By Edna Horton/managing editor
A new pond with a fountain is being planned to make the gas drill sites on NE Campus more aesthetically pleasing.
David Hoelke, director of system infrastructure for TCC, said the pond will be on the southeast corner of the campus. He said construction will begin after final approval by the cities of Hurst and North Richland Hills. He said the construction will not disturb any student parking or buildings on campus.
Hoelke said water for the pond will come from natural drainage from the campus and a dedicated well pump. He said after the fracing process has been completed, the pond will be used for storm water detainment.
Brian Murnahan, communications manager for Chesapeake Energy, said the cost for construction has not been determined. He said Chesapeake is working closely with the college on plans for the pond. Chesapeake is funding the pond, and TCC is providing funds for a fountain. He said right now plans include planting 110 trees around the area.
Murnahan said the fracing process is done once at each well. Fracing creates small fissures in shale that allow natural gas to flow. He said the mixture used for fracing is 99.5 percent of water and sand, and each fracing company uses its own measure of mixture of other additives. He said once water has been used for fracing, it is hauled to a holding tank.
“It is a common misconception that water used for the fracing process is sent back to where it came from,” he said.
Murnahan said the fracing process takes about a week to complete. The water for the pond will be replenished by fire hydrants from the city of Hurst, he said.
