Debate regarding fracking continues

UPDATED: Injured football player ‘responding’, but still in critical condition
September 30, 2015
Alfreda Richoux
October 6, 2015
UPDATED: Injured football player ‘responding’, but still in critical condition
September 30, 2015
Alfreda Richoux
October 6, 2015

Across the country, fracking has become a contentious issue that pits those connected to the oil industry against envrionmentalists. But what does the practice mean for Louisiana?

In Louisiana, the method has been applied for decades in an effort to increase oil and gas production in the state. However, citizens in other parts of the state have fought back against companies’ plans to start exploring in their parishes.

Fracking, otherwise known as hydraulic fracturing, is a method used by oil and gas companies to improve well production. The process works by sending high-pressure fluids into the ground to crack rock formations deep beneath the earth’s surface. These cracks then make it easier for oil and natural gas to flow to the well back on land.


While this method allows the United States to increase its energy independence, some see fracking as a threat to the environment. The method demands a large amount of water, so there are concerns of depleting a local water supply. There are also worries that fault lines will be affected during the process and increase the risk of earthquakes.

One such place where residents have worked to stop fracking is St. Tammany Parish. On Aug. 10, a state judge vacated a drilling permit the state had previously given to Helis Oil Co. to start work in Abita Springs. The Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Conservation is now required to do further analysis on the proposed site and the project before issuing a ruling on the permit.

According to Don Briggs, president of the Louisiana Oil & Gas Association, the concern of fracking depleting the water supply here is overblown.


“It takes a lot of water. Louisiana has an abundance of water. Companies find different sources for the water. Pond water, stream water, river water, they get water from a lot of different areas,” he said.

However, Briggs does admit that these fears are based out of previous incidents where companies depleted water supplies.

“There were some cases in north Louisiana when we were fracking a lot of wells, they had some water issues up there. Then the companies started getting their water from different sources rather than using well water,” he said.


According to Briggs, there is fracking in Terrebonne and Lafourche parishes, but the jobs are not as disruptive as in north Louisiana, where there is the Haynesville shale play. While fracking in the Bayou Region is strictly vertical, and only go to about 150 feet, the attractive Haynesville play has companies drilling side-to-side as well.

“The fracking in north Louisiana, those wells are considerably, they drill them down and them drill them laterally. Those horizontal fracks will go out 3,000-4,000 feet, so it’s considerably different,” Briggs said.

While fracking is not a major issue in the local area, Briggs says that the recent agreement between the U.S. and Iran will affect not only frackers but all parts of the oil and gas industry.


“The deal with Iran is going to have an impact on oil prices. They’re going to flood the market, and put a lot more oil into the market when that deal’s done. That will not help Terrebonne, Lafourche or anybody in the state of Louisiana who is in the oil business, I can tell you that,” he said.

Fracking