Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Aerial View

It is much easier to understand why our neighborhood is so upset about the truck traffic, dust, noise, and proximity to the gas well if you better understand the lay of the land. The rig road runs, 50 to 100 feet behind the houses. Your bedroom, your bathroom, your living room, your backyard where you like to hang out and BBQ; a place to keep your pets.

The wind usually blows out of the southwest so from the gas well, look to the left and that is where any gas well fire will spread. It will burn our neighborhood down. It is not uncommon to get 10-30 mph winds because it is on a hilltop and as you can see, there is nothing to slow the wind down. Not a lot of time to escape or move your belongings, pets or livestock.

From the labeled gas well, look up and to the left. That is another gas well. If that one blows or causes a grass fire, we have time to respond. There is proximity. With the labeled gas well, there is no proximity, no safety barrier, just an accident waiting to happen. How would you like to live with an incendiary device right behind your home? So no, we are not being unreasonable to ask for a little space. One person's opinion, it is absolutely criminal, what was done to our neighborhood. And don't tell me it won't happen. We just had a gas leak for 4 days. See below. All it would have taken was a spark.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

I live near the gas well that exploded in Forest Hill. Believe me I know that you are in an unsafe area and you have every right to be anxious.

Anonymous said...

I have looked at the "aerial view" and there appears to be a residence in the highlighted area of the well site. If so, that is truly a "criminal" act to place the well so near an existing home.

How can our laws permit this!?

Anonymous said...

I can't help but wonder how close any of these wells are, or are going to be, to Ed Beggs' house. He is the one who decided where that road went, and he HAD to know how this would affect us. wouldn't it be great if there was a westerly wind when one of these catches fire?

Anonymous said...

And another gas well explosion and fire in Godley. Seeing the aerial view really puts it all in perspective. I live right next to that well; three dogs too. Mr. Begg's cattle have been hanging out at our back fence for years. I say alot of prayers. It makes me sick.

Anonymous said...

I can tell you first hand what it’s like living right next to a gas well. I can tell you about the noise, the dust, the smell, the sick feeling you get from inhaling the fumes from leaks that occur and go unreported to the public. I can tell you about the lack of concern for the health, safety, security, and property values of the families that fall victim to the greed of the gas companies and mineral rights’ land owners. After ten years of living on a peaceful hilltop in Parker County, I expected to have another neighborhood spring up behind my 5 acres, but EnCana Oil and Gas put a gas well 300 ft from my water well, the minimum distance the current law allows. It is time for Texas and Parker County to stand up for the tax paying, voting citizens. I am not against drilling for gas or oil, but the aerial photo is worth a thousand words. The Begg’s ranch is 3080 acres, with all the current drilling techniques it is unnecessary to put our lives and long term health in danger by placing a well the absolute minimum distance allowed by current law (300 feet). It’s time for Texas to change laws to protect neighborhoods from this kind of danger. My family and pets live next to a gas well and we are mad. It’s time to put some distance between gas wells and homes. The proximity law must be changed.

Anonymous said...

I have seen another view of the aerial looking straight down, the well pad looks like its all part of the home owners yard, thats dangerously close! There are no homes to the west or south for miles yet EnCana put the well right behind a residence knowing the dangers of explosions, leaks and water contamination. It is this kind of blatant disregard that creates legislature. It's time for Texas lawmakers to step up!

Anonymous said...

These photos need to shown in Ft Worth at the gas sighning meetings. In hindsight I wish I had not signed. Pictures like these would help others know what they are really getting into.

Anonymous said...

I to have a well behind my home in Wise Co. It also concerns me that it might explode. My biggest concern is what it might be doing to my water well and the water table. I also agree it is time for some laws on these issues.

Anonymous said...

simply amazing. obviously it's all about the money. i live in east FW and we have gas wells/rigs/pump stations on just about every square inch of available space. the FW city council appears to be in the backpockets of the gas companies, so it doesn't appear to matter where you live! BOBBY PICKARD for PRESIDENT!

Anonymous said...

Looking at the aerial view and how much space was available for alternate well site locations on the Beggs Ranch, it is incredible that Encana/Ed Beggs chose to locate the well so close to the residence. Greed and extreme inconsideration for the neighborhood surely played a role in what has transpired. Our elected officials need to step up, learn from what has happened to these residents and modify the existing laws accordingly to insure that it doesn't happen again. "SORRY" doesn't suffice when something tragic happens leading to the loss of something irreplaceable.....

Anonymous said...

"Rancher Wannabees or Sodbuster and Our Politicians"

We live in North Aledo off Kelly Road and have experienced many situations as well due to the Barnett Shale Traffic.
Our road meanders from 1187 to 377 where you can see dear and turkey every day. The truckers use this road merely as a short cut that saves them a mile or two. We know of numerous kids and elderly people that have been forced off the road by these truckers. I pick up trash thrown out by these truckers on a regular basis. The accelerated wear due to commercial traffic on our county roads is costing the tax payer dailey. Now consider the the noise pollution and saftey concerns.

Our houses depreciate, our lives are at risk, and I haven't seen our property tax's drop. All thanks to our 3rd generation Ranchers Wannabees-Sodbusters that could care less about their neighbors. Obviously none of them have taken on the family gene of a Real Rancher.

Our once beautiful countryside is now spotted with pads, tanks, pipes and well heads. Not a thought about placing pad sites out of site. Once again these 3rd generation Wannabees show their lack of understanding of leases, options, drilling technology or even care to consider locations and pad landscape that could preserve OUR countryside.
These spoiled Rancher's kids need a swift kick in the backside from their Daddy's or Granddaddy's that worked hard for a dollar and always considered their fellow neighbors. They have turned their family ranch and our Aledo countryside into a refinery in every direction.

I have also had the pleasure to discuss with our local politicians ways to enforce regulations on these Barnett Shale contractors. They remind me of the Governor in the "Best Little Whore House In Texas". Side stepping at every opportunity.

Just get it done through laws we currently have in place until others can be passed. Trucking violations should be strictly enforced with regular check points on state roads and their short cuts at the same time. Do this 2 days a week all day and that expense alone should help the Operators take notice. Enforce current nuisance and environmental LAWS on violations that cost the neighbors money and those with health issues. Start cracking down and they will find it's cheaper to think neighbor friendly.

The bottom line is that we all see the damages and feel the economic impact in some way that has been laid on us by the Barnett Shale. Our families and the high school kids that drive our country roads are all at risk due to the country road traffic. One kids life is not worth a thousand wells.

It is up to these Ranchers to get their kids under control, the Politicians to listen and pass neighbor friendly legislation, and the Operators to enforce rules on all their sub contractors.
All in the name of "Love Thy Neighbor". Keep it up B. Dale. CT

Should we run for an office BD??

Anonymous said...

The last post covered it perfectly and was straight to the point. While I don’t know any of the other ranchers sons and daughters in the area I can tell you honestly that Ed Farmer Beggs is exactly as you stated but I have to add a little on my own. He is nothing more than a snot nose little prick born with a silver spoon in his mouth and could careless about anyone other than himself. I’m so glad the land exchange on 3325 that Ed Beggs wanted from the county to use as access for the trucks fell through. If Ed had acquired the property I grantee you he would have continued using or neighborhood for access just to show the local politicians that he pulls the strings not them. Parker County Precinct 4 uses this piece of property to store road material and equipment and occasionally burn brush. This evidently flies’s up Ed’s butt like a double edge sword, and god I like that. I personally believe that everyone who lives in the Chisholm Heights neighborhood should be allowed to use this area to burn all of our trash. His decision and his alone to put the road where he did say’s it all. There is no way this road was installed where it is without his final consent.

“Bobby Pickard for County Commissioner”

Anonymous said...

I've been a Rancher for over 40 years out of Stephenville, TX. I have been doing work for a couple of operators in Parker County this past year and have met most of these local ranchers.
The original ranchers are all outstanding men and I think you are right about there sons.
I wouldnt give you a nickel for any of there boys or there word. Most of them are bankers and alcoholics living off the parents good fortune. There in it for money and dont give a dam about you people. Cows don't make them enough money to support there big houses and Hummers. Anytime you want to saddle up and work one over just let me know when and where. I'd be glad help.
Good Luck JB

Unknown said...

Hats off to Bobby Pickard for his determination and success at getting Encana to agree to re-route the truck traffic. I live near Chisolm Heights and have seen the constant parade of 18 wheelers through this peaceful rural neighborhood.