Re “Two Viewpoints on the Just-Released Fracking Test Rules”
As the Chair of the Citizens Advisory Committee that watchdogs the drilling and related activities in the Inglewood Oil Field, John Kuechle is the rarest form of species in the currently raging fracking universe.
He ain’t controversial, although the Middle West-born attorney who lives in Culver Crest was one of the first community persons to plunge into what became almost an hour-to-hour boiling controversy about methods and materials.
More than almost any other player, Mr. Kuechle is an unbending pillar of common sense.
What About New Rules?
Today’s subject for Mr. Kuechle is the pre-natal version of the proposed fracking (or hydraulic fracturing) rules that Sacramento released last week in the hope of cooling the sizzling feelings, locally and nationwide, of anti- and pro-fracking forces.
Mr. Kuechle trusts that the state regulations, when finalized next summer, will strike a balance:
That Plains Exploration & Production Co.’s integrity will be protected, and anti-frackers will be convinced PXP’s methods will guard against the people’s health and safety.
Condensing his convictions, Mr. Kuechle previously said:
“The notion that someone explained once, ‘we want the ingredients (that drilling companies are putting into the ground) not the formula,’ makes sense to me.”
He believes that should be enough “to protect the trade secrets of people who deserve to have trade secrets protected, and enough to protect us.”
On paper, and in an ideal setting, “that sounds good,” Mr. Kuechle said, with a caveat. “I am not sure, though, that really solves anything. I am not sure there ever is going to be an occasion when we really need it. But there might be. And if there is, it could be a serious situation, and we should know what is down there.
“The fact that DOGGR (the state Division of Oil, Gas & Geothermal Resources) is going to start paying attention to this, regulating this more carefully, making sure the wells are sound enough to deal with all this, looks like a positive step,” Mr. Kuechle said.
“My guess is that as I go through these regulations, I am going to quickly decide most other issues are too technical for a non-geologist to understand.
“Lots of the back-and-forth discussion turns on ‘how many pounds per square inch?’ I don’t have knowledge about any of that.
“I just hope,” he said, “the people writing the regulations are smart, are not biased and use good judgment.”
