By Shelly Williams/editor-in-chief
NE Campus could see three additional natural gas wells on the northeast side of the campus, said Brian Murnahan, Chesapeake Energy communications manager.
However, the decision to dig the wells was tabled during a Hurst city council meeting earlier in August.
The first time the idea of additional wells was proposed, Murnahan said the city council was all for it. But a month later when Chesapeake pitched the idea a second time, Murnahan said the officials changed their mind and chose to review their gas-drilling ordinance before giving a definitive answer.
If the wells are permitted, the NE Campus would have nine wells total, three on the southwest side of campus and six on the northeast. The wells are part of the Barnett Shale, a natural gas source that stretches across Texas and Oklahoma.
So far, NE Campus has two natural gas pad sites. All three wells on the northeast side have been drilled and fracked. Fracking creates small fissures in shale that allow natural gas to flow.
“If there is no fracking, the well is nothing but a hole in the ground,” Murnahan said.
Only one well has been drilled on the campus’ southwest side.
“The most significant change has been the building of the retention pond on NE Campus this summer,” said Steven Kleypas, TCC’s director of environmental management.
The frac pond joins both drilling sites, Murnahan said. The pond is used for irrigation, storm water management and development of the gas wells on the campus.
“Another benefit is that it adds a beautiful touch to the campus entrance,” Kleypas said. “Since the pond is primarily recharged from storm water runoff, students, staff and visitors can have a dramatic effect on its continued cleanliness and beauty.”
Despite the new frac pond, Murnahan said no pipeline has been connected to the drilled wells on NE to produce natural gas. But he said that work could possibly happen within the next six months.
However, SE Campus has four wells that have been connected to pipeline and are producing natural gas. Chesapeake has no plans to drill on South Campus property at this time, Murnahan said.
