Pipeline dangers abound in Texas

WFAA / News 8

by BRETT SHIPP

The gas pipeline explosion that leveled a San Francisco suburb last month did more than kill, injure and devastate a neighborhood.

It put many North Texans on edge, leaving them wondering what condition Texas pipelines are in... and could a similar tragedy happen here?

The answer is easy. It has already happened here, many times. The better question is: Where and when will it happen again?

Full Story:
http://www.wfaa.com/news/Pipeline-dangers-abound-in-texas-105303193.html

SOUTHLAKE, TX: XTO Energy seeking city gas drilling permit

Reprinted from Star-Telegram / Southlake Journal
By Nicholas Sakelaris

Southlake's drilling ordinance will be put to the test next month with XTO Energy's application for gas wells on the Milner family ranch.

The application calls for up to 18 gas wells on the 52-acre property on Highland Street south of Texas 114 and east of White Chapel Boulevard. The initial application requests just two wells.
The Planning & Zoning Commission is scheduled to vote on the specific use permit for the proposed gas well at its Nov. 4 meeting. The City Council could follow in November or December.

This marks the first time that a gas well has come up for a city vote, so the process could be tedious, some council members have warned.

If the council approves the specific use permit, the next step would be the approval of a gas well permit, which is approved by city staff.

In response to residents' concerns, XTO Energy changed the location of the drill site so it would be more than 1,000 feet from homes on Summerplace Lane. The new application reflects the change and complies with the 1,000-foot buffer in Southlake's drilling ordinance. The two homes on the Milner property are less than 1,000 feet from the wellhead, but the owners have signed waivers consenting to the drilling.

City leaders went over the drilling application at a joint council and commission workshop Oct. 5.
One major concern: where would XTO Energy get the millions of gallons of water needed for hydraulic fracturing? The process, known as fracking, is where gas companies inject water, sand and other chemicals under high-pressure into the well bore to release the gas trapped inside the shale.

Read more: http://www.star-telegram.com/2010/10/19/2559698/xto-energy-seeking-city-gas-drilling.html#ixzz12vHgxH3S

 

Flower Mound Suspends Issuance of Natural Gas Drilling and Production Permits

The Flower Mound Town Manager issued a temporary administrative suspension of the issuance of natural gas drilling and production permits at 12 p.m. on May 28, 2010. In accordance with the suspension, the Town of Flower Mound will not issue any new permits associated with natural gas drilling and production through June 8, 2010. Please read the suspension notice for additional information.

http://www.facebook.com/notes.php?id=86754499396

+++++++++++++++++++++ Flower Mound halts new gas drilling permits
Reprinted from Dallas Morning News Blog by Wendy Hundley

The town issued an administrative moratorium that suspends all permits for new natural gas wells and gas pads.

The action follows an earlier moratorium that halted permits for centralized wastewater, gas lift, compression facilities and related pipelines.
"I've been calling for this for two years and have been ignored," Flower Mound Mayor Pro Tem Al Filidoro said Friday. He said the moratorium will give officials a chance to review the town's ordinance and appoint an oil and gas advisory board.

Filidoro said Friday's action was necessary to prevent gas drilling applications from being submitted before the Town Council meets again on June 7. "We don't want people to come rushing in while we've got a gap here," he said.

Flower Mound resident Bryan Webb, who has leased his mineral rights to a gas company, said the moratorium is not necessary for the council to make changes to the ordinance. "I'm not sure I understand the need for it," said Webb, who lost his bid for a seat on the Town Council earlier this month.

At the June 7 meeting, the council is expected to take action on a citizen-driven campaign calling for a 180-day moratorium on wastewater and other facilities, and a separate 90-day moratorium new gas pads and well permits. They would run concurrently.

The moratoriums underscore the change in the political climate in the southern Denton County town that's been divided over the issue of gas drilling.

On May 8, voters re-elected Filidoro and voted in two new council members -Melissa Northern as Mayor and Steve Lyda in the Place 4 seat. All three candidates campaigned together on a platform that called for slowing the gas boom and review the town's regulations. They said too many variances have weakened the town's ordinance.

On May 19, that trend shifted when the town's Oil and Gas Board of Appeals denied variances for a natural gas well permit on a site south of Flower Mound Road and east of Long Prairie Road.
Filidoro said the applicant has already appealed the decision and the new moratorium would not prevent the appeal from moving forward.