There have been some minor instances of hydraulic fracturing fluids reaching non-drinking groundwater, but these occurred due to factors such as above-ground pipe leaks that have nothing to do with the hydraulic fracturing process itself.

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Yet, another story says the hunters smelled gas, banged a pipe into the ground and then lit it.

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That was as deep as one could look into the earth with the available geological tools--and also about as far into the ground as anyone knew how to drill a well and push pipe into the hole.

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