Hi Vic,

This wikipedia article matches my understanding of the contemporary perforation process:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perforation_%28oil_well%29

What has been uncertain is the strength of the charges used. Compared to conventional reservoirs which only need mild stimulation to trigger flows, the density of shale makes it much harder to ‘punch’ through, and in order to get any flow at all, fractures need to be extensive. The temptation must be to have much stronger charges in shale beds than conventional reservoirs, leading to increased difficulties in control and uncertain outcomes. It appears to be an area of considerable R&D by operators like Schlumberger:
https://www.slb.com/~/media/Files/resources/oilfield_review/ors06/aut06/new_practices.pdf

As for the use of depleted uranium, rumours have been around for quite a while, but I am not aware of any proven instance of it having been used – YET. The following is, however, good evidence that it has been on the minds of Halliburton, at least (dated 11 months ago):
http://williamahuston.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/finally-proof-of-use-depleted-uranium.html

I hope this helps.

Regards,

Andy Chyba

On 3 Mar 2014, at 16:00, Keith M Ross wrote:

Vic,

I doubt anyone would be foolish enough to use nitro or plastic explosives when searching for methane! Have heard rumours about DU (Depleted Uranium) being used in drill bits before, but have never seen any evidence.

Copying Andy Chyba, who knows far more about these things than I do and may be able to guide you to some reliable sources.

Keith Ross
Safe Energy/Frack Free Wales.

Byddwch yn wyrdd, gadewch hwn ar y sgrin. Peidiwch argraffu’r neges yma oni bai bod wir angen.
Be green, leave it on the screen. Please don’t print this message unless you really need to.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

Hi,  I’m looking for information regarding perforation and explosion used in slick water fracking.

I’ve heard that DU mght be used, or is it ntro or plastic explosives?

Any verfiable information gratefully recieved!

Vic Doyle

Hi Andy,I was going to send you the link to the Webs site so try this…http://vinnabee.webs.com/apps/calendar/ If not here are the dates we have so far… The one in Brecon is a small pub and I plan on doing lots of songs I haven’t done for a while…They also serve food, so it will be a nice chilled evening…. Vinna

Sat. 22 March 7:00 PM Vinna Bee live @ The Shoemakers Arms, Pentre bach, Brecon. Vinna Bee live @ The Shoemakers Arms, Pentre bach, (Nr Sennybridge) Brecon. An intimate acoustic / electro show in the beautifull Brecon Beacons

Sat. 3 May 2:00 PM Vinna Bee live @ “Landed Festival” Nr. Rhayader, Powys, times to be confirmed

Sun. 4 May 7:00 PM Vinna Bee live @ Saith Seren, Wrexham + Support

Sun. 1 June 12:00 AM Vinna Bee live @ “HowTheLightGetsIn” festival, Hay on Wye, Gig 1 – Time: 11.30am Venue: The Stage at HowTheLightGetsIn site Gig 2 – Time: 3.15pm Venue: The Pavilion at the HowTheLightGetsIn site.

This is a reminder that the Bridgend Green Party AGM is this coming Thursday. Details below.

There have been no motions or constitutional amendments submitted so item 7 on the Agenda falls off.

I very much hope to see as many of you as possible on Thursday.

Best wishes,

Andy

Begin forwarded message from 02/02/14:

In its current incarnation, Bridgend Green Party is now over 3 years old. It has established itself as arguably the strongest local Green Party in Wales in this time.
However, it now finds itself at a vital point in its development. The founding members have done a great job in building a viable and effective local party – but unless other members get more involved and become prepared to take over the reigns, Bridgend Green Party may fade away.This would be an awful shame. So please come along to the AGM and see what you may be able to offer, and get out of it, if not immediately, perhaps over the next 12 months. Otherwise, next year’s AGM may prove to be the last.

Andy Chyba
(Current Chair)

7.00pm Thursday 27th February 2014 at theThe Railway PH at the bottom of Station Hill
ALL WELCOME (Especially new members!)

AGM Agenda:

• (1) Welcome, Election of chair,
• (2) Minutes,
• (3) Reports from officers and councillor,
• (4) Election of officers,
• (5) Review of year (including campaigning activity and Conference feedback),
• (6) Report on Election campaigns and situation re target wards,
• (7) Motions and BGP constitutional amendments (if any),
• (8) Dates and venues for next 12 months
• (9) A.O.B.

Notes:
OFFICERS
We run on a skeleton executive of three officers at present in order to satisfy National Party and legal requirements. We are reaching a point where we need to see different people taking on these positions if at all possible.
These consist of:

1. Chairman – acting also as Local Party Contact (and PPERA Second Officer)
2. Elections Officer – acting as Election Agent and Nominating Officer
3. Treasurer

On top of this, there is a need for a Minuting Secretary (currently being done by the Elections Officer) and Blog/Website Officer (currently being done by the Chair). In an ideal world, we also need a Membership Secretary (sort of done by the Chair currently); and a Fundraising Co-ordinator.

MOTIONS and/or BGP Constitutional Amendments
If any body wants to propose any, then please do so by email or post by 20th February, so that they can can be distributed for consideration before the AGM itself. They will need proposing and seconding by full members (either at the AGM or via email/post in advance) before they can be put to a vote at the AGM.

It was great, and uplifting, to see so much local talent backing the anti-fracking movement in South Wales.

Yesterday’s “Vale Not For Shale” gig was effectively a one day festival that brought all the ant-fracking groups in the region together in party mood.
As such, is was a great bonding exercise and will, I am sure, build ever greater solidarity and determination to see this battle through to a successful conclusion.
Special mention to Donal Whelan, who brought together such an outstanding line up.

For those that missed out, here are a just a few of my personal favourites (I missed a few gems on door duty it seems):

Vinna Bee
“Thank you for the review of Sat and brilliant you chose Bears Under Decks with my lyrics about Capitalism, corporate etc fitting nicely with the event …Nice one Andy!” Vinna Bee

The Rumble-O’s

http://stiwdiogwellt.com/album/my-tree
Megan Ambrose

Trwbador

Justin Lewis Preece (of Climbing Trees – nearest camera at start of this video)

This cause seems to resonate with musicians like no other. An ant-fracking summer festival has to be worth exploring.

There have been many others very prominent in the campaign in South Wales, most notably perhaps, the founder of Frack-Free Wales (and one of the Balcombe 16 – alongside Justin Lewis Preece above), Frances Jenkins. As well as teaching music, running a studio with her husband, Ben, and composing, she has appeared with various local bands:

Bronwen ‘Little Eris’ Davies has also been a prominent Frack-Free Wales supporter:

Catrin O’Neill was a key player in in the early successes of the Vales Says No! group:
http://stiwdiogwellt.com/track/ar-lan-y-m-r

And alongside Vinna Bee, the other star turn at the Fracking benefit gig at O’Callaghans was the Bones of St James:

With so much talent on our side, how can we not succeed!!!

Begin forwarded message:

From: “CONFERENCE” <conference>

Subject: Green Party Conference: 28 Feb – 3 March

Date: 20 February 2014 17:45:39 GMT

To: Andy Chyba <greens>

Reply-To: “CONFERENCE” <conference>

Green Party Spring Conference 2014

Friday 28 February – Monday 3 March, St George’s Hall, Liverpool

www.greenparty.org.uk/conference

There is still time to book! Online bookings are open until Friday 21 February, and you can also pay on the door (see website for fees).

Join us in Liverpool at the beautiful grade-1 listed St George’s Hall for a Euro-focussed spring conference in advance of May’s elections. As well as the core conference business of policy making, the programme will include training sessions for activists and fringe sessions on a variety of subjects. There will also be topical panel debates on: “NHS Privatisation”, “Austerity in Europe”, and “The Struggle for Higher Education”. Full timetable attached.

We have some great external speakers lined up, including:

George Monbiot on “Rewilding Britain”,

Satish Kumar on “Soil, Soul, Society”

Hugh Warwick on “Saving Britain’s Hedgehogs”.

Accommodation

For information on nearby hotels and hostels, staying with local members, and crash space, see the website.

Travel
National Express have generously offered conference goers 50% off coach travel during the conference period. To book go to http://www.nationalexpress.com/coach/Offers/promocodes.aspx and use the code GreenParty14.

Other travel information on the website.

Entertainment/Leisure

For those who wish to find out more about the history of the building, there will be a guided tour of the venue (including its dungeons!) from 12-13.30 on Friday 28th February.
Places are limited to 25, must be booked in advance, and cost £3.50 per person.
Email Louisa.greenbaum if you would like to sign up.

Evening entertainment will include a quiz night and an open mic, and a bar with local organic real ale.

Creche

There will be a free crèche for the children of GP members. For more information and a booking form visit the website. Places must be booked in advance.

Book online at www.greenparty.org.uk/conference

Published and promoted by and on behalf of the Green Party of England and Wales. Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT.
To opt out of ALL future emails from the Green Party, click here.

Spring_2014_full_timetable_18_02.pdf

Begin forwarded message:

From: MARGARET MINHINNICK <mm>

Subject: INVITATION 28TH

Date: 19 February 2014 15:43:59 GMT

Please RSVP if you can.M

Margaret Minhinnick
Director
Sustainable Wales Cymru Gynhaliol

way to my mother.pdf

4/5 James St.
Porthcawl
Bridgend
CF36 3BG
01656 783962

http://www.sustainablewales.org.uk/

Donate

Sustainable Wales is an environmental charity. Committed to sustainable development, we focus on society, economy, jobs, creativity and the arts and their inter-connection with the natural world.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Llantrithyd ‘Villagers Against Drilling’

Subject: Vale’s Not For Shale – Concert Line Up Announcement

Date: 18 February 2014 14:35:09 GMT

The concert is almost upon us!

Saturday 22nd February 2014
14:00-23:00

Cowbridge Town Hall

Line up:

2.00 pm Nancy Ackroyd
3.00 pm The Lunarcyclist
4.00 pm Vinna Bee
5.00 pm Climbing Trees
6.00 pm Colum Regan Music
7.00 pm The Rumble-O’s
8.00 pm Cian Ciarán
9.00 pm Trwbador
10.00 pm The Earth

Tickets £10 on the door or from http://bit.ly/1gA1eug

Looking forward to seeing you there!

A petition started by Llantrithyd ‘Villagers Against Drilling’ on Change.org: “Evan Williams and W Philip Thomas, landowners at Llantrithyd: Don’t allow your agricultural land to be used for test drilling for gas.” Change.org does not endorse contents of this message.

View the petition

Begin forwarded message:

From: Louisa Greenbaum <louisa.greenbaum>

Subject: Green Party Spring Conference 2014

Date: 11 February 2014 18:02:41 GMT

Dear All,

I am now attaching the full timetable and the final agenda for Spring conference. I would be really grateful if you could pass this on to your local members if possible. As well as a full programme of policy making, training for activists and topical fringes, we are also pleased to have exciting guest speakers such as George Monbiot and Satish Kumar joining us.

As a reminder, the Green Party Spring Conference will be held at St George’s Hall in Liverpool from Friday 28 February to Monday 3 March.

· Bookings can be made online via the website. Early bird booking deadline is 14 February, but you can book up to the conference and even on the day itself.
· Free Creche
· 50% off national express coach travel for GP members
· Crash space available at £5 per night, as well as £10 B&B with local members (limited places)
· Vegetarian and Vegan catering, organic real ale and cider!

Details of all this and more on the conference website:www.greenparty.org.uk/conference

Thanks and best wishes,

Louisa Greenbaum
Conferences Co-ordinator
The Green Party
Tel. 01273 888 360

Spring Conference 2014
28 Feb – 3 Mar, St George’s Hall, Liverpool
www.greenparty.org.uk/conference

Spring 2014_full_timetable.pdf

Final Agenda Spring Conference 2014.pdf

9781781721292

launch poster island of lightning feb 2014 600px

Minhinnick says of the book:

“Island of Lightning is an ambitious collection, selected from writings composed over recent years.

“It ranges from adventures in China, the US and Italy, to extremely locally-focused writing, depicting Kenfig, the Elvis festival and Pink Bay.

“The longest piece describes a pilgrimage from Cardiff to Penrhys in the Rhondda, while the title section stems from a literary residency I was awarded on the real ‘island of lightning’. This had a huge impact on my life as a writer.”

‘Island of Lightning’ comprises over twenty separate sections, and retails at £9.99. It comes with a cover design by Eamon Bourke.

Island of Lightning is the latest book of travel essays by the prizewinning Robert Minhinnick, poet, novelist, translator, cultural commentator and environmentalist. In it he travels from his home in south Wales to Argentina, China, Finland, Iraq, Tuscany and Piemonte, Malta, New York, Zagreb, Lithuania and the lightning island of Malta.

In conventional travel essays and leaps of imaginative narrative his subjects include the annual Elvis convention in Porthcawl, Neolithic sculptures, the cruelties of late twentieth century communism and its aftermath, rugby union, the Argentinian writer Alfonsina Storni, poets playing football, the body of a saint and the definition of cool. His themes are big ones: the relationship of man and landscape, man and time, man and nature, immigration and war, in one sense ultimately humankind itself.

Minhinnick explores with the eye of a poet and the gift of a telling image or metaphor. His walk from Cardiff to the Rhondda valleys is almost geological as he passes through the social and cultural strata of the area’s history. His astonishment at the sheer number of people – the scale on which society works – in China, results in an inventive grappling with the hugeness of the world (and its growing problems). At the other end of the spectrum his re-imagining of the life of Alfonsina Storni, her love for Borges and her suicide is a delicate commentary on the personal and the solitary.

Readers will be entertained, informed and provoked by this series of essays in which Minhinnick takes his subjects as though holding them in his hand, turning them for new perspectives and understanding.

Sustainable Wales Cymru Gynhaliol
4/5 James St.
Porthcawl
Bridgend
CF36 3BG
01656 783962

http://www.sustainablewales.org.uk/

Donate

Sustainable Wales is an environmental charity. Committed to sustainable development, we focus on society, economy, jobs, creativity and the arts and their inter-connection with the natural world.

Margaret Minhinnick
Director
Sustainable Wales Cymru Gynhaliol
4/5 James St.
Porthcawl
Bridgend
CF36 3BG
01656 783962

http://www.sustainablewales.org.uk/

Donate

Sustainable Wales is an environmental charity. Committed to sustainable development, we focus on society, economy, jobs, creativity and the arts and their inter-connection with the natural world.

Begin forwarded message:

From: Geraldine Ring <geraldine.ring2>

Subject: URGENT ACTION: Another European Parliament vote on shale gas this Wednesday 5 February

Date: 4 February 2014 13:16:20 GMT

To: undisclosed-recipients:;

Bcc: andy

Dear all,

Please read important message below from Antoine of FoEE. You need to contact your MEP today.

I would suggest adapting the template attached, mentioning that you will be watching closely how your MEP votes tomorrow, and that if our recommendations are not respected, then you won’t be giving your vote to him/her in the European elections which take place this May 23. This sort of pressure really works, believe me!

Please keep me posted of any replies you receive, as we will be doing a naming and shaming of all pro-fracking MEPs ahead of the elections. Fracking has to become a major electoral issue.

You can post the replies directly in the FB event here or email them to me.

There is another fracking related vote taking place next week so please stay tuned for news about that! It’s all go here!

Best regards,

​Geraldine

Letter to MEPs_shale gas.doc
MEPs List.xlsx