Our hosts drilled a total of 239 wells in South Texas, which at $7 million per drilled well would indicate a $1.7 Billion investment in drilling wells alone by this one company. They also report a $440 million investment in a fracking team, plus major investments in building collection points for their product and pipelines to move it. Given that they are only the 12th biggest independent operator in the area, it’s easy to see how companies have invested over $100 Billion the Eagle Ford shale play alone.
Nationwide, industry author Daniel Yergin reports an estimated 1.7 million jobs will be created in the natural gas revolution, with an estimated additional $62 billion in Federal and State taxes collected in 2012 as a result of this activity.
The New York Times reports that the largest 50 oil and gas companies spent $126 Billion per year in the United States, over the last six years, in new oil and gas drilling and land acquisition.
For my friends who look in dismay at the drilling industry and fracking in particular I’m compelled to point out that this kind of money doesn’t scare easily. The anti-fracking folks are working hard to find evidence of environmental and health damage as a result of the fracking revolution, and will no doubt do their darndest to keep the pressure on, but they have a tough fight on their hands with this kind of major capital.
A Silver Lining on this Massive Scale, Maybe
There is one silver lining, however, to this kind of massive, money-intensive operation. From a safety and environmental perspective, paradoxically, huge scale could be seen as good news. Big, corporate, capital intensive businesses are all about reducing risks, which will make them extremely sensitive to environmental liabilities and public relations liabilities, in a way that wildcatters simply won’t be. That’s the theory at least.
Of course, our host company gives the State Rep and me the pitch on how safe fracking really is, and the safety mechanisms involved to prevent ground-water contamination.
The gist of his presentation, since you’re curious, is that a series of concrete tubes in overlapping layers prevents fracking fluids, and the eventually extracted hydrocarbons, from leaking into our groundwater. We hope.
See also Part I – Mad Max Bizarro World
Part II – Big, Corporate, Well Capitalized
Part III – The Drilling and Fracking Scene
Part V – The Labor Market in the Eagle Ford
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