Comfort Zone
Natural gas safety and consumer information • February 2013 • nwnatural.com
What’s all this talk about fracking?
NW Natural doesn’t engage in drilling
operations. But we care about the
environmental impact of the product
we sell – and we know our customers
do, too. With all the talk about hydraulic
fracturing – fracking – going on
these days, we wanted to share some
information about responsible gas
production with our customers.
Based on reviews of available scientific
research and hands-on site visits, we
believe gas development, including
hydraulic fracturing, can and is being
done safely and in an environmentally
sound way. But we also know that
ensuring the consistent use of best
practices in all cases is essential.
To that end, we are working with
environmental protection groups and
several major natural gas suppliers on
the issue of responsible gas development.
Our goal is to encourage our gas suppliers
to follow best practices – including and
beyond state and federal regulations – in
all aspects of their drilling operations.
Please visit the Responsible Gas Production
section of nwnatural.com to watch two brief
videos about gas production. You can also read
about what producers are doing to protect the
environment and address the potential impacts
of gas drilling. Also check this section for future
updates on NW Natural’s efforts to collaborate
with environmental groups and producers to
further gas production innovations.
What is fracking?
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a
technique that uses water, sand and small
amounts of chemical additives to free
up oil and natural gas from dense rock
formations. But many people use the
term fracking to refer to all natural gas
production.
Wellhead
Cement
Soil
Conductor
Casing
Groundwater
Cement
Surface
Casing
Drilling
Fluid
Intermediate
Casing
Is fracking a new technique?
No. Gas drillers have used hydraulic
fracturing for more than 60 years. Fracking has been used in more than 1 million
U.S. wells since the 1940s. Only recently
has the industry combined fracking with
a process called horizontal drilling, a
common construction technique. This
combination spurred production of shale
gas, bringing vast new supplies of natural
gas to U.S. markets.
Why use fracking?
Hydraulic fracturing frees up gas
from dense rocks, making a well more
productive. Until gas drillers started
combining fracking and horizontal
drilling, the industry thought it was
too difficult to extract gas from shale.
But these two technologies have made
gas production substantially more
efficient. One result is that companies
require significantly less land for drilling,
while at the same time getting more gas
out of each well.
Can fracking be done safely?
Like any industrial process, gas production
can have environmental impacts. But
today, gas development – including
fracking – is being performed responsibly
by many producers, with minimal
environmental problems. The gas
industry, supported by state and federal
regulation and academic research, has
made great strides in reducing its impact
on the environment and neighboring
communities.
In the case of shale gas, most fracking
occurs more than a mile below the surface.
That means thousands of feet of dense
rock protects ground and surface water
from fracking. And rapid innovation is
occurring in all areas of the production
process– helping producers ensure water
safety through proper well construction,
reduce water use by recycling, lower
emissions by using natural gas instead of
diesel or gasoline in vehicles, and prevent
methane releases by using new protocols.
NW Natural customers have
saved $400 million over the
last four years due to the
surge in domestic supplies
and lower natural gas prices.
Are there benefits?
Yes. New shale gas supplies – made possible
by fracking and horizontal drilling – have
brought substantial benefits to the U.S. in a
few short years. These include:
• Saving energy customers about $250
billion nationwide;
• Improved air quality and reduced
carbon emissions as natural gas replaces
coal in power plants;
• The potential for greater energy
independence through natural gas
vehicle use;
• New manufacturing jobs because of
low gas prices; and
• A practical backup for renewable
power.
Visit nwnatural.com for more
information.
Driving New Innovations
NW Natural is a local gas distribution company and is not in the business
Encana is a responsible gas developer that is
of gas development. However, NW Natural has entered a joint venture with
pioneering many innovations to reduce the
Encana, a Canadian-based company, to invest in natural gas wells at the
environmental impact of gas development. Read
Jonah Field in Wyoming. These wells are expected to provide Oregon
more about the best practices being used at
customers with low-cost gas supplies over the next 30 years.
Encana’s Jonah Field at nwnatural.com.
Enter the
You’ve probably heard of the NW Natural Smart Energy program: how
NW Natural customers are offsetting the carbon emissions from their
natural gas use to help fund biogas projects in the Northwest – helping
the environment and local farmers.
One of our key Smart Energy partners is
taking it a step further.
Enter the Paint Your Home Green
Contest sponsored by Smart Energy from
NW Natural and Miller Paint Company.
By entering or being a Smart Energy
customer, you could win the grand prize of
having the exterior of your house painted
with low-VOC paint from Miller Paint
Company.
The second-prize winner will have one inside room painted with
environmentally friendly Acro Pure Green Seal ™ Certified paint.
And 25 third-place winners will be awarded a voucher to pick up a
gallon of Acro Pure paint from a local Miller Paint store.
To learn more, see the official rules and enter the contest, visit
nwnaturaloffers.com.
Fireplace Safety
There is nothing like sitting in front of a natural gas
fireplace with a good book during a winter storm.
Many natural gas fireplaces offer ample heat – even
when power lines have been knocked down –
ensuring your home stays comfortable. Plus you don’t
have to worry about braving the cold to chop wood.
Here are a few guidelines to help you safely enjoy your
natural gas fireplace:
• Make sure your fireplace has the proper
permitting and is professionally installed.
• While NW Natural prefers installation of vented
products, be sure to ask your certified contractor for
recommended safety precautions when installing
and using vent-free gas fireplaces.
Remember that fireplace exteriors can be hot. Use
caution when placing objects nearby and be sure the
glass has cooled before touching it. Also, make sure
hearth mantels and decorations meet the clearance
specifications recommended by the manufacturer.
No purchase necessary to enter.
If you smell gas, shut off the flame
immediately and call
NW Natural at 800.882.3377
Natural gas fireplaces
showcased in
luxury hotel
Nothing chases away the winter blues
like a warm, cozy natural gas fireplace
– and room service. At Inn at the 5th, the new boutique
hotel in downtown Eugene, natural gas fireplaces add
ambiance and comfort in each of the guest rooms. The
hotel’s six luxurious suites feature a one-of-kind three-sided
fireplace that warms the bedroom and the bath.
While fireplace inserts are good for zonal heating, the hotel
is also using natural gas to warm the entire hotel and for
endless hot water in guest rooms.
For more information and to view the rooms,
visit innat5th.com.