Shell disputes facts presented in HBO documentary ‘Gasland’
Says film has ‘factual discrepancies’
by Dawn Ballou, Editor, Pinedale Online!
August 11, 2010
Editor’s Note: On August 6, 2010, the Upper Green River Alliance and Citizens United for Responsible Energy Development (CURED) sponsored a showing of the Josh Fox film "Gasland" at the Pinedale Library. The event was promoted as an "Evening of Awareness Raising and Action Against Unregulated Gas Drilling." The Pinedale showing was one of a 20-stop tour across the United States in a run-up to the September theatrical premiere of the film, which was the winner of this year’s Sundance Special Jury Prize.
According to a release from Linda Baker with the Upper Green River Alliance, the purpose of this event was to raise awareness about the negative impacts of natural gas drilling on public health and the environment. "Gasland tells the story of the effects of the largest domestic natural gas drilling boom in history that is sweeping across the United States. The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of "fracking" or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a "Saudia Arabia of natural gas" just beneath us. But is fracking safe? When filmmaker Josh Fox is asked to lease his land for drilling, he embarks on a cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination. A recently drilled nearby Pennsylvania town reports that residents are able to light their drinking water on fire. This is just one of the many absurd and astonishing revelations of a new country called GASLAND."
We later received a contact from Darci Sinclair, Communications, with Shell Oil Company about this film. "The movie has factual discrepancies, so I suggest directing people to the Energy in Depth website at http://www.energyindepth.org for facts that put the movie in perspective," she said. Below are additional comments from Shell ‘s perspective regarding this documentary.
"Shell sees great potential in the responsible development of natural gas resources in the United States and Canada as part of the future energy security mix for North America. We realize that the Gasland movie may raise concerns in regard to natural gas development. Energy in Depth, the American Petroleum Institute (API), the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP), the Independent Petroleum Association of America (IPAA) and many state/other trade associations are also good resources for facts in regard to responsible natural gas development. If you have questions, please contact Shell at darci.sinclair@shell.com or 1-877-581-4031."
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