FRACKING IN THE KAROO: OPPORTUNITY OR THREAT?
The Karoo with its extreme climate and temperatures ranging from 15 degrees Celsius in winter to over 40 degrees Celsius in summer. The Karoo is located in an arid to semi-arid desert climate and prone to a wide variation in temperature and little to no rainfall and long periods of drought are still common. Rainfall usually comes in the form of a storm.
Karoo in International Spotlight
Karoo in the Spotlight
The Karoo has come in the international spotlight over the past few years. First it was the Square Kilometer Array (SKA) radio telescope in the Carnavon district, and shortly thereafter it was the possible exploration of shale gas, which should take place in parts of the Western, Northern and Eastern Cape.
Local farmers and communities have been opposed to fracking in the Karoo from the first time it was discussed, scared that it would threaten their water sources.
Please Help!
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The Karoo Action Group, (TKAG) have been fighting the project for seven years. It was a relief when it was announced last year that the project was put on hold.
Green light given by Minister Zwane
No to Green Light
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However, in April, this year, Mosebenzi Zwane, minister of mineral resources, announced that the government had given the green light for the exploration of shale gas in the Karoo. The project forms part of the National Development Plan (NDP) and that it will create many job opportunities to the communities.
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According to Jonathan of the TKAG, the announcement by Minister Zwane "amounts to thoughtless political talks." He said: "Water sources in the Karoo are threatened, with severe consequences for the communities and agriculture in South Africa. It serves no purpose that the government wants to create job opportunities and relieve poverty, but the peoples' drinking water is taken away in the same process."
Fracking Process
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Fracking, the commonly known term for Hydraulic fracturing, is a form of mining which forces natural gas out of the Earth's crust. It is different from conventional drilling used to extract oil or gas. During fracking, a vertical well is extended into a horizontal well which penetrates the shale layers. Shale is a type of rock made up of clay sediments, quartz, and other minerals.
Shale Archieves
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The Karoo grey shale layers are rich in natural gas and are considered to be the richest sources of shale gas fossil fuel in the world.
The grey shale layer is usually 2 - 3 kilometer deep, but the depth varies. In some places, e.g. Lainsburg, the shale layer appears on the surface.
The entire Karoo Basin had very large rivers with extended floodplains, all covered in vast swamps, buried in layers of sediment, formed the shale gas that is now in demand.
Great Karoo
The following fuel companies are currently operating in South Africa:
- Anglo Coal
- Falcon O&G
- Sasol/Statoil/Chesapeake
- Shell
- Sunset Energy
Of all of the above, Shell is the largest company that has an interest in fracking in South Africa. Our government has allowed Shell to start a five-year exploration phase late in 2013. During this phase, no actual fracking may take place. Instead, environmental assessments will be carried out, such as measuring the composition of chemicals in existing municipal and other wells in the area. All these wells, there are several thousands of them, draw water from the water table.
Pugh tells Shell to Frack-off (Nicely)
Fracking allows oil and gas companies to extract shale gas that is tightly bound to shale. It is estimated that shale gas releases 48% less greenhouse gas than coal burning.
Hydraulic Fracturing
Hydraulic fracturing causes natural faults (weak joints) in the shale to open up and release shale gas. Hydraulic fracturing is achieved by injecting more than 2 million cubic meters of water per annum into the well. The volume of this water is equivalent to 150 large swimming pools. The water is mixed with sand, a variety of salts, and several toxic chemicals. This is done under extremely high pressure which causes local earthquakes and allows the Karoo shale to crack and release gas into the open fissures (cracks). The sand in the mixture keeps the fissures open so that the gas can flow up the well to be collected on the surface.
**"Well to Hell" Russia's 12 km-kola-super-deep borehole
This hole is known as "The Well to Hell" happened in Siberia Russia. According to the Bible, the world itself will become a living hell in the end days! Researchers plan to drill a 10-kilometer hole in the Eastern Cape to study what the effects of fracking for shale gas will have on the environment.
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Stop Fracking!
Fracking remains a controversial issue as a result of its potential impact on the environment. The process weakens the Earth's crust to enable the gasses and toxic chemicals in the fracking fluid can escape to the surface. The Karoo basin also has large, underground, natural salt lakes. Fracking can cause this salt water to rise and infiltrates the freshwater aquifers and the water table.
The chemical mixture contains cancer-causing substances and other poisons that may cause illness. In addition to shale gas, methane is also released and is potentially explosive. Heavy machinery and trucks will have an effect on the environment. To date, all forms of purification and the disposal of the toxic wastewater has proven to be less than successful and no one has found a way to purify polluted underground water.
Fracking in the USA
In the USA where fracking has been done for several decades, human diseases and livestock losses have been reported, which may have been caused by water consumed from wells near fracking sites.
Some countries like France and Bulgaria, have banned fracking.
Frack Off!
Sources:
https://electrosawhq.com/fracking/
https://agriorbit.com/fracking-karoo-opportunity-threat/
