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Aug 26, 2008 5:07 pm US/Central

New Technology Allows For Quieter Gas Drilling

FORT WORTH (CBS 11 News) ― A drilling rig next to Downtown Fort Worth is considered "new generation" in an industry which is forced to keep up with the times.

Unlike older rigs, it runs on a/c electric instead of diesel and hydraulics. Nearly everything is computer controlled, which means things are a bit more quiet.

With the onset of more urban drilling, the industry has had to cope with greater noise restrictions and smaller site pads. Recently, a rig was used to drill at a site near University Blvd. and the Trinity River.

"We've got a small foot print so we can get in these tight locations," said project manager Barrett Kristianson. "As far as the noise goes, which is one of our biggest challenges doing this urban drilling, we've got our noise way down probably half of what a conventional rig is."

Despite advancements, critics claim a quieter drilling rig does little to quell the controversy.

"What we're seeing is a willy nilly development that may be quieter when appropriate, but ultimately we don't have any idea of the long term consequences," said Fort Worth resident Greg Hughes.

More rigs like these will be drilling in the Barnett Shale early next year.