhere. If a pipeline is going in down the street, I’d like a chance to weigh in on it. If it’s literally going in someone’s front yard, it’d be nice to have a little give and take on it. If someone told you they were going to use half of your front yard for a gas pipeline, would you be OK with it? I wouldn’t.
These pipelines will run through our neighborhoods. These gas wells will be in our neighborhoods. I believe we should be able to ask questions and even disagree. Some locations won’t work for pipelines or wells or compressor stations.
The gas well blast in Louisiana at the end of last year that shut down part of an Interstate highway for a week or two has the that state looking at how they regulate gas drilling. Now they’re thinking that maybe they shouldn’t drill gas wells within a quarter mile of an Interstate.
But that’s reactive thinking. Shouldn’t we be a little more proactive?
I admire your faith in the City of Fort Worth, the State of Texas and the gas drilling companies. You are assuming that government works efficiently and makes all of the right choices. You’re assuming that the water department always knows what they’re doing when they dig up a street. You’re also assuming that technology never fails. Pipes never corrode. Ground never shifts. I don’t have that kind of faith.
Feb 19th, 2008
Christian
How can a person, or even a neighborhood association, stop the placement of the pipeline along/under Alton Road and South Hills Avenue? I’m told the City can’t really stop the gas companies - that only the State public utility commission can stop them. Are we really as helpless as that?
Feb 20th, 2008
John Peter Smith
Anyone interested in facts can look them up at the Office of Pipeline Safety, a part of the federal Department of Transportation.
You will find that over the last ten years in Texas, an average of 7 people a year are involved in gas pipeline accidents that require hospitalization. An average of 2 people a year die.
For comparison, an average of 379 Texans drown each year. Yet I don’t hear anyone advocating the abolishment of swimming pools.
Feb 20th, 2008
Steve-O
Christian:
Pipeline companies have eminent domain power, but they are also quite publicity sensitive. Talk to your neighborhood association, get them to go talk to your Council rep (Silcox?) and raise hell. If you get enough people down to city hall, you might see some positive results.
JPS:
“Facts” are tricky things. Past performance is not indicative of future results if the variables change. Those numbers you cite would be relevant if most of the transmission pipelines were remaining in rural areas. As with the McCook County blast, if there’s no one around, hardly anyone gets hurt. But as we start building pipelines in urban areas (like central Fort Worth), does it seem realistic to think those numbers would stay the same? As I pointed out in my post, the results could be catastrophic if you had an identical blast along the proposed Alton Road pipeline route.
Feb 21st, 2008
TXsharon
John Peter Smith: you keep confusing utility delivery pipelines with gas well gathering pipelines. There is a HUGE difference!
Your facts from the OPS do not apply here because never before have gathering pipelines run through densely populated neighborhoods. However, the number of deaths reported should cause some concern because, until the Barnett Shale invaded Cowtown, gathering pipelines have mostly run through the country side where the population is sparse.
Feb 24th, 2008
John Peter Smith
Harris County has 2,170 MILES of natural gas pipelines running under it. That’s more than 7 times the mileage currently under Tarrant County. The claim that this has never been done before simply is not supported by the facts. Natural gas has been transported safely underground for decades, and yes, it has been transported through densely populated areas.
Feb 25th, 2008
Steve-O
JPS:
How many miles of those pipelines run through the Port of Houston and its supporting facilities and how many run through neighborhoods? Are they drilling for natural gas in neighborhoods in Harris County? No. What is going on in Tarrant County is an experiment in urban gas drilling.
So what about your facts?
According to the Texas Railroad Commission, there are 165 producing wells in Harris County as of this month. In Tarrant County, there are 1,044 wells as of this month with more coming on line everyday.
The “fact” is that if you Look where the pipelines are in Houston, they aren’t in the neighborhoods of Houston, they are mostly in the east, near the port, in Pasadena, in LaPorte — basically where all of the refinery operations are. And, if you have ever been in that part of Houston, you know it is nothing like central city Fort Worth.
Are there pipelines that run through urban Houston? Yeah, a few. But not the number your statistics claim. And most of those run along railroad easements, not through neighborhoods. If you look at the neighborhoods near Rice University — a pretty good apples to apples comparison to the TCU area — you find no gas transmission pipelines. None anywhere near those densely populated areas.
Sorry.
Feb 26th, 2008
Pete Wann
Here’s a picture I made using the GIS tool on the Railroad Commission’s website.
Green lines are gas transmission lines, or the ones we normally associate with the gas that goes to your house for your cooktop or heater.
RED lines are natural gas collection lines, the lines that the output of gas wells goes through.
Feb 26th, 2008
Bernie
Wow, great map Pete. Thanks.
Feb 26th, 2008
AnnZ
Here is an interesting site sent to me by someone I was discussing this issue with.
http://primis.phmsa.dot.gov/comm/reports/safety/PSI.html
Feb 27th, 2008
Reply to “Tilting at Windmills in Westcliff”