Hydraulic Fracturing: Resources for Journalists

 

 

Posted 15 August 2011, by Kevin Krajick, Earth Institute, Columbia University, blogs.ei.columbia.edu

 

(Courtesy Kara Newhouse/flickr)

Earth Institute scientists can offer a wide range of expertise to journalists covering natural-gas production using hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking). This includes basics of energy exploration and extraction; rock mechanics; contaminants in underground water; manmade earthquakes; and economic/political questions surrounding the practice. Here is a brief guide. (Click on hyperlinks for individual contact info and background.)

Roger N. Anderson, a petroleum geologist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and at Columbia’s engineering school, has used hydrofracking to measure rock properties in gas and oil reserves, and holds patents on several innovations to control the process. He can discuss the specifics of hydraulic fracturing, and energy exploration and extraction in general.

Marco Castaldi is an assistant professor at Columbia’s engineering school and at the Earth Engineering Center. He can discuss the basics of how natural gas forms underground, and the extraction and use of natural gas.

Steve Cohen is executive director of The Earth Institute. An ex-EPA official, he writes and lectures extensively on national and regional environmental issues. He can discuss the wider political and economic landscape surrounding hydraulic fracturing. (Read Cohen on hydrofracking in New York State)

Nicholas Christie-Blick is a geologist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory. He can discuss the geological formation, context and extent of gas-bearing shales that are currently the focus of exploration and extraction.

Klaus S. Lackner, professor of geophysics and director of the Lenfest Center for Sustainable Energy, can discuss environmental impacts of natural gas combustion, especially as they relate to other fossil fuels or alternative energy strategies.

Upmanu Lall directs the Columbia Water Center and is professor of earth and environmental engineering. He can discuss groundwater issues in relation to hydraulic fracturing, including those related to basins supplying water to New York City.

Juerg M. Matter, a geochemist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, can discuss the basics of water flow, transport of contaminants in the subsurface and the potential environmental implications of hydrofracking.

Heather Savage, a seismologist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, can discuss the mechanics of how rocks fracture under natural or artificial forces, how basic hydrofracking works, and the implications for manmade earthquakes.

Leonardo Seeber, a seismologist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, is expert in the current state of knowledge regarding manmade earthquakes, and the possibility of quakes related to injection of waste fluids into deep wells.

Martin Stute, a hydrologist at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, can discuss the basics of underground water flow, and how it might potentially relate to drilling.

Tuncel Yegulalp is a professor of mining engineering at Columbia University’s engineering school. He can discuss the basic elements of how hydraulic fracturing works, and how it is used in the energy industry.

• Media Inquiries

  Kevin Krajick
  kkrajick@ei.columbia.edu

  Kyu Lee
  klee@ei.columbia.edu

  David Funkhouser
  dfunkhouser@ei.columbia.edu

 

More: Read coverage of hydraulic fracturing on our State of the Planet blog 

 

Related Stories

• Fracking Gains Ground in New York
• Clean Water vs. Cheap Energy: Can We Have Both?
• Pennsylvania’s Gasland Spill

 

 

http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu/2011/08/15/hydraulic-fracturing-resources-for-journalists/

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