Gas drilling on NE enters new phase

By Frances Matteck/editor-in-chief

Chesapeake Energy plans to begin its next phase of natural gas drilling, the fracturing process, on NE Campus during spring break.

The procedure will take place at the existing pad site on the northeast side of campus by the Multipurpose Building.

“Hydraulic fracturing, or fraccing, is planned on the TCC campus on or around March 20,” said James Geiser, marketing communications director for Chesapeake. “Typically, the process takes approximately three to five days per well.”

Since fraccing requires large amounts of water, Geiser said Chesapeake will need to transport 100 20,000-gallon tanks of water to campus.

Chesapeake wants to complete the fracturing process over spring break so that it’s not invasive to the students or the traffic on Precinct Line Road, said Mike Tankersley, plant superintendent for NE building services.

No drilling, producing or other operations shall produce a sound level greater than 78 decibels when measured at a distance of 300 feet from the production equipment, a Hurst city ordinance states. However, the same ordinance says that formation fracturing can go up to 85 decibels.

“There are moments when fraccing is louder [than drilling] but does not go on continually during the day,” Geiser said.

Chesapeake will create sound barriers to lessen the amount of noise produced.

“If the level of sound increases beyond a certain amount during this drilling and fracturing process, Chesapeake is required to set up an attenuating process,” said David Wells, vice chancellor of operations and planning services.

Chesapeake will set up a meter to monitor the decibel level of the fracturing and drilling process continuously and will report the levels to the plant on NE Campus.

“Tarrant County College can order the drilling company to reduce the sound level further if the noise has an adverse effect on student activity,” Tankersley said.

At this time, additional drilling on NE Campus is expected to begin in April.