– Assistant Attorney General John Robinson
In March 2015, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) publicized a new regulation known as the Hydraulic Fracturing Rule. This Rule came after more than four years of BLM efforts to govern hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” operations on all federal and Indian lands in the U.S.
Specifically, the Rule was aimed at protecting groundwater resources through new casing and cementing requirements and increasing transparency through greater public disclosure of chemicals used. However, the Rule’s one-size-fits-all approach added red tape and bureaucracy without actually improving resource protection.
A coalition of states and two industry groups immediately challenged the Rule in federal court. Colorado, Wyoming, North Dakota and Utah argued that the Rule should be struck down for two reasons. First, the Rule was outside of the BLM’s authority and second, the BLM did not support the Rule with the best available science required.
In June 2016, the court sided with the states and held that the Rule was outside of the BLM’s power. This decision is currently on appeal.
The Division’s Oil and Gas Program will continue to require best engineering practices for any given location that provides maximum protection to groundwater and other natural resources, the environment, and the citizens of Utah.
Once the injection process is completed, the fluid is pumped to the surface through the wellbore. This fluid is known as produced water and may contain the injected chemicals plus naturally occurring materials such as brines and hydrocarbons. The produced water is typically stored on site in tanks or pits before treatment, disposal or recycling. In many cases, it is injected underground for disposal.
The first commercially successful application of hydraulic fracturing occurred in 1950. Today it is a common practice and is generally necessary to achieve adequate flow rates in oil and gas wells.