The technique aims to further exploit empty oil and gas wells
Translated by Thomas Ansell
The D66 grouping in the Drents Provincial council has asked for a debate regarding the practices of the NAM (Nederlands Aardolie Maatschaapij), an organisation that extracts natural resources from under the Northern Netherlands and is owned by both ExxonMobil and Shell. The newest technique used by the company is injecting waste water into the Drents ground to try and coax more oil or gas forth: the D66 grouping say that the Drents ground is no ‘refuse point’, reports RTV Drenthe.
Since the Province doesn’t have the last word on the matter, it must make its concerns felt by Minister Erik Wiebes (VVD), who despite earthquakes in Groningen and general distaste for fracking in general, has stood behind the extraction of the North’s natural resources. In order to make the Minister aware of the discomfort in Drenthe, the D66 grouping will put forward a joint motion with the Partij voor de Dieren against the new technique. Recently, GroenLinks also sounded the alarm and voiced its strong disapproval for injecting waste water into the empty gas-fields in Dalen, Oosterhesselen, and Schoonebeek.
Part of the disagreement comes from the NAM wanting to go ahead with the practice following only an initial Milieueffectrapport (Environmental Effect Report), whilst the various parties want a full report made. In the Province of Overijssel, waste water injection has led to water emerging in transport links, and a huge burst of water suddenly appearing in an empty German gas-field just over the border from its injection point.
Naturally, the NAM says that injecting waste water is safe, but Anry Kleine Deters and Henk Pragt, of D66 Drenthe, say “we can’t be sure of what the consequences for ground-water quality, nature, and the risk of earthquakes in the long-term.”
Image via Piqlels. Rights Free.
