Cue the 'Junk Shot': Chesapeake Ready to Cram Plastic and Tires Into Fracking Blowout in PA

onApr 21, 2011 @ 11:12 PDT

Reuters has more details on Chesapeake’s just-announced suspension of fracking at its unconventional gas operations throughout Pennsylvania due to an ongoing blowout.

Apparently, since their emergency response efforts have so far not worked to stop the well blowout, Chesapeake is getting ready to – you might want to sit down for this – launch a ‘top kill’ junk shot of “a mix of plastic, ground up tires and heavy mud to plug the well.”

What, no golf balls?

Image from http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-oil-rig-20100423-pi…

By Brendan DeMelle

Brendan is Executive Director of DeSmog. He is also a freelance writer and researcher specializing in media, politics, climate change and energy. His work has appeared in Vanity Fair, The Huffington Post, Grist, The Washington Times and other outlets.

Analysis

What ‘Chimney Sweep Testicle’ Can Teach Us About Fossil Fuels’ Staggering Health Consequences

ByMitch Anderson

onSep 12, 2025 @ 09:44 PDT

Coal, oil and gas have been killing people for centuries. We’re still paying for it.

Revealed: EPP-Linked Tax Group ‘Collaborated’ With Far-Right Party on Criminal Complaints

ByClare Carlile and Phoebe Cooke

onSep 11, 2025 @ 04:30 PDT

Unsubstantiated allegations against top climate advocates part of campaign to “discredit and defund” civil society actors in EU, says transparency campaigner.