Re: “Fracking raises concerns for environment, health,” letter, Feb. 11.
It is maddening when well-intentioned people, ignorant of geology and well-drilling, rant about fracking.
Before a well can be fracked, the hole has to be cased and the annulus cemented, usually from the bottom of the hole to the blowout preventers on the surface. Packers (plugs) are then run into the hole immediately below and above the strata to be fracked, so that only oil or gas formations are opened up, not aquifers.
The oil industry, like any other, is intrinsically efficient and does not waste time, energy or money fracking freshwater formations. Besides, that is considered bad practice.
Michael Bell
Victoria
