Charles Groat, University Of Texas Professor, Sparks Controversy With Fracking Study

HOUSTON (AP) — The University of Texas will independently review a study that found no link between hydraulic fracturing and water contamination after learning the lead author is a paid board member of a company that uses the drilling method.

Charles "Chip" Groat, a professor of geologic sciences and associate director of the university's Energy Institute, is also a board member of Plains Exploration and Production Co.

Plains, like many other companies, uses hydraulic fracturing to drill into impermeable layers of rock to extract natural gas and oil. Groat received from Plains more than $413,000 in cash and stock in 2011. Groat did not disclose his position with Plains to supervisors or in the study.

Critics of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, believe it harms the environment. Industry leaders insist it is safe.

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• State Lawmakers And Environmental Activists Express Opposition To Hydro Fracking

  NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 11: Eric Weltman of Food & Water Watch attends a news conference and rally against hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, in New York State on January 11, 2012 in New York City. The event, which was held on the steps of City Hall, called for an end to the controversial gas drilling method as environmental groups increasingly warn about contamination of the state's aquifers that could poison its drinking water. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

• Department Of Environmental Conservation Holds Hydro Fracking Hearing

  NEW YORK, NY - NOVEMBER 30: Opponents and supporters of gas-drilling, or fracking, walk into the last of four public hearings on proposed fracking regulations in upstate New York on November 30, 2011 in New York City. Fracking, a process that injects millions of gallons of chemical mixed water into a well in order to release gas, has become a contentious issue in New York as critics of the process belive it contaminates drinking water among other hazards. NewYork City gets much of its drinking water from upstate reservoirs. If the regulations are approved, drilling in the upstate New York Marcellus Shale could begin next year. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

• Cuadrilla Shale Fracking Plant

  PRESTON, LANCASHIRE - OCTOBER 07: Engineers on the drilling platform of the Cuadrilla shale fracking facility on October 7, 2012 in Preston, Lancashire. The controversial method of extracting gas by pumping high pressure water and chemicals into shale formations deep underground has been blamed for two minor earthquakes in the surrounding region. Environmental campaigners are calling for a halt to the drilling of what Cuadrilla believe could be significant reserves of natural gas. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

• Cuadrilla Shale Fracking Plant

  PRESTON, LANCASHIRE - OCTOBER 07: Engineers at work on the drilling platform of the Cuadrilla shale fracking facility on October 7, 2012 in Preston, Lancashire. The controversial method of extracting gas by pumping high pressure water and chemicals into shale formations deep underground has been blamed for two minor earthquakes in the surrounding region. Environmental campaigners are calling for a halt to the drilling of what Cuadrilla believe could be significant reserves of natural gas. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

• Cuadrilla Shale Fracking Plant

  PRESTON, LANCASHIRE - OCTOBER 07: General views of the Cuadrilla shale fracking facility on October 7, 2012 in Preston, Lancashire. The controversial method of extracting gas by pumping high pressure water and chemicals into shale formations deep underground has been blamed for two minor earthquakes in the surrounding region. Environmental campaigners are calling for a halt to the drilling of what Cuadrilla believe could be significant reserves of natural gas. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

• Cuadrilla Shale Fracking Plant

  PRESTON, LANCASHIRE - OCTOBER 07: Engineers look at the Cuadrilla shale fracking facility on October 7, 2012 in Preston, Lancashire. The controversial method of extracting gas by pumping high pressure water and chemicals into shale formations deep underground has been blamed for two minor earthquakes in the surrounding region. Environmental campaigners are calling for a halt to the drilling of what Cuadrilla believe could be significant reserves of natural gas. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

• Cuadrilla Shale Fracking Plant

  PRESTON, LANCASHIRE - OCTOBER 07: A lump of shale rock on display at the Cuadrilla shale fracking facility on October 7, 2012 in Preston, Lancashire. The controversial method of extracting gas by pumping high pressure water and chemicals into shale formations deep underground has been blamed for two minor earthquakes in the surrounding region. Environmental campaigners are calling for a halt to the drilling of what Cuadrilla believe could be significant reserves of natural gas. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

• Cuadrilla Shale Fracking Plant

  PRESTON, LANCASHIRE - OCTOBER 07: Engineers on the drilling platform of the Cuadrilla shale fracking facility on October 7, 2012 in Preston, Lancashire. The controversial method of extracting gas by pumping high pressure water and chemicals into shale formations deep underground has been blamed for two minor earthquakes in the surrounding region. Environmental campaigners are calling for a halt to the drilling of what Cuadrilla believe could be significant reserves of natural gas. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

• Cuadrilla Shale Fracking Plant

  PRESTON, LANCASHIRE - OCTOBER 07: Engineers at work on the drilling platform of the Cuadrilla shale fracking facility on October 7, 2012 in Preston, Lancashire. The controversial method of extracting gas by pumping high pressure water and chemicals into shale formations deep underground has been blamed for two minor earthquakes in the surrounding region. Environmental campaigners are calling for a halt to the drilling of what Cuadrilla believe could be significant reserves of natural gas. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

• Cuadrilla Shale Fracking Plant

  PRESTON, LANCASHIRE - OCTOBER 07: Drill heads on display at the entrance to the Cuadrilla shale fracking facility on October 7, 2012 in Preston, Lancashire. The controversial method of extracting gas by pumping high pressure water and chemicals into shale formations deep underground has been blamed for two minor earthquakes in the surrounding region. Environmental campaigners are calling for a halt to the drilling of what Cuadrilla believe could be significant reserves of natural gas. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

• Cuadrilla Shale Fracking Plant

  PRESTON, LANCASHIRE - OCTOBER 07: An engineer displays a lump of shale rock at the Cuadrilla shale fracking facility on October 7, 2012 in Preston, Lancashire. The controversial method of extracting gas by pumping high pressure water and chemicals into shale formations deep underground has been blamed for two minor earthquakes in the surrounding region. Environmental campaigners are calling for a halt to the drilling of what Cuadrilla believe could be significant reserves of natural gas. (Photo by Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

• Hydraulic Fracturing Prevention Press Conference

  NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: Actor/director Mark Ruffalo (C) speaks at the Hydraulic Fracturing prevention press conference urging the protection of the drinking water source of 15 million Americans at Foley Square on April 25, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images)

• Hydraulic Fracturing Prevention Press Conference

  NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 25: (L-R) Actor/director Mark Ruffalo, Denise Katzman, Wenonah Hauter, and Water Defense co-founder/campaign director Claire Sandberg attend the Hydraulic Fracturing prevention press conference urging the protection of the drinking water source of 15 million Americans at Foley Square on April 25, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by D Dipasupil/Getty Images)

• Josh Fox on Obama, the EPA, and House Republicans Who Had Him Arrested

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Comments

[Lorraine Gudas]

11:23 PM on 08/06/2012

Shame on Dr. Groat. He should know better. He is a fraud and should step down from his position, given recent events.

[Eric Ryan 12]

01:24 PM on 07/31/2012

Wow. that's pretty bad. learn more at shalestuff.com

[weathwoods]

05:08 PM on 07/30/2012

http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/amall/incidents_where_hydraulic_frac.html

Read these first person accounts of what hydro fracking did to their water.

[Lachelle Wolfe]

10:28 AM on 07/27/2012

Gas fracturing trades one scarce resource for another, that EPA estimates water use for fracking nationwide was 70 billion to 140 billion gallons in 2010.
http://www.earthworksaction.org/earthblog/detail/water_fracking_sucks_more_than_you_think

[solarian28]

09:50 AM on 07/27/2012

There are ways to Frac without the use of chemicals and recycle the waters used. mandating that we use these processes if we are going to Frac would be a good first step. Were never going to be able to stop the fracturing process, but if we can make them do it safely then its a win/win.

[Joe Dallas]

07:06 AM on 07/27/2012

The controversy is that someone with knowledge of the industry, knowledge in geology, knowledge in the process of fracturing conducted the study. Isnt it better to have some one with expertise in the field conducting the study instead of some hack such as Fox who put together the crockamentary Gasland.

[Lorraine Gudas]

10:36 PM on 08/08/2012

No, the controversy is about the fact that Dr. Groat DID NOT DISCLOSE that he was getting paid hundreds of thousands of dollars this past year from an energy/fracking co. and explicitly stated, when he released the report stating that fracking was safe in Feb. 2012 at a press conference, that the report had no connections to the fracking/gas industry. Dr. Groat basically lied and should be reprimanded for his actions.

[Bluetiger]

08:33 PM on 07/26/2012

In my youth I worked on a seismograph crew looking for oil. When you drill into the earth you have no idea what the structure of the earth is fifty feet away from the hole no matter how much geology you do. So you drill deep and the water table is not so deep you have no idea what fractures in the geology are fifty feet away. The only reason we have not had some terrible incident like the Edwards Aquifer and its 5 million users being tainted is pure luck. If the fracking people had to store away potable water for those 5 million people it would not be so cheap.

[Tim Hurst]

02:03 PM on 07/26/2012

The University of Texas, if they want to remain a trusted research institution should fire this bozo. Totally unethical and damagaing. "Professor" (and I use that term jokingly) must go. Hook em Horns.

[Lorraine Gudas]

10:38 PM on 08/08/2012

I totally agree. And apparently Dr. Groat still doesn't get it...He told Nature magazine that disclosing his financial ties to the fracking industry would serve no purpose.

[anishinabe65]

10:50 AM on 07/26/2012

Folks regardless of where you sit politically, financially or otherwise I cannot understand the lack luster attitude in protecting potable water resources. This should always be the first concern when addressing resource extraction. Liberal or conservative.....you all need safe water resources. Without fully addressing the reprecussions that extraction may or may not cause water resources is closing your own casket.

[bdoug25000]

07:51 AM on 07/26/2012

If it's so safe howzabout the industry hot shots drink a glass of fracking fluid for public edifacation and enlightenment? Independent studies are essential in determining whether or not something is compleatly safe: witness the "Professional Scientists" who work for big oil and coal who deny anthropogenic climate change. When money is placed before all other considerations the result is invariably BS!

[thetruthhurts2010]

06:26 AM on 07/26/2012

In Dimock, PA the EPA just finished testing drinking water there and found NO contamination.

[prettyinpink]

12:26 PM on 07/26/2012

Never let the truth get in the way of a good lie.

[Joe Dallas]

07:07 AM on 07/27/2012

excellent reply - at least the EPA got the facts correct.

[weathwoods]

05:09 PM on 07/30/2012

This might change your mind: http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/amall/incidents_where_hydraulic_frac.html

[notanaxkiller]

05:03 AM on 07/26/2012

If your tap water will burn, what other toxic gasses are coming through your faucets?

[prettyinpink]

12:27 PM on 07/26/2012

...and if your tap water could burn before any other wells were drilled how do you explain that?

[notanaxkiller]

01:13 PM on 07/26/2012

What difference would it make? It would still be toxic.

[ecosutra]

03:19 AM on 07/26/2012

When Humans decide to learn how to live with nature as the new technology, with companion planting, watershed regeneration, I will feel saved. Slow the water and let it travel through multiple systems. Create a fungi soil that lets micro organisms travel to feed agriculture, feeding the life in the soil with mulch, never tilling for food. That is the new technology that will save us. The understanding how to design with nature. Its called Permaculture. Instead we have a new technology called Fracking, a method of madness that is disconnecting the hydrological cycle, sending water away never to be seen again. And so now you know why there is drought and fires unprecedented.

[wufdog]

11:35 PM on 07/25/2012

RE: Charles "Chip" Groat, a professor of geologic sciences and associate director of the university's Energy Institute, is also a board member of Plains Exploration and Production Co....Groat received from Plains more than $413,000 in cash and stock in 2011. Groat did not disclose his position with Plains to supervisors or in the study.

This can't be. Climate change deniers assure me that the only scientists who make a lot money, and stay employed, are the ones whose studies report bad news--not the ones whose studies say that we have nothing to worry about, and that the industries in question can proceed as usual.

[Dangerous Beauty]

11:19 PM on 07/25/2012

Hey Chip, What the frack?!