Keep in mind that this is oil which needs to be horizontally drilled for, meaning fracking. Fracking has destroyed water tables because of the chemicals used and been linked to earthquakes in Canada. Not to mention that it is very intensive in terms of water use.
But of course, while the oil is running there are lots of jobs created, at least until OPEC decides they've had enough and drives the price of oil back down.
Since this is Texas, I'm pretty sure the local community won't worry about this stuff much (I grew up in Texas and have relatives who live just north of this field's extent). Hopefully the benefits will outweigh the costs for them -- it's not clear that this has been the case for North Dakota.
But of course, while the oil is running there are lots of jobs created, at least until OPEC decides they've had enough and drives the price of oil back down.
Since this is Texas, I'm pretty sure the local community won't worry about this stuff much (I grew up in Texas and have relatives who live just north of this field's extent). Hopefully the benefits will outweigh the costs for them -- it's not clear that this has been the case for North Dakota.