By DAVID BERTOLA
dbertola@bizjournals.com | 716-541-1621

While natural gas drillers may be disclosing more information about chemicals used in the hydrofracking process, the leader of one local oil and gas company says it's not exactly a win for environmentalists and others who oppose it.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Texas Gov. Rick Perry signed a bill into law that requires the companies to make public the chemicals used on every hydrofracking job in the state.

As vice chairman of Williamsville-based Somerset Production Co. LLC and chairman of Fort-Worth, Texas-based Union Drilling Inc., Thomas O'Neill Jr. has drilled more than 2,000 wells worldwide. Hydraulic fracking - often referred to as hydrofracking - has been done for more than 100 years, he said.

He called the new Texas law a "non-event."

"Everyone is happy to disclose it because they're happy to take the argument (against hydrofracking) off the table," he said, adding those who oppose the process usually lack any scientific background to make a case against the process.

O'Neill added the hydrofracking process is more transparent than ever.

In New York, a bill was passed June 6 that suspends issuance of new permits for hydrofracking until at least June 1, 2012.