Is There Enough Water for All That Fracking?

There is not enough groundwater for the oil industry's fracking of horizontal wells in North Dakota, but there is more than enough water in Lake Sakakawea. [Update: see comment below.]

Each well requires about 4 million gallons of water for fracturing. With estimates of 1,800 new wells next year, that would require about 60 acre-feet of water.

A spokesman said that Lake Sakakawea flows at about 40,000 acre-feet daily. Sixty (6) acre-feet represents about three-tenths of one percent, according to the spokesman.

I could be wrong, but 60/40,000 = 0.0015 or 0.15% or less than two-tenths of one percent, but the point is taken.

The water necessary for fracking wells in North Dakota will not be a limiting factor.

UPDATES

July 24, 2010: A new water pipeline will alleviate ground water stress in Dunn County.