It would exempt drilling required for geothermal wells
The Oregon House has passed a 10-year ban on hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Industry officials say the practice has been used for more than 60 years and is safe.
“Hydraulic fracturing has been demonstrated, across multiple state and federal jurisdictions, to be a safe and effective technology that can be used to increase the recovery of hydrocarbons and deliver significant benefits, without adverse efforts, said Brian Doherty, a lobbyist for the Western States Petroleum Association during a hearing on the bill.
House Bill 2711 would put a 10-year moratorium on hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas exploration and production.
It would exempt drilling required for natural gas storage wells and geothermal wells, as well as for some unused coal bed methane extraction wells that currently exist near Coos Bay.