Brine injection wells mean money for Ohio
COLUMBUS
Ohio has made $1 million off brine injection wells during the first nine months of 2011, according to figures from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
Brine is a byproduct of gas and oil drilling including hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in which water, chemicals and sand are blasted into rocks thousands of feet below the ground to unlock natural oil and gas.
The fee, which the state implemented last year with the passage of Senate Bill 165 in 2010, levies a 5-cent-per-barrel tax on all injected brine that originates from Ohio.
It also imposes a 20-cent-per-barrel tax on injected brine from out-of-state.
The latter fee was implemented under the theory that it would deter oil and gas drilling operations in Pennsylvania and West Virginia from transporting brine water to the Buckeye State.
But so far, that hasn’t happened.
Read the complete story in Wednesday’s Vindicator and at Vindy.com.
Comments
What is going to happen to those that own homes that depend upon wells as a water source when this practice causes wells to go bad.The state is putting money ahead of protecting homeowners whose houses will become worthless if their water goes bad because of the brime injectons
As long as those homeowners limit their drilling for water to under 9,000' there should be no problem . . . ..
WOW 1 million dollars. Ohio has around 11.5 million people. That would be around $0.08 per person. What a great deal for the citizens of Ohio. Plus stan said "there should be no problem."
Once these wells start producing, Ohio will be reaping the benefits!
Ever watch a glass recently emptied of a cold liquid mysteriously skate across a table as the water from condensation provides a suspension and lubrication layer between the glass and the table?
Sometimes it takes a little tap to get it moving, of course.