scholarly journals Regulatory and Liability Issues in Horizontal Multi-Stage Fracturing

2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (2) ◽  
pp. 403
Author(s):  
Keith Luft ◽  
Thomas O'Leary ◽  
Ian Laing

The last few decades have witnessed greater exploration of oil and gas developments and improvements and evolution in technology that have been driven by the strong demand for oil and gas. Hydralic fracturing techniques have become subject to scrutiny by the media and public in North America and Europe, with attention being paid to the potential or perceived environmental impact associated with such technological developments. This article explains the context and process in which horizontal multi-stage fracturing (HMSF) functions. In addition, the article explores and outlines the legal and regulatory environments in both Canada and the United States, where issues have been raised owing to the wider use of HMSF. The article seeks to provide readers with a better understanding of these emerging and potential legal and regulatory issues.

Author(s):  
N. D. Bankes

Over the last decade several proposals have been made for the creation of an international wildlife range between northeast Alaska and northern Yukon Territory, and for a convention between Canada and the United States to regulate the Porcupine caribou herd. The herd, one of the largest barren ground caribou herds in North America, regularly migrates across the United States-Canadian boundary. It is harvested in both countries by Indians and Inuit. Since the vitality of the caribou herd may be affected by developments on either side of the border, such as overharvesting, construction of pipelines or highways, influx of tourists, open access hunting policies, and oil and gas drilling, the herd requires co-operative management.


Author(s):  
William H. Daughdrill

This paper will describe some of the key environmental and regulatory issues affecting development of offshore renewable energy projects in the United States. Offshore wind, wave, tidal current, and ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) projects all have unique environmental and social issues that must be addressed to the satisfaction of federal, state, and local authorities. This paper examines the existing federal regulatory schemes applicable to offshore renewable energy development in the United States including a discussion of an on-going jurisdictional debate between agencies at the U.S. federal government level. The various permitting processes for offshore renewable energy projects all involve an examination of the potential environmental and social/human effects of each proposed project. Typically, the agency with primary permitting authority must prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) or equivalent document that includes a transparent process that encourages the participation of the interested public and other affected stakeholders. While acknowledging the importance of social/human impact issues, this paper will focus primarily on the potential physical and biological effects from offshore renewable energy projects including a discussion of the uncertainty that surrounds predicting the impact of new or innovative technologies. The U.S. Department of Interior, Minerals Management Service (MMS) recently published a programmatic environmental impact statement (EIS) that includes 52 “best management practices” for reducing environmental and social impacts from offshore alternative energy projects. Finally the paper will examine the important role of environmental monitoring and adaptive management in informing regulators and developers of potential adverse impacts and adapting project design and operations to avoid or minimize these effects.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 6628
Author(s):  
Jong-Hyun Kim ◽  
Yong-Gil Lee

This study analyzed the technological progress of the United States’ shale and tight petroleum (natural gas and crude oil) industry based on the association rules of its patents. According to the findings, although the production of shale oil and gas began in 2007, evidence of increasing technological developments in this industry assessed by patent applications began to appear only in 2010. In addition, the results showed that two distinct technological domains developed in 2010. Moreover, frequently developed technology classification networks are likely to contribute to the growth of this industry.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Miriam R. Aczel ◽  
Karen E. Makuch

High-volume hydraulic fracturing combined with horizontal drilling has “revolutionized” the United States’ oil and gas industry by allowing extraction of previously inaccessible oil and gas trapped in shale rock [1]. Although the United States has extracted shale gas in different states for several decades, the United Kingdom is in the early stages of developing its domestic shale gas resources, in the hopes of replicating the United States’ commercial success with the technologies [2, 3]. However, the extraction of shale gas using hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling poses potential risks to the environment and natural resources, human health, and communities and local livelihoods. Risks include contamination of water resources, air pollution, and induced seismic activity near shale gas operation sites. This paper examines the regulation of potential induced seismic activity in Oklahoma, USA, and Lancashire, UK, and concludes with recommendations for strengthening these protections.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 5-14
Author(s):  
Sabina Magliocco

This essay introduces a special issue of Nova Religio on magic and politics in the United States in the aftermath of the 2016 presidential election. The articles in this issue address a gap in the literature examining intersections of religion, magic, and politics in contemporary North America. They approach political magic as an essentially religious phenomenon, in that it deals with the spirit world and attempts to motivate human behavior through the use of symbols. Covering a range of practices from the far right to the far left, the articles argue against prevailing scholarly treatments of the use of esoteric technologies as a predominantly right-wing phenomenon, showing how they have also been operationalized by the left in recent history. They showcase the creativity of magic as a form of human cultural expression, and demonstrate how magic coexists with rationality in contemporary western settings.


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