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.
the first sentence is not true in all cases. there are two aquifers which are more than strong enough to handle the demand of fracking. the aquifer at 29 mile north of williston and the aquifer at red mike (nesson valley). both aquifers have never seen a lowering of the water table and both are more than capable of meeting the demand.
ReplyDeletecurrently there are five depots on these two aquifers.
Thank you for pointing that out. I will modify my opening sentence.
ReplyDelete