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Permalink Reply by Dan on August 15, 2012 at 2:51pm

"enviomental" may get confused with another new term "enviro-metal" the metal scrap we send to China that returns as solar panel mounting frames and Chevy cars and trucks.  Could also easily be confused with "envio-metal" the piercing drone like metal music that the "enviomental movement" prefers while spiking trees or hanging out protesting chained to the gate of the work site. 

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Permalink Reply by Jack Straw on August 16, 2012 at 3:56pm

RE: ""enviomental" may get confused with another new term"

The reality is that for the fracanistas, confusion is one of their best disinformation tools.

;-)    JS

 

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Permalink Reply by Jack Straw on August 16, 2012 at 3:53pm

An addition to Jack’s Dictionary: Fracenstein.

 

Fracenstein (aka Fracenstein Monster): an individual whose spurious anti-fracing claims are truly grotesque and monstrous. Example: someone who claims that propant used in fracing causes silicosis in individuals far removed from well site.

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Permalink Reply by fotto on August 17, 2012 at 2:41am

What would you call someone with concerns living within say 500' of the well? Maybe "Son of Fracenstein"? It seems you're insinuating there's some level of safe vs. less safe zone.

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Permalink Reply by Jack Straw on August 17, 2012 at 7:39am

What would you call someone with concerns living within say 500' of the well? Maybe "Son of Fracenstein"? It seems you're insinuating there's some level of safe vs. less safe zone.

 

RE: “What would you call someone with concerns living within say 500' of the well?”

If they are that close to the well, they would almost certainly be within a unit.

I would call them lucky. If the well(s) come in really good, I would call them truly Blessed; as they will soon be received large to huge royalty checks.

 

RE: “It seems you're insinuating there's some level of safe vs. less safe zone.”

I do not understand how you could possibly reach that conclusion from any of my comments. In the immediate proximity of the well site there will be some dangers – you could trip over a hose, you could be run over by a frac truck. But, contracting silicosis  from frac sands not one of the dangers – if silicosis were a risk, the respiratory wings of PA, WV, OH, TX, OK, CO, ND, LA hospitals would be filled with the people who work fracing wells every day.

 

The purpose of the sand used in fracing is as a propant:  it is intended to both hold open the fracture created in the fracing process and to provide porosity and permeabilty (allowing the movement of hydrocarbons out of the formation and into the well bore).

 

The maximum theoretical porosity (% of void space) is the situation in which you have stacked identical sized spheres (think of a large stack of bowling balls).

When the spheres are of varying sizes, the porosity of these (variably sized) spheres decreases. When, rather that spheres, the particles are irregular in shape and size – porosity decreases yet further.

 

Since the desire in fracing is to maximize porosity (increases in permeability tend to directly follow increases in porosity) – the desire is to have clean frac sand with uniform size and spherical shape. These sands are cleaned and screened to accomplish this (they do not want dust, and they do want uniform size and shape. For frac sand they seek out a certain type of sand – pure silica sand.  They seek out sand that is spherical in shape.

An interesting fact is that wind blown sand (think desert sand dunes) tends to be smooth and spherical in shape. The action of collision of the sands in shifting sand dunes rubs off sharp edges. The sands that were shaped by wind action are referred to as “aeolian” sands. The Oriskany Sandstone was an eolian deposit that was subsequently reworked by a marine transgression (ocean incursion).

 

Now getting to the boogeyman of silicosis; silicosis is when fine silica (sand) gets into the recesses of the lung.

According to my Medical Dictionary: “Silicosis may take 15 or more years of exposure to develop.” Silicosis would seem to require chronic, long term (read years) exposure.

 

The risk of developing silicosis would be significantly greater from a sharp (irregular shaped) sand – one that can easily attach. A smooth spherical sand (read frac sand) is not the type of sand that would be prone to becoming trapped in the far recesses of the lungs.

 

Contrary to what one uneducated person stated, Beach Sand (sharp, irregular, variable size) is significantly more dangerous than frac sand.

 

Also, there is much more danger associated with the “play sand” in the backyard sand box that from the (highly unlikely) exposure to frac sand from the fracing of a nearby well. I invite you to “Google” the terms “play sand”, “sandbox sand” and “playground sand” – you when then learn where the real dangers of silicosis reside in your neighborhood. You will be shocked by the dangers lurking in that backyard sandbox!

 

The specter of these fictitious dangerous “plumes” of frac sand is a delusion.

 

I have added a new entry to Jack’s Dictionary: Ferulla Godzilla.

A Ferulla Godzilla is a spurious claim that is so monstrous, ridiculous and laughable that  most enviomentalists, Chicken Littles, trolls  and fracensteins would not repeat it.

 

By the way are you aware (as I suspect you are) that “fotto” in Italian (latin) is an extremely vulgar word; a word you will not find in Jack’s Dictionary.

 

All IMHO,

                     JS

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Permalink Reply by fotto on August 17, 2012 at 8:08am

Actually, fotto is a combination of my first and last name, and after googling the Italian translation I now see why it's not part of your dictionary. Learn something new every day right?

Regarding:

"If they're that close to the well, they would almost certainly be within a unit.

I would call them lucky."

MAYBE, unless of course they don't own their mineral rights (which is the case).

Quite possible they're just "fotto'd" LOL. YMMV as to whether you consider that the case or not.

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Permalink Reply by Jack Straw on August 17, 2012 at 9:16am

RE: “fotto is a combination of my first and last name”

 

Glad to hear the rationale for your moniker.

If (50+ years ago) Father Gilotti had heard me using that word, I would have immediately had my mouth washed out – and I would still be saying “Hail Marys”.

 

Sorry for the following rant, but some people’s actions simply fail the basic smell test.

 

Landowners are not in a position to understand the intricacies of the fracing process; and “fear of the unknown” is ingrained in human nature.

It is truly immoral to use this “fear of the unknown” to promulgate patently false fears in people who want nothing other than to know the real truth. It is truly immoral to promulgate patently false fears regarding potential health damages to a person and their family.

 

I find the situation truly reprehensible that an individual would attempt to frighten people with the false insinuation that using frac sand at a nearby well site could result in people developing silicosis. I have to ask myself “What kind of person stoops so low? What kind of person uses such lies as their currency? What kind of person cries “FIRE” in a crowded theater”. How pathetic!

 

OBTW, it is common to put some silica in containers of table salt (as an anti-caking agent) – does that mean you are subjecting yourself to the risk of developing silicosis every time you pick up a salt shaker? I think not.

 

 

All IMHO,

                   JS

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Permalink Reply by fotto on August 17, 2012 at 10:57am

"OBTW, it is common to put some silica in containers of table salt (as an anti-caking agent) – does that mean you are subjecting yourself to the risk of developing silicosis every time you pick up a salt shaker? I think not"

Certainly not, and especially if you're on a heart healthy diet.

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Permalink Reply by lynn on August 17, 2012 at 12:00pm

Might ought to read some of the new health studies.  It seems that they have now found out that too little salt is worse than too much salt.  Ahh the winds of change.

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Permalink Reply by Dan on August 17, 2012 at 3:41pm

Ferulla Godzilla is my personal favorite in your dictionary,  Thanks

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Permalink Reply by lynn on August 17, 2012 at 12:02pm

Love your dictionary,  saved it for future reference!!

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Permalink Reply by Jack Straw on August 17, 2012 at 12:59pm

Thanks, lynn

There have been two recent additions to Jack's Dictionary:

Pretendgineer: an individual who constantly alludes to the fact that they "have a background in engineering", yet will not specify their engineering education, engineering discipline or engineering experience.

Environonasty: an individual who resorts to insult/slander/profanity when their specious claims are publicly debunked. "When the debate is lost, slander becomes the tool of the loser." --- Socrates

 

JS

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