The New York Times today has a big story on the top of the front page about the big risks that China is taking in its hunt for natural gas in shale deposits. While I understand that the Times is against fracking (although there seems to be no reason for the position other than liberal solidarity), today's article was humorous. I expected to hear about some terrible risk the Chinese were taking. Instead, here is the essential point of the article in its own words:
In China, companies must drill two to three times as deep as in the United States, making the process significantly more expensive, noisier and potentially more dangerous. Chinese energy giants also operate in strict secrecy; they rarely engage with local communities, and accidents claim a high death toll.
Oh, how terrible! Let's look at these items.
First, the drilling process in China is more expensive although they don't say more expensive than what. So? If they find gas in sufficient amounts, that cost will be easily recovered. If they do not find the gas, then the Chinese company looking for gas will have a loss. Every oil or gas well that is drilled follows those rules. This is perfectly normal.
Second, the process is supposedly noisier. My guess is that the noise just goes on for longer. The depth of the well should not make the noise any louder. This is hardly a big risk.
Third, it is "potentially more dangerous". Even the biased NY Times does not call the Chinese process "actually" more dangerous. That is because they just don't know. Drilling any well anywhere is always potentially more dangerous because there could always be unexpected problems. Again, the Times is saying nothing, but in a big, big way.
Fourth, the Chinese companies operate secretly and do not engage with local communities. That is a function of the way China functions. It has nothing to do with the enterprise.
Last, the accidents in the drilling process claim a high death toll. Really? The report tells us about one event in one village. It mentions no others. It does not tell us of anyone who died in that event. It may well be that there have been accidents in China that have resulted in deaths, but the Times gives us no information about that. Of course, I did wonder how the Times knows about all of this since the Chinese companies operate secretly, but it may be too much to ask the Times for consistency in its report.
The real truth here is that this is just another hit piece by the New York Times on the fracking process. Instead of half truths and scare tactics about events in China about which the Times apparently knows very little, it would be much more beneficial for the Times to publish actual facts about fracking. Of course, that should include facts about both costs and benefits of the process. That will never happen, however, since those benefits far outweigh the potential costs.
In China, companies must drill two to three times as deep as in the United States, making the process significantly more expensive, noisier and potentially more dangerous. Chinese energy giants also operate in strict secrecy; they rarely engage with local communities, and accidents claim a high death toll.
Oh, how terrible! Let's look at these items.
First, the drilling process in China is more expensive although they don't say more expensive than what. So? If they find gas in sufficient amounts, that cost will be easily recovered. If they do not find the gas, then the Chinese company looking for gas will have a loss. Every oil or gas well that is drilled follows those rules. This is perfectly normal.
Second, the process is supposedly noisier. My guess is that the noise just goes on for longer. The depth of the well should not make the noise any louder. This is hardly a big risk.
Third, it is "potentially more dangerous". Even the biased NY Times does not call the Chinese process "actually" more dangerous. That is because they just don't know. Drilling any well anywhere is always potentially more dangerous because there could always be unexpected problems. Again, the Times is saying nothing, but in a big, big way.
Fourth, the Chinese companies operate secretly and do not engage with local communities. That is a function of the way China functions. It has nothing to do with the enterprise.
Last, the accidents in the drilling process claim a high death toll. Really? The report tells us about one event in one village. It mentions no others. It does not tell us of anyone who died in that event. It may well be that there have been accidents in China that have resulted in deaths, but the Times gives us no information about that. Of course, I did wonder how the Times knows about all of this since the Chinese companies operate secretly, but it may be too much to ask the Times for consistency in its report.
The real truth here is that this is just another hit piece by the New York Times on the fracking process. Instead of half truths and scare tactics about events in China about which the Times apparently knows very little, it would be much more beneficial for the Times to publish actual facts about fracking. Of course, that should include facts about both costs and benefits of the process. That will never happen, however, since those benefits far outweigh the potential costs.
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