Energy companies using seismic activity to test Barnett Shale through mid-August

by PegNews wire

According to the Fort Worth Business Press, residents in areas over the Barnett Shale might notice some funny behavior happening in their neighborhoods this month.

What some companies call a thumper truck. This is what you'll see if Dawson conducts seismic tests in your area.

XTO and Chesapeake are paying Dawson Geophysical Inc. to find out what the Barnett Shale "looks" like. Dawson has deployed three trucks to test 30-square miles that cover neighborhoods and non-residential areas in and around Fort Worth. The trucks emit a vibration into the ground ranging from 10-120 hertz. Small white boxes placed at 180-foot intervals are recording stations that can pick up the seismic signal from up to two miles away. According to the piece, a person can actually feel the vibrations within 20 feet of the truck.

The process for each test takes about eight minutes to complete and the entire project will likely run through mid-August.

Posted by Erin