>Further this article isn't even about fracking. The wells water was pumped into were ancient abandoned wells, not fracked wells.*
The oilfield firefighter quoted in the article (who has experience with wells in 102 countries), suspects that the Texas problems are related to fracking. So I don't think fracking can be dismissed out of hand, even if it's the old wells that are failing.
Hawk Dunlap, an oilfield firefighter who lives in Crane County and surveyed the recent blowout for Wight last week. “It’s not clear what the source is.”
...
Dunlap suspects it may be related to the injection of fracking wastewater
Isn't that the same thing the fracking companies tell people when their well water is contaminated? It's not related to fracking because we're not injecting water into your wells?
no, because fracking is the deliberate fracturing of the reservoir with increased pressure, which can penetrate into the water table and contaminate water wells. This is using the old well as a disposal for the used/fracking/whatever water - not repressurizing this well. The column of fluid acts as a cap on the reservoir pressure that wants to vacate the old well. What's likely happening is an alternative exit (maybe created by fracking, maybe not?) is allowing the well to produce, vacating water, contaminants and oil.
The oilfield firefighter quoted in the article (who has experience with wells in 102 countries), suspects that the Texas problems are related to fracking. So I don't think fracking can be dismissed out of hand, even if it's the old wells that are failing.
Hawk Dunlap, an oilfield firefighter who lives in Crane County and surveyed the recent blowout for Wight last week. “It’s not clear what the source is.”
...
Dunlap suspects it may be related to the injection of fracking wastewater