How Unethical Is Hydraulic Fracturing?

Hydraulic Fracturing is a process that releases trapped natural gas by expanding cracks in the surrounding rock via the pressure created by pumping a concoction of water, sand and chemical additives, like benzene, deep underground via a well. Hydraulic fracturing dates back to the 1940’s, however it did not become popular until 2003 when natural gas companies began to explore alternative energy resources. Although hydraulic fracturing is an efficient engineering process, the act, by the engineers, of allowing it to continue is unethical because it violates the first canon of the ASCE Code of Ethics which is "Engineers shall hold paramount the safety, health and welfare of the public and shall strive to comply with the principles of sustainable development in the performance of their professional duties" (ASCE.org). It is unethical by the engineers who allow the continuation of a potentially hazardous process to continue and expand across the U.S. and the world without first proving to the public that hydraulic fracturing is safe or not through clear and concise unbiased research.

The amount of water required and the different chemical additives used in the frac fluid is what poses a threat to the safety, health and welfare of the public. Hydraulic fracturing uses concoction of slush water, sand and chemicals combined with pressure to stimulate to either create or expand cracks in the shale. One of the main concerns is the large amount of fresh water used and lost in todays fracturing techniques. Certain fracturing techniques can use to 8 millions gallons of water, either freshwater or treated produced water. This freshwater makes up about 98% to 99% of the total volume of the slush (fracfocus.org). After the frac is done the w...

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...ls might be causing because they would be sued for giving away company secrets.

Hydraulic fracturing is a controversial process. You have multiple sides weighing in on the issue, from an environmental, economic, public and private views. However only one view is the correct one and it is an ethical choice between hydraulic fracturing being safe or not. The act, by the engineers, of allowing continuation of hydraulic fracturing is unethical because the process uses vast amounts of fresh water that directly affect the public health and welfare. Hydraulic fracturing leaves frac fluid deep underground where it is trapped and does not recharge the overall water cycle of the earth. Further research is needed to see how to contain and minimize potential effects of deep underground additives on soil and how to reduce the amount of freshwater used in the fracturing process.