Gas well blowout causes massive fluid spill
ABC news - 21.4.2011
A gas well blowout spilled thousands of gallons of hydraulic fracking drilling fluid water in the US state of Pennsylvania, state and local regulators said.
The well, operated by Chesapeake Energy, began spewing fluid at 11:45 pm on Tuesday (local time) during the controversial “fracking” drilling process which involves blasting shale rock with water, sand and chemicals to release trapped natural gas.
The spill comes at a sensitive time for energy drillers, exactly one year on from the massive BP Gulf of Mexico oil spill, and just as regulators are mulling whether to allow fracking in neighbouring New York state.
“An equipment failure occurred, allowing the release of fracking fluids,” stated Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection officials.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/04/21/3197950.htm?section=justin