Fracking Worries Scientists

Cradock - 16 February 2011

Scientists concerned about the threat to South Africa’s scarce water resources are urging caution before any decisions are taken to frack* large portions of the country for shale gas (methane).

Royal Dutch Shell

A number of companies, including Royal Dutch Shell and Sasol have applied for permission to prospect across a broad swathe of South Africa, including most of the Karoo and stretching up to Eastern Free State and the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands.

Professor Doreen Atkinson of the Centre for Development Support at the University of Free State (UFS) says:

“There is a prima facie case to put a hold on any decisions around fracking until studies have been done. These studies may take at least 3 to 5 years. It would also be prudent to first see the results of the American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) which has embarked on a study. Its results are only expected in late 2012.”

The Karoo Development Foundation (www.aridareas.co.za), a  public-good Trust created to promote development and facilitation in the Karoo, has expressed the view that mining is usually unsustainable (the resource runs out eventually, and mining often causes economic damage).  Other economic sectors, such as tourism and agriculture, are more productive in the long-term.

Dr Danie Vermeulen of the UFS’s Institute for Groundwater Studies has noted that “we simply don't know what the outcome of such fracking will be in the Karoo”.

Geologist and palaeontologist Professor Bruce Rubidge of the University of Witwatersrand’s Bernard Price Institute says:

Poisoned Water

“We need a far greater understanding of the groundwater resources of the Karoo and what the effect of fracking will be on these resources before we can agree. The fact that companies like Shell are saying that they will use sea- and brack- water for the fracking may have unwelcome effects on the salinity of the groundwater. Also in the fracking process there will undoubtedly be some of this sea and brack water which has been contaminated with chemicals and which will spill out on the surface, as has happened in many recorded cases in America. What will it do to the soil?

“A massive drilling programme to set up a ‘grid’ of holes, with convoys of massive trucks travelling over Karoo veld will undoubtedly have a serious impact on veld and grazing. This is especially valid in areas which get very little rain and it takes a long time for vegetation to regenerate. I have seen the negative effects that the extensive drilling programme for uranium has had on the veld in the southern Karoo.”

Dr Anthony Turton, a well-known trans-disciplinary water scientist, formerly with the CSIR, says the precautionary principle must apply here.

“ In the absence of certainty, it is prudent to assume the worst and respond accordingly. In the case of fracking, there are many unknowns technologically. At best it is chasing a highly marginal resource. Invariably the costs exceed the benefits if one takes potential environmental damage into consideration.  But because the benefits are so few, if things go wrong, there is not enough to pay for environmental remediation. “

Long-distance swimmer Lewis Gordon Pugh (www.lewispugh.com ), who last year received the South Africa’s highest honour from President Zuma for his environmental campaigning, has stated that he completely opposes efforts to drill in the area:

He said “Growing up in Grahamstown I learnt how scarce water is in the Karoo. Why on earth would we allow a foreign company to come and drill for gas in a vulnerable ecosystem? Why would we risk contaminating our water supply? It is morally wrong. It also makes poor economic sense. We must look after our water for future generations.”

Grassroots and Vegetables

In addition to scientists and campaigners like Pugh, the Wilderness Foundation and WWF South Africa have stated their opposition to fracking in South Africa.

Smaller grassroots organisations are also concerned. The Southern Cape Land Committee, which supports farmworkers and emerging farmers in the Eastern Cape Karoo say this coming on top of news of how mining has polluted water with Acid Mine Drainage on Gauteng has them worried.

“You can’t grow vegetables or crops with polluted water. People like this come promising jobs, but all they leave is damage,” said Milton Spogter, based in Graaff-Reinet.

The various comments  have been welcomed by  a broad stakeholder group that has recently formed, called Treasure the Karoo Action Group (TKAG).

The TKAG, a coalition supporting land-owners, communities, academics, and various groups concerned with potential fracking, is apprehensive that South Africa’s very scarce water resources will be contaminated. Their fears stem from dozens of recorded incidents in America where fracking fluids (a consistently undivulged cocktail of toxic chemicals) and methane have ruined borehole wells and have caused a number of explosions.

Each time a well is ‘fracked’ (and this can be done up to 18 times), around 10 000 litres of these chemicals, and sand are added to a massive amount of water (around 15 million litres) to fracture the shale rock, allowing the methane to escape. Thousands of wells may be drilled.

It’s a controversial process, especially in the Karoo, where thousands of farms and more than 80 towns are completely dependent on scarce groundwater.

Treasure the Karoo

In the TKAG’s opinion, it appears that any job creation will be minimal.

“The Karoo does not stand to benefit from any revenue from fracking. Quite the contrary. On the other hand, tourism in the Karoo has grown exponentially during the last few years, and we must protect this industry which is a much more sustainable, long-term resource than mining, and creates more jobs.  Furthermore, these enterprises are more open to career advancement and business ownership by previously marginalised communities,” said TKAG founder and spokesman Jonathan Deal.

He pointed out that the fracking issue has caused an unprecedented mobilisation of civil society organisations in the Karoo and beyond.  “This suggests that local people are sceptical about the undertakings of mining companies to protect or repair the environment, as well as the ability or political will of Government to enforce environmental legislation.”

• For more information, please contact Jonathan Deal on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 023 358 9902.

Additional information

• What is fracking?
  Hydraulic fracturing for methane or shale gas (fracking for short) is a high-pressure process of repeatedly bursting shale rock layers deep underground using millions of litres of water, chemicals and sand so that tightly bound methane can escape.  Most of the chemicals often used in fracking are known – many are toxic and carcinogenic – but corporates prefer not to reveal the mix, components or proportions, saying these are proprietary secrets.
• What is shale gas?

Often referred to as ‘natural gas’, this is methane. It is a potent greenhouse gas which exacerbates climate change. It is odourless and colourless. Too much trapped in a house (as has happened in American houses where methane has entered the water supply) poses a risk of asphyxiation and violent explosions .

• Who wants to frack South Africa?

Falcon Oil & Gas (www.falconoilandgas.com), an American company, has already completed their public consultation through SRK (www.srk.co.za) to prospect for shale gas on 2 500 Karoo farms stretching from Merweville to Aberdeen and beyond.

Royal Dutch Shell Shell (www.shell.com) has just begun its public consultancy process through Golder Associates (www.golder.co.za) prospect for shale gas over 90 000 square kilometres of Karoo just north of Falcon’s concession. They will be handing their Environmental Management Plan in to the Petroleum Agency of South Africa in April 2011.

Bundu Gas, which was first in the fray to drill for gas, was stopped by court action. It has been bought by Sunset Energy (www.sunsetenergy.com.au) which intends applying to prospect in the 3 100 square kilometre concession area near Graaff-Reinet.

Sasol (www.sasol.com) , America’s Chesapeake Energy (www.chk.com) and Norwegian company Statoil ASA (www.statoil.com) have also received a Technical Cooperation Permits to  frack 88 000 square kilometres of the Eastern Cape, Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. They have not yet begun public consultation.

For more information, see the exploration map on Petroleum Agency SA’s website: www.petroleumagencysa.com.

• How was TKAG formed?

The TKAG sprang from a rapidly expanding Facebook page established by writer Jonathan Deal at the end of January 2011. Called Chase SHELL OIL out of the Karoo, it already has well over 2 500 members, who are posting the latest research and updates on the site daily.

Deal (who wrote a well-received book called Timeless Karoo in 2007) was initially bemused by the massive wave of support, but because of his passion for this highly biodiverse arid region, decided to take things a step further.

• What is the TKAG’s Mission?

We commit to raise and maintain awareness of the Karoo at every level in our land,
to mobilise manpower and money to oppose fracking and its proponents.
We will harness our energy and resources consistently to protect and develop the Karoo sustainably and in an environmentally sensitive way for all the people who love her and live in her – today and in the future.

Useful links:

• Karoo Anti Hydraulic Fracturing Action Network: http://kahfan.blogspot.com/
• Wikipedia’s definition of fracking: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_fracturing
• Fracking – Pollution and social strife: http://www.theecologist.org/trial_investigations/687515/us_natural_gas_drilling_boom_linked_to_pollution_and_social_strife.html
• Vanity Fair business feature on Fracking http://www.vanityfair.com/business/features/2010/06/fracking-in-pennsylvania-201006?currentPage=1
• Johann Rupert Podcast with Alec Hogg http://www.moneyweb.co.za/mw/view/mw/en/page299360?oid=527741&sn=2009+Detail
• The Daily Maverick’s report http://www.thedailymaverick.co.za/article/2011-02-08-royal-dutch-shell-really-wants-to-frack-up-the-karoo
• Business Day – Fracking fracas reveals lack of Government planning

http://www.businessday.co.za/Articles/Content.aspx?id=133655