Natural sources of methane are far more likely to contaminate groundwater than hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, according to a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded study published Monday. The study examined methane levels in groundwater supplies going back 25 years and determined that biologically generated methane and naturally occurring coal were the primary sources of methane in groundwater. The research also disproves environmental claims that methane from fracking causes [Read more]
Saudi Arabia Snubs OPEC And Embraces Low Oil Prices
Saudi Arabia’s energy minister announced Sunday his country will continue keeping the price of oil low. The statement is further evidence the country won’t cut oil production to raise the global price. Oil is cheap today by historical standards, selling for a mere $45.20 per barrel. That’s less than half the price it was a mere two years ago. “The Kingdom secures the flow of oil supplies as it retains a spare production capacity,” Khalid al-Falih, the Saudi energy minister, said in a statement. [Read more]
Anti-Fracking Study Gets Retracted for Basic Math Error
A University of Cincinnati study regularly cited by activists claiming that hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, causes air pollution was quietly retracted due to “errors” and “incorrect” calculations. The researchers admitted that correcting their errors “changes air concentrations significantly relative to those reported in the published article. This correction also changes some of the conclusions reported in the original article.” Researchers retracted the study because of a basic math [Read more]