10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom

DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom
UScompaniesaresalivatingoverthebiggestshalegasresourcesintheworld.Whatcouldpossiblygowrong?
ByAMultimediaProductionbyJaeahLeeandJamesWest|ThuSep.18,20146:00AMEDT

SocialTitle:
Thegreatfrackforward:AjourneytotheheartofChinasgasboom

AMultimediaProductionbyJaeahLeeandJamesWest|ThursSep.18,20146:00AMET

OnahazymorninglastSeptember,144AmericanandChinesegovernmentofficialsandhighrankingoilexecutivesfiledintoavaultedmeeting
roominacloisteredcampusinsouthXi'an,acityfamousforitsterracottawarriors[1]andlethalsmog[2].TheCommunistPartybuiltthis
compound,calledtheShaanxiGuesthouse,in1958.ItwaspartoftheleaduptoChairmanMao'sGreatLeapForward,inwhich,tosurpassthe
industrialachievementsoftheWest,thegovernmentbuiltsteelworks,coalmines,powerstations,andcementfactoriesdisplacinghundredsof
thousandsandclearcuttingatenthofChina'sforestsintheprocess.Despiteitsquaintname,theguesthouseisaclusterofimmenseconcrete
structuresjuttingoutofexpansive,manicuredlawnsandmanmadelakesdottedwithstonebridgesandpagodas.Italsofeaturesakaraokelounge,
spa,tennisstadium,shoppingcenter,andbeautysalon.

chapters

1. I.China'sEnergyTippingPoint

2. II.AmericanProfiteers

3. III.ChokingonCoal
4. IV."WeCallThisShaleCounty"
5. V.RunawayGrowth

6. VI.PolluteFirst,CleanUpLater

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 1/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom

7. VII.CanGasTrumpCoal?

8. VIII.TheStruggleOverLand
9. IX.UnfitforDrinking

Theguestsatthecompoundthatweekweregearingupforanothergreatleap:apushtoexporttheUnitedStates'frackingboom[3]toChina'svast
shalefieldsandbeyond.Attendeesslidintoblackleatherchairsbehindglossyrosewoodtables,facingastageflankedbylargeprojectorscreens.
Chinesebusinessmenworehighwaistslackswithbeltsclaspedovertheirbellies.Iwatchedasonethumbedthroughbusinesscardsbearingthe
logosofChevron,ConocoPhillips,ExxonMobil,andHalliburton.Behindcloseddoors,aselectgroupofChineseandAmericanofficialsand
executiveshelda"seniorVIPmeeting."Outside,atroopofPeople'sLiberationArmyguardsmarchedintightformation.

TheUSChinaOilandGasIndustryForum[4],sponsoredbytheUSdepartmentsofCommerceandEnergy,aswellasChina'sNationalEnergy
Administration,hasconvenedforthelast13years.Butthefocusturnedtoshalegasin2009,whenPresidentObamaandthenPresidentHuJintao
announcedanagreement[5]todevelopChina'simmenseresources.Thepartnershipsetthestageforcompaniesinbothcountriestoforgedeals
worthtensofbillionsofdollars.

Hereatthe2013conference,thefirstAmericantotakethepodiumwasGaryLocke[6],theUSambassadortoChinaatthetime.Heworeadark
suitandastripedredandpurpletiehisslickblackhairglistenedinthefluorescentlight."FromSichuantoEagleFord,Texas,fromBohaiBayto
theMarcellusShaleinPennsylvaniaandOhio,USandChinesecompaniesareinvestingandworkingtogethertoincreaseenergyproductioninboth
countries,"heproclaimed.USandChinesecompaniesweresotightlyknit,AirChinahadrecentlystartedofferingnonstopflightsbetweenBeijing
andHouston,"makingbusinesstripsmuchquickerformanyofyougatheredhere."

Thesoft,staticvoiceofaChineseinterpreterseepedfromtheheadphonesasyoungwomeninredvestsquietlypassedthrougheachrow,pausingto
pourhottea,theirstridesalmostsynchronized.Tinyplumesofsteamarosefromtheteacupsliningeachtable,likeminiaturesmokestacks.It
seemedfitting,becauseunderlyingallthetalkofnewenergywasanurgencytoweanChinafromitsdecadeslongaddictiontocoal[7].Locke
promisedthatshalegaswoulddojustthat:"Wecanmakefurtherstridestoimproveenergyefficiency,producecleanerenergy,increaserenewables,
andincreasesupply,"heasserted."Unconventionalgas,especiallyshalegas,isjustthestart."

TherearetwomainreasonsbehindChina'snewfoundzealforgas[8].AsMichaelLiebreich[9],thefounderofNewEnergyFinance[10],an
energymarketanalyticsfirmnowownedbyBloombergLP,putit,"Oneistofeedthegrowth.Therehastobeenergyandithastobeaffordablein

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 2/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom

ordertocontinuethegrowthmachine.Buttheotheroneisthatthey'vegottogetoffthiscoal."

Constitutingawhopping70percent[11]ofChina'senergysupply,coalhasallowedthecountrytobecometheworld'ssecondlargesteconomy[12]
injustafewdecades.ButburningcoalhasalsocausedirreparabledamagetotheenvironmentandthehealthofChina'scitizens.Cityofficialshave
beenforcedtoshutdownroads[13]becausedriversareblindedbysootandsmog.China'sCivilAviationAdministrationorderedpilots[14]to
learntolandplanesinlowvisibilityconditionstoavoidflightdelaysandcancellations.ScientistswroteinthemedicaljournalTheLancet[15]that
ambientparticulatematter,generatedmostlybycarsandthecountry's3,000coalfiredpowerplants[16],killed1.2millionChinesepeople[17]in
2010.Inlate2013,aneightyearoldgirlinJiangsuProvincewasdiagnosedwithlungcancerherdoctorattributedittoairpollution[18].And
earlierthisyear,scientistsfoundthatupto24percentofsulfateairpollutantswhichcontributetosmogandacidraininthewesternUnited
StatesoriginatedfromChinesefactories[19]manufacturingforexport.

"TheairqualityinChinahasreachedakindoftippingpointinthepublicconsciousness."

"TheairqualityinChinahasreachedakindoftippingpointinthepublicconsciousness,"saysEvanOsnos[20],TheNewYorker'sformerChina
correspondentandauthorofAgeofAmbition:ChasingFortune,Truth,andFaithintheNewChina[21]."TheentireChinesepoliticalenterpriseis
foundedonabargain:Wewillmakeyourlivesbetter,ifyou'llallowustostayinpower."AsmoreChinesecitizensdemandcleanairandwater,
China'sleadersandforeignbusinessmenhavetakendrasticmeasurestogetridofpollution.Somelocalofficialshavetriedtowashawaysootby

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 3/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom

cloudseeding[22],aprocessinwhichchemicalsarerocketlaunchedintocloudstomakeitrain.Onecompany[23]isdevelopingacolumnof
coppercoilsthatwilluseelectricchargestosucksootoutoftheairlikeaHoover.EnvironmentalofficialsinthenortherncityofLanzhouattempted
tolevelitssurroundingmountains[24]toletthewindblowthesootawaynottobeconfusedwiththecity'sactualplantodemolish700mountains
[25]inordertoexpanditsfootprintbyroughlytheareaofLosAngeles.

More:TheAtlantic'sJamesFallowsonthepoliticsofChina'senvironmentalcrisis

ButChina'spushtoweanitselffromcoalhasalsotriggeredarushtodevelopalternativepowersources.Thenaturalgasthatliesdeepwithinits
shaleformationsisnowatopcontender.BycurrentestimatesfromtheUSEnergyInformationAdministration,China'sshalegasresourcesarethe
largestintheworld[26],1.7timesthoseintheUnitedStates.Sofar,fewerthan200wellshavebeendrilled,butanother800areexpected[27]by
nextyear.Bythen,Chinaaimstopump230billioncubicfeetofnaturalgas[28]annuallyfromundergroundshaleenoughtopowereveryhome
inChicagofortwoyears.By2020,thecountryexpectstoproduceasmuchas4.6timesthatamount.It'smovingat"Chinesespeed,"asoneenergy
investmentadviserputittheUnitedStatestookroughlytwiceaslongtoreachthatvolume.

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 4/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom

YetjustasfrackingtechnologyhascrossedoverfromthefieldsofPennsylvaniaandTexastothemountainsofSichuan,sohavethequestionsabout
itsrisksandconsequences.IffrackingregulationsintheUnitedStatesaretooweak[29],theninChinatherulesarepracticallynonexistent[30].

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 5/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom

TianQinghua,anenvironmentalresearcherattheSichuanAcademyofEnvironmentalSciences[31],fearsthatfrackingoperationsinChinawill
repeatapatternhe'sseenbefore."There'saphenomenonof'pollutefirst,cleanuplater,'"hesays."Historyisrepeatingitself."

WhenmycolleagueJamesWestandItraveledtoChinalastSeptember,itdidn'ttakelongtoseethetollofthecountry'scoaladdiction:Jameshada
burningcoughbyoursecondday.OnabullettrainfromBeijingtoXi'an(roughlythedistancebetweenSanFranciscoandPhoenix),wewhizzed
alongat150milesperhourthroughsomeofChina'smostpollutedpockets,includingthenortheasterncityofShijiazhuang,wherethesmog
registersatemergencylevels[32]forathirdoftheyeartwiceasoftenasinBeijing.Athickmiasmahungheavy,clingingsolowtofieldsofcorn
thatitwashardtoseewheretheearthmetthedark,graysky.Everyfewminuteswepassedanothergiantcoalfiredpowerplant,itschimneys
spewingacontinualbillowofthick,whitesmoke.

Bythetimeofourtrip,villagerslivingnearfrackingwellshadalreadycomplainedaboutthedeafeningnoiseofdrillingmachinery,thesmellofgas
fumes,andstrangesubstancesintheirwater.OnenightlastApril,inasmallsouthwesterntowncalledJiaoshi,anexplosion[33]atashalegas
drillingrigrattledresidentsawake,triggeringahugefireandreportedlykillingeightworkers.Inthewakeoftheaccident,anofficialfromthe
MinistryofEnvironmentalProtectionsaid[34],"TheareaswhereshalegasisabundantinChinaarealreadyecologicallyfragile,crowded,andhave
sensitivegroundwater.Theimpactcannotyetbeestimated."

"WecallthisShaleCounty,"thedrivershoutedtousinthebackseatashesteeredthefourwheeldriveSUVupasteepmountaininSichuan
Province.Thecloudsfadedasweclimbed,revealingaquiltoffarmlanddottedwithpingfang,orflattophouses.Wedrovedownaroadlinedwith
newhotels,smallrestaurants,andhardwarestoresthemarkingsofaboomtown.RoughlythesizeofMinnesota,theSichuanBasin[35]where
manyofChina'sexperimentalfrackingwellsarelocatedishometosome100millionpeople,manyofthemfarmers.It'snottheonlypartofChina
withshalegas,butfrackingrequiresalotofwater[36],andwithasubtropicalclimateandproximitytothemightyYangtzeRiver,Sichuanhasthat,
too,makingitthenation'sfirstfrackingfrontier.

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 6/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom

Witheachturn,theroadbecamenarrowerandmuddier,untilwestoppedatagatebehindwhichatallredandwhitedrillingrigshotupashighas
thelushmountainssurroundingit.WewereatashalegaswellownedbyChinaNationalPetroleumCorporation[37](CNPC),oneofthenation's
largestenergycompaniesanditsleadingoilproducer.MostofChinawasonholidaythatweektocommemorate64yearssinceMaodeclaredthe
foundingofthePeople'sRepublic,butoutheretherewasnosignofrest.Workersinredjumpsuitsdrovebyinbulkytrucks.Adrillspiraled3,280
feetundergroundinsearchofshalegas,screechingasitchurnedaroundtheclock.

Anengineerwhomwe'llcallLiWeigreetedus,peeringoutfromunderahardhat.Inhismid20s,withabrandnewdegree,Liworkedfora
ChineseenergyfirmpartlyownedbySchlumberger[38],theHoustonbasedoilservicecompany.LastJuly,Schlumbergeropeneda32,000square
footlaboratory[39]intheregiondevotedtoextractinghydrocarbonsfromshalegasresources.LikemanyotherengineersatChina'snewwells,Li
hadneverworkedonafrackingoperationbefore.Wewatchedasheshooedawayneighborhoodkidsplayingbyabrickstructurestraddlingapool
marked"hazard"asthoughitweretheirtreehouse.

Atfirst,Lisaid,drillingheredidn'tgososmoothly:"Wehadleaks,thingsfallingintothewell."Theyhadtoslowdownoperationsasaresult.Still,
theteamplannedtodrillandfrackabouteightothernewwellsintheareainthecomingmonths.

China'searlyfrackingoperationsfacemanyrisks,buttheincentivestokeepdrillingaretoogoodtopassup.Basedonearlysampling,Bloomberg
NewEnergyFinance'sLiebreichestimatesthatChinaiscurrentlyextractingshalegasatroughlytwicethecost[40]oftheUnitedStates.Analysts
expectthosecoststofallasChinagainsexperience,butevenatcurrentlevels,shalegasproductionhasbeenupto40percentcheaperand
geopoliticallymoredesirablethanimportinggas.AsChina'sdemandfornaturalgascontinuestogrowbetween2012and2013itgrewat15
timestherateoftherestoftheworld's[41]domesticreserveswillbecomeincreasinglyimportant,saysLiebreich:IfChinacancontinuetoextract
shalegasatthecurrentcost,that"wouldbeagamechanger."The"goldenage"ofnaturalgasthattookrootinNorthAmerica,theInternational
EnergyAgencydeclaredinJune[42],isnowspreadingtoChina.

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 7/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom

Allthatgrowthcomeswithasteeplearningcurve.Frackingrequireshighlytrainedengineerswhousespecializedequipmenttomixvastquantities
ofwaterwithchemicalsandsandandshootitintothegroundathighpressures,crackingthedenseshalebedandreleasingamixofgas,water,and
othersedimentstothesurface.That'swhyservicecompanieslikeSchlumbergerandHalliburtonhavemuchtogain:Chinaneedstechnologyand
knowhowandiswillingtopayhandsomely."Sellingthepicksandshovelsforthegoldrushwouldbetheanalogy,"Liebreichsays.

Nowonder,then,thatmultinationaloilandgasgiantshavepounced.In2012,RoyalDutchShellinkedacontract[43]withCNPC.Acompany
executivepledgedtoinvestaround$1billionayear[44]forthenextseveralyearsinshalegas.BP,Chevron,ExxonMobil,andHessalsohave
signed[45]jointventures[46]toexplore[47]shaleprospectswithChineseenergycompanies.Inreturn,ChinesecompanieshaveinvestedinUS
frackingoperations.Since2010theChineseenergycompanySinopec,theChinaNationalOffshoreOilCorporation(CNOOC),andthestateowned
Sinochemspentatleast$8.7billiontobuystakesinshalegasoperationsinAlabama,Colorado,Michigan,Mississippi,Ohio,Oklahoma,Texas,
andWyoming.ChesapeakeEnergyalonegot$4.52billionoutofitsdealswithCNOOC.

More:TheAtlantic'sJamesFallowsontheAmericancompaniesworkinginChina

"ThereasonChineseoilcompanieshavegoneafterChesapeakeinthepastyearwasbecausetheywantedtoapplythetechnologytotaptheworld's
No.1shalegasreservesinChina,"LabanYu,aHongKonginvestmentanalyst,toldBloombergNews[48].WhetherornotChinawillbeableto
replicatetheAmericanshalegasrevolution,itisclearlydeterminedtotry.

Onehumidanddrizzlynight,JamesandIfoundourselvesinChongqing,ahillymetropolisontheYangtzewhosepopulationismorethantriple
thatofNewYorkCity.Chongqing'sGDPgrewanastonishing12.3percent[49]in2013,4.6pointshigherthantherunawayChineseeconomy[50]
asawhole.ItsskylinelookslikeeverymajorworldcitysmashedintooneincludingnearfullsizereplicasoftheGoldenGateBridgeandthe
EmpireStateBuilding.Theareaisalsohometocastlesmodeled[51]afterthoseinFrance'sLoireValley,aswellas"ForeignerStreet[52],"a24/7
themeparkwherevisitorscanwanderthroughanEgyptianpyramidhauntedhouse,playmahjongbyaVenetiancanal,orsingkar
aokeunderRiode
Janeiro'sChristtheRedeemer.ForeignerStreetalsoboastsa1,000toiletpublicbathroom[53],theworld'slargest.

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 8/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom

AerialviewofskyscrapersandhighrisebuildingsinChongqing,China,August27,2013Changxu/Imaginechina/AP

Chongqingisoneofthefastestgrowingcities[54]intheworld,inbothheightandsprawl,withahalfmillionnewresidentsarrivingeachyear.Itis
somethingofagatewaytoChina'svastandrelativelyundevelopedwest,boominglikeChicago[55]inthelate19thcentury.Itspercapitanatural
gasconsumptionrateisoneofthehighestinthecountryandiscurrentlyrisingby8.5percentayear,accordingtoareport[56]bytheUS
EnvironmentalProtectionAgency.MuchofthenaturalgasproducedinSichuan'sfieldsendsuphere.Thecity'sofficialsexpectthatthe
municipalitywillneed530billioncubicfeetofnaturalgasby20152.5timesthefigurein2011.

"You'vegotthis'damnthetorpedoes'developmentstrategythatsetsoutallsortsofquotas,expectations,andproductivitytargetsthatarenot
constrainedorbalancedinanyway."

Chongqing'surbancenterisonly200milesfromthemountainsidefrackingfieldswevisited,butitmightaswellhavebeenadifferentplanet.From
ourhostel,wefollowedtheneonlightsuntilwereachedJiefangbei[57],aglitzyshoppingdistrictnamedafterthetoweritencircles,builtinthe
1940stocommemoratevictoryovertheJapaneseduringWorldWarII.Nowbanks,hotels,andskyscrapersdwarfthemonument,theirelectric
facadesflashingthenightsky,theirtopsfadingintotheclouds.PeopleclutchingumbrellashurriedpasttheLouisVuitton,Cartier,andGuccistores

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 9/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom

thatwerestuddedwithgiantlightbulbs.

Chongqing'sunbridledgrowthisparalleledbyawideningwealthgapandrampantcorruption.It'saplacewherelaobansbossesreserve$100
tablesanddrink$200bottlesofMot&Chandon[58]atnightclubsmereblocksfromwhereportershaulshipmentsofclothesorsteelgoodsfrom
theriverbankstoshopsatopthecity'ssteephillsforafewpennies.It'salsosooverrunbytriadsChinesemafiassometimesdeployedbythe
governmentasbackupmuscle[59]thatwhenthecitycrackeddownoncrimein2009,onecriminologistestimated[60]thatatleast77officials
werearrestedforcolludingwithgangmembersandprotectingthemfromthelaw.

More:TheGuardian'sJonathanKaimanonlocalcorruptionandgrassrootsprotests

"Letsomegetrichfirst,andotherswillfollow"isthephilosophythathasdrivenChina'seconomicreformssince1979.Butthedisparitybetween
richandpoorhasgrownsomuchthat,duringameetingofChina'stoppoliticaladvisersearlierthisyear,oneattendeeopined[61]thatthequalityof
lifefor90percentofpeasantswasnobetterthanitwas40yearsago,inpartduetoburdensomemedicalexpensesandlimitedaccesstoeducation.
InApril,researchersattheUniversityofMichigancalculatedthatin2010,China'sGinicoefficientameasureofincomeinequalitywas0.55
[62],comparedto0.45intheUnitedStates.TheUnitedNationsconsidersanythingabove0.4athreattoacountry'sstability[63].

"You'vegotthis'damnthetorpedoes'developmentstrategythatsetsoutallsortsofquotas,expectations,andproductivitytargetsthatarenot
constrainedorbalancedinanywaybyenvironmentalprotectionorpublicparticipationtoholdpeopletoaccount,"saysSophieRichardson[64],
directorofHumanRightsWatch'sChinaprogram[65].Throwincorruption,sheadds,andyouseeatoxicmix,onethathascontributedtoan
unprecedentedlevelofsocialunrest.Bythelatestofficialestimate,Chinahasanaverageof270"massincidents"[66]unofficialgatheringsof100
ormoreprotesterseveryday.Ina2014study[67]ofmassincidents,researchersattheChineseAcademyofSocialSciencesfoundthattheywere
usuallysparkedbypollution,landacquisitions,labordisputes,andforceddemolitions.

Frackingmaysoonjointhatlist.ProtestshavealreadystymieddrillingoperationsinSichuan.From2010toMarch2013,theWallStreetJournal
reported[68],Shellhadlost535daysofworkat19ofitsshalegaswellsduetovillagerblockadesorgovernmentrequeststohaltoperations.
"TherearealotofpeopleinChinawhodon'twanttotakepoliticalriskstheyhavetoomuchatstake,"Osnossays."Butwhenitcomesto
somethingaselementalastheirhealth,andthat'swhatpollutionreallyisabout,thenthey'rewillingtotakearisk."

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 10/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom

Despitebeingtoutedasacleaneralternativetodirtycoal,frackinginChinacomeswithplentyofenvironmentalproblems.Thecountry'sshalegas
liesdeeperundergroundandinmorecomplexgeologicformationsthanthosedepositsintheflatlandsofPennsylvania,NorthDakota,orTexas.As
aresult,researchersestimatedthattheChinesewellswillrequireuptotwicetheamountofwaterusedatAmericansitestocrackopenthereserves.
Indeed,researcherTianQinghuapointsoutthatit'shardtoimaginehowtherewillbeenoughwatertosupportanAmericanstylefrackingboomin
acountrywithlesswaterpercapita[69]thanNamibiaorSwaziland,wherelandtwicethesizeofNewYorkCityturnstodeserteveryyear[70].
Todaymorethanaquarterofthecountryhasalreadydriedup,theequivalentofaboutathirdofthecontinentalUnitedStates.

Anengineerwhoformerlydesignedcigaretteandpaperfactoriesinthe1990s,Tianwhoisinhis50swithspikedhair,rectangularglasses,anda
professorialairtraceshisenvironmentalconversionbacktothetimehetrainedagroupoftechniciansfromBurmaatasugarfactoryinYunnan
Province.Iftheybuiltafactorylikethisonebackhome,theyaskedhim,wouldtheirriverbecomeblackliketheKaiyuanRiver?"Ibegantodoubt
mycareer,"hetoldus,sippinghotgreenteaoutofaglassbeerstein."AllthefactoriesIdesignedwereheavypolluters."Hequithisjobandbegan
pursuingenvironmentalresearch."IwantedtopickacareerIcouldbeproudofbythetimeIretire,"hesaid.

AnatomyofaFrackingSite

Drillersinjecthighpressurefluidsintoahydraulicfracturingwell,makingslightfissuresintheshalethatreleasenaturalgas.Thewastewaterthat
flowsbackupwiththegasisthentransportedtodisposalwells,whereitisinjecteddeepintoporousrock.Scientistsnowbelievethatthepressure
andlubricationofthatwastewatercancausefaultstoslipandunleashanearthquake.Illustration:LeanneKroll.Animation:BrettBrownell

Inadditiontohisconcernsaboutfracking'senormousappetiteforwater,Tianalsoworriesaboutitswaste:thechemicalladenwaterthatcomes
backoutoftherockwiththenaturalgas.IntheUnitedStates,itistypicallystored[71]insteelcontainersoropenpitsandlaterinjected
undergroundinoilandgaswastewells.InChina'searlywells,wastewaterisoftendumpeddirectlyintostreamsandrivers.Iffrackingmostof
whichtakesplaceinChina'sbreadbasketcontaminateswaterorsoil,Tianargues,itcouldjeopardizethenation'sfoodsupply.Inaseismically
activearea[72]likeSichuan,leaksareamajorconcern:Evenasmallearthquakewhich,emergingevidencesuggests[73],wastewaterinjection
couldtriggermightcompromiseawell'santileaksystem,causingmorepollution.Inthepastyearalone,morethan30earthquakeswererecorded
intheSichuanarea.

In2012,TianandhisteamfromtheSichuanAcademyofEnvironmentalSciencesproposedenvironmentalstandardsforfrackingintheprovince.
Lackingfinancialandpoliticalsupportfromthegovernment,theproposallanguishedinthebureaucraticprocessandneverbecamelaw.InJune,
Beijingofficialsannounced[74]thatChinawilladoptnewstandardsforshalegasdevelopmentbeforetheendofthisyear.Butwithoutproper
enforcement,TiansaysthestandardswillnotnecessarilypreventChina'sgrowingfrackingindustryfromdischargingwasteandpollutionacost
hefearstheenvironmentcan'tafford.

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 11/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom

BackattheguesthousecompoundinXi'anoneevening,aftertheconferencehadadjournedfortheday,wesatforalavishbanquetofsaltybraised
greens,friedeggplant,steamedfish,androastedpork.Athinfilmofsootclungtothemarblefloors,tablecloths,andcurtains.

IsharedatablewithMingSung[75],alean,wispyhairedmaninhislate60swhoservesastheAsiaPacificchiefrepresentativeforCleanAirTask
Force[76],aBostonbasedpartnershipbetweenenvironmentaladvocatesandtheprivatesectorthat'sfocusedonreducingairpollutionand
greenhousegasemissions.Sung,whospent25yearsasanengineerandmanagerforShell,nowsplitshistimebetweenTexasandChina,helping
USandChineseoilandgascompanieslowertheiremissions.

Sungtoldusthatshalegas,despiteitsreputationasacleanerfuel,couldbeahugepollutionproblem,ifthetechnologywasn'thandledcorrectly.
Forexample,hesays,if"youdon'tsealthewellsproperly,methanewillleak."Althoughnaturalgascangenerateelectricityathalfthecarbon
dioxideemissions[77]ofcoal,methaneisasmuchas84timesmorepotent[78]thancarbondioxideasagreenhousegasovera20yearperiod.
(Somescientistsargue[79]thatcarbondioxideisstillmorepotentbecauseitlastslongerintheatmospherethandoesmethane,whichhasan
atmosphericlifetimeof12years.)TheEPAestimatesthatdrillingfornaturalgasemits[80]0.04to0.30gramsofmethaneperwellpersecondin
theUnitedStates,theannualgreenhousegasequivalentofasmanyas24millioncars.

[81]
ReadmoreabouthowHillaryClinton'sStateDepartmentsoldfrackingtotheworld.[82]

Butbeyondthemechanicalrisksoffracking,there'samorefundamentalproblem:ShalegasmightnotevensignificantlyreduceChina'scoal
dependence.IntheUnitedStates,frackingproponentshaveargued[83]thatnaturalgasiscrucialtohelpwiththeshiftfromthedirtiestfossilfuels
torenewableresources.ButthatargumentfallsapartinChina.UnlikewhathappenedintheUnitedStates,theEnergyInformationAdministration's
futureprojectionsofChina'senergydemandsuggestthatin2040,coalwillcontinuetodominatewhilenaturalgas,evenwithagoldenera,willfuel
only8percent[84]ofdemand."Thewholepieisgrowingsorapidlythatyoustillseeaverycarbonintensivemix,"saysRachelCleetus[85],a
senioreconomistattheUnionofConcernedScientists[86].AsChinacontinuestogrowitseconomyandexpanditscities,itwillneedevery
resourceitcangetcoal,gas,solar,wind,hydropower,andnuclear.JamesFallows[87],aseniorcorrespondentatTheAtlanticwhospentmany
yearscoveringChina,notesthattheChinesegovernment"ispushingharderonmorefrontsthananyothergovernmentonEarth"todevelopenergy
sourcesotherthancoal."Thequestionis,willtheycatchup?Whowillwinthatracebetweenhowbadthingsareandhowthey'retryingtodealwith
them?"

Despitealltheseunknowns,theObamaadministrationisnowencouragingothercountriestotaptheirshalereserves.AyearafterObamaandHu
announcedtheirshalegasagreement,in2010,theStateDepartmentlaunchedtheGlobalShaleGasInitiative[88],an"efforttopromoteglobal
energysecurityandclimatesecurityaroundtheworld,"asoneresearcherputit.AsaJPMorganresearchmemo[89]stated,"Unlessthepopular
environmentalconcernsaresoextreme,mostcountrieswiththeresourceswillnotignorethe[shalegas]opportunity."

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 12/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom

Towardtheendofourtrip,wevisitedavillagenearLuzhou,aportcityontheYangtzewithapopulationbiggerthanLosAngeles.Wemeta
middleagedwomannamedDaiZhongfu,whotoldusthatin2011,ShellandPetroChinasetupashalegaswellrightnexttoherhouse.Standing
undertheshadeofherplumtreeandsportingacroppedhaircutandanavybluewindbreaker,Daisaidthatoccasionallysomeonewouldshowup
hereandtakeawatersamplefromherwell.Theyneveridentifiedthemselvesorreturnedwiththeresults.Bythetimewearrived,Daiandher
neighborshadgrownwaryofoutsidevisitorswhenwefirstmet,herneighborsmistookusforwatertestersandadvisedhernottobothertalkingto
us.

Asthedrillingcontinued,Daisaid,hergroundwaterstartedtorundry,andnowonlyrainreplenishedit.Shedoubtedthewaterwasfitfordrinking.
"Afteryouuseit,there'salayerofwhitescumclingingtothepot,"shesaid.Theycouldn'tevenuseittocookriceanymore."Youtellmeifthere's
beenanimpact!"

WhenIaskedDaiwhysheandherneighborshadn'tprotested,shesaid,"Youknowthatweruralfolkreallyhavenorecourse."Thedrillingwas
over,andnowthatthewellwasproducing,allthatwasleftwereafewsurveillancecamerasandaconcretewall."Nowthere'snochancethey'llpay
attentiontouswherewegetourdrinkingwater,howweuseit,"Daisaid."Peopleherehavebeenabusedsomuchthatthey'reafraid."

ThisstorywassupportedbyaMiddleburyCollegeFellowshipinEnvironmentalJournalism[90]andagrantfromtheFundforEnvironmental
Journalism[91].

AdditionalresearchbyLeiWang[92].TranslationsbyEvanVillarrubia,Y.Z.,andfriend.VideocameraicondesignedbyThomasLeBasfromthe
NounProject.[93]VideoproductionbyJamesWest.WebproductionbyJaeahLee.

SourceURL:http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/09/chinausfrackingshalegas

Links:
[1]http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/terracottasoldiersonthemarch30942673/?noist
[2]http://www.bloomberg.com/news/20131224/beijingwarnsagainstoutdooractivitiesonheavilypollutedair.html
[3]http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2014/07/08/232677/naturalgasboomsfuturemaybe.html
[4]http://www.uschinaogf.org/
[5]http://www.whitehouse.gov/thepressoffice/uschinacleanenergyannouncements
[6]http://www.amchamchina.org/article/12300
[7]http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=16271
[8]http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=14691
[9]http://topics.bloomberg.com/michaelliebreich
[10]http://about.bnef.com/
[11]http://www.eia.gov/countries/cab.cfm?fips=CH
[12]http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/china/overview
[13]http://www.smh.com.au/comment/chinassmogageddon20131218hv6cj.html
[14]http://bigstory.ap.org/article/chinaaskspilotsmasterlowvisibilitylanding

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 13/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom
[15]http://www.thelancet.com/
[16]https://www.motherjones.com/documents/1237953ccsretrofit
[17]https://www.motherjones.com/documents/1237945heichinagbdpressrelease0331131
[18]http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/05/an8yearoldgirlslungcancerisblamedonairpollution/?
_php=true&amp_type=blogs&amp_r=0
[19]http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn24909madeinchinauptoaquarterofcaliforniasmog.html#.U7HsNY1dXpg
[20]http://www.newyorker.com/news/evanosnos
[21]http://www.amazon.com/AgeAmbitionChasingFortuneTruth/dp/0374280746
[22]http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chinasairpollutionpromptscreativesometimeswackysolutions/2014/01/25/dc7d47fa82a611e3
bbe56a2a3141e3a9_story.html
[23]http://www.dezeen.com/2013/10/21/smogbystudioroosegaarde/
[24]http://www.newschinamag.com/magazine/removingmountains
[25]http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/12/08/chinatoflatten700mountainstobuildacity/
[26]http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=14431
[27]http://csis.org/publication/chinaawardsmoreshalegasblocksalthoughmuchremainsbeseen
[28]http://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/knowledge/publications/64620/chinas12thfiveyearplanforshalegas
[29]http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/frackingregulationsweakandscarcedespitenaturalgasbonanza/
[30]http://english.caixin.com/20121120/100462881.html
[31]http://www.scaes.cn/
[32]http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/newsdesk/energy/data/beyondbeijinginteractivemapchinascitiesaffectedemergencylevelsairpollution
[33]http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/12/business/international/chinatakesonbigrisksinitspushforshalegas.html?_r=0
[34]http://finance.sina.com.cn/chanjing/cyxw/20130527/100015596007.shtml
[35]http://www.worldwildlife.org/ecoregions/pa0437
[36]https://www.motherjones.com/documents/1237931ceresreport
[37]http://classic.cnpc.com.cn/en/?COLLCC=16433662&amp
[38]http://www.slb.com/
[39]http://www.slb.com/news/press_releases/2013/2013_0703_reservoir_laboratory_chengdu_china_pr.aspx
[40]http://about.bnef.com/pressreleases/chinasshalegascostsleastdoubleusrisingoutputwillaidbargainingpositionworldmarkets/
[41]https://www.motherjones.com/documents/1237942bpstatisticalreviewofworldenergy2014full
[42]http://www.iea.org/newsroomandevents/pressreleases/2014/june/name,89800,en.html
[43]http://www.ogj.com/articles/2012/03/cnpcshellsignshalegascontractinchinassichuanbasin.html
[44]http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/08/21/usshellchinaidUSBRE87K0AS20120821
[45]http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052748703626604575010322184894544
[46]http://articles.chicagotribune.com/20131114/news/snsrtchinashaleforeignfactbox20131114_1_shaleresourcesantonoilfieldservices
groupfactboxforeignfirms
[47]https://www.motherjones.com/documents/1237946oxfordenergyshalegasrevolution
[48]http://www.bloomberg.com/news/20130225/sinopectobuychesapeakeoilandgasassetsfor102billion.html
[49]http://en.cq.gov.cn/ChongqingToday/News/2014/1/24/1196403.shtml
[50]http://www.worldbank.org/en/country/china/publication/chinaeconomicupdatejune2014
[51]http://www.chinapost.com.tw/china/localnews/other/2013/11/15/393700/p1/Chinacake.htm
[52]http://travel.cnn.com/shanghai/life/chinaforeignerstreetthemepark977377
[53]http://www.worldrecordacademy.com/biggest/largest_public_restroom_from_china_set_world_record_70449.htm
[54]http://www.forbes.com/2010/10/07/citieschinachicagoopinionscolumnistsjoelkotkin.html
[55]http://www.economist.com/node/9557763
[56]https://www.motherjones.com/documents/12379402012chinaenergymarket
[57]http://www.cqcbd.gov.cn/html/?272121.html
[58]http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/thechinadiaries/gapbetweenchinasrichandpoorcantbehiddenin
chongqing/article7571019/
[59]http://www.motherjones.com/documents/1237932redmafiainchina
[60]http://www.motherjones.com/documents/1237924extralegalprotectioninchinabrjcriminol
[61]http://www.chinasmack.com/2014/stories/90ofchinesepeasantsliveastheydid40yearsago.html
[62]http://ns.umich.edu/new/releases/22156incomeinequalitynowgreaterinchinathaninus?
utm_source=feedburner&amputm_medium=feed&amputm_campaign=Feed%3A+umnsglobalmichigan+
(University+of+Michigan+News+Service++Global+Michigan)
[63]https://www.motherjones.com/documents/1237944groupbunrisdinequality
[64]http://www.hrw.org/bios/sophierichardson
[65]http://www.hrw.org/asia/china
[66]http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1108543/landgrabsaremaincausemainlandprotestsexpertssay
[67]http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/201404/09/content_17415767.htm
[68]http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424127887323980604579030883246871124
[69]https://www.motherjones.com/documents/1237948wbldbgreen2014crpd
[70]https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1237947stateforestryadministrationdesertification.html
[71]https://www.motherjones.com/documents/1237943frackingwastewaterfullreport
[72]https://www.motherjones.com/documents/1237929sichuanearthquakes
[73]http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2013/03/doesfrackingcauseearthquakeswastewaterdewatering
[74]http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/ce/cohk/chn/xwdt/jzzh/t1167009.htm
[75]http://www.catf.us/fossil/where/asia/
[76]http://www.catf.us/about/
[77]http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energyandyou/affect/naturalgas.html
[78]https://www.motherjones.com/documents/1237941aaasaerosolsnotco2causeglobalwarming
[79]http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/08/methanevscarbondioxideraymondpierrehumbertinquiringminds
[80]http://www.pnas.org/content/early/2014/04/10/1316546111
[81]http://www.motherjones.com/
[82]http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/09/hillaryclintonfrackingshalestatedepartmentchevron
[83]http://desmogblog.com/2013/06/25/obamaclimateplantoutsfrackingtransitionfueldoublingdownmethanerisk
[84]http://www.eia.gov/forecasts/ieo/nat_gas.cfm
[85]http://www.ucsusa.org/about/staff/staff/rachelcleetus.html
[86]http://www.ucsusa.org/
http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 14/15
10/23/2015 DeepInsidetheWildWorldofChina'sFrackingBoom
[87]http://www.theatlantic.com/jamesfallows/
[88]http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2010/08/146161.htm
[89]https://www.motherjones.com/documents/1237927jpmglobalunconventiona201401101282667
[90]http://www.middlebury.edu/sustainability/fech/fellowships
[91]http://www.sej.org/initiatives/fund%20for%20environmental%20journalism/overview
[92]http://www.motherjones.com/authors/leiwang
[93]http://thenounproject.com/term/videocamera/6105/#_=_

http://www.motherjones.com/print/259261 15/15