Hydraulic Fracturing, also known as fracking, is not a novel concept. The hope of being able to access fossil fuels trapped inside layers of shale deep beneath the Earth’s surface was achieved by the process of fracking, developed in 1903 (energyindepth.com). Over the last century, hydraulic fracturing has become an efficient and environmentally friendly way to access the natural gas needed to meet the United States’ high demands. With the condition of the environment rapidly deteriorating, the process of hydraulic fracturing is being questioned. Fracking has made the natural gas trapped within the shale deposits below the earth’s surface accessible with new techniques, all while generating jobs, stimulation the economy, and safely creating an environmentally friendly source of energy. The hydraulic fracturing process has evolved and improved since its creation over 100 years ago. In fact, engineers and geologists spent more than 40 years perfecting the process, and the payoff has been well worth the effort (energyindepth.com). In addition, efficiency has increased with the discovery of a process known as horizontal drilling (Kaufman and Sidick). Reporters Scott Detrow and Susan Phillips explain how hor¬i¬zon¬tal drilling allows one sur¬face well to access gas trapped in hun¬dreds of acres of shale. “Once the vertical drill hits the shale for¬ma¬tion, it turns hor¬i¬zon¬tally in sev¬eral direc¬tions. The well is then cased with steel and cement. Explo¬sives are then placed at inter¬vals along the hor¬i¬zon¬tal sec¬tion of the well. Under very high pres¬sure, fracking fluid is sent deep into the earth to cre¬ate cracks and fis¬sures in the shale rock. The fis¬sures are then held open by the sand in the fracking fluid, a... ... middle of paper ... ...ssues That Matter. Close To Home. WITF, 2011. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. "History of Hydraulic Fracturing." Energy in Depth. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. "How Fracking Works." Energy From Shale. 2011. Web. 24 Oct. 2011. Kaufman, Ethan, and Kelsey Sidick. “Prevention and Removal of Hydraulic Fracturing Pollution in Pennsylvania’s Fresh Water.” University of Pittsburg, Apr.2011. Web. 13 Oct. 2011 Long, Sandy. "What's in That Fracking Fluid?" River Reporter. The River Reporter, 4 Dec. 2008. Web. 25 Oct. 2011. McGraw, Seamus. "Pennsylvania Fracking Accident - What Went Wrong - Popular Mechanics." Automotive Care, Home Improvement, Tools, DIY Tips - Popular Mechanics. Web. 27 Oct. 2011. "Pennsylvania Fracking Spill: Natural Gas Well Blowout Spills Thousands Of Gallons Of Drilling Fluid." Huffington Post. The Huffington Post, Apr.-May 2011. Web. 27 Oct. 2011.
In the video “Fracking Hell: The Untold Story” by Link TV explains how natural gas has been a huge problem not only for the earth in general but for everyone and everything living in it. The video explains how North East of Pennsylvania is having difficulties to conserve a healthy environment and people. North East of Pennsylvania is the main sources to extract gas and send it throughout the United States for gasoline and so on. However, this action is wonderful for the cost of gas, but has a huge impact on the environment and the people living in Pennsylvania. A lot of people in this state are worried having health issues because everything is not usable is being thrown out to the rivers where they get their fresh water.
Hydraulic fracturing, also called fracking, is a technique designed to release the gas and oil from shale rock hidden underneath earth’s surface. The term fracking itself is referring to the point at which the shale rock is broken open by a high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals. Oil and gas fracking can be dangerous to the environment and also to humans. “In 2011, energy company Cuadrilla suspended test fracking operations near Blackpool, in Lancashire, after two earthquakes of 1.5 and 2.2 magnitudes hit the area. A subsequent study found it was highly probable that shale gas test drilling triggered the tremors” (BBC). Although these tremors were too small to do any damage above ground, this was still a test drill. If an oil rig were to become operational, the tremors could increase in magnitude, causing significant damage both above ground and underneath the earth’s
The diluted bitumen found in tar sands, turns out to be the heaviest, thickest crude oil used today. The reason is so uncommon and concerning to environmentalists is because of the extra amount of energy needed to extract the oil-sands crude compared to regular oil. In summary about the use of diluted bitumen, “The U.S. refineries that process it will produce higher levels of pollutants that damage human health and lead to more smog, haze and acid rain” (Weeks par. 24). Even though the acidic crude oil that comes from tar sands allows the resulting combination to flow more easily through the pipeline, it can result in pipeline corrosion, making it more vulnerable to leaks (Guarino 3). Another concern with leaks affecting other areas, is that it will create a high concern of a potential diluted bitumen oil spill faster than average crude oil, which will sink quicker into the porous soil along its route and contaminate the state’s vital groundwater aquifer (Clayton
In today's global economy, energy is one of the most crucial and sought after commodities. Who supplies it and how much they supply determines how much influence they have over other countries as well as the global economy. This is why hydraulic fracturing is currently such an important and controversial topic in the United States. Hydraulic fracturing, more commonly known as "fracking" or hydrofracturing, is the process of using pressurized liquids to fracture rocks and release hydrocarbons such as shale gas, which burns more efficiently than coal. This booming process of energy production provides a much needed economic boost, creating jobs and providing gas energy for Americans. The efficiently burning shale gas reduces carbon emission from electricity production plants, reducing carbon footprints on the environment. However, the process of hydraulic fracturing uses millions of gallons of pressurized liquid, which contains toxic chemicals, and some of this water is left over undealt with. The air near fracking sites is often also polluted and unsafe for nearby community residents. Injecting millions of gallons of water laced with toxic chemicals into the rock thousands of feet deep can cause earthquakes, causing a safety hazards for all nearby areas. Hydraulic Fracturing makes rare natural gases easily attainable, boosting the economy and reducing carbon emissions. However, the negative side effects such as contaminated water and air, make hydraulic fracturing a process that may not be worth the benefits.
5. "What Is Fracking and Why Is It Controversial?" BBC News. BBC, 27 June 2013. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
Kovats, Sari et al. “The Health Implications of Fracking.” Lancet 383.9919 (2014): 757– 8. Web.
While methane is not a rare contaminant in drinking water wells, the fracking process seems to allow more methane to seep into the wells. A study headed by Duke University’s Robert B. Jackson, a professor of Environmental Sciences, shows that in Pennsylvania, drinking water wells within one kilometer of fracking sites contain nearly six times more methane than in wells farther away (Banerjee). Methane, no matter where it is contained, is flammable, thereby posing a risk for explosion, which is not good for homes. Reports show that a fracking site in Dimock, Pennsylvania caused methane to leak into a water well, where it detonated, leading to even further contamination of other water wells and homes (Henheffer 30). The domino effect presented here raises fear in critics of fracking, who seek only to stop the process from happen-
“Hydraulic fracturing involves the use of water pressure to create fractures in rock that allow the oil and natural gas it contains to escape and flow out of a well (Energy From Shale).” Fracking has served to extract natural gas and oil where other methods would not be as successful but many environmentalists argue that fracking is affecting the environment and our drinking supply of water. Although fracking is still a controversial topic, it provides Americans jobs, increases the economy of the region, and the natural gas and oil are cleaner and more affordable source of energy. The EPA recognizes that natural gas and oil are an essential part to help our planet survive but do not want fracking to come at an expense to the public health of the citizens or to the environment.
EnergyFromShale.org shows the fluid mixture is comprised of 90% water, 9.5% propping agents such as sand, and 0.5% chemical additives. Some of the chemicals found in this mixture are: sodium chloride, ethylene glycol, borate salts, sodium carbonate, guar gum, and isopropanol. Proponents of fracking will lead you to believe that the chemicals used are essentially harmless, and found in such small amounts as to have negligible side effects. On the CDC website, ethylene glycol is described as an odorless liquid with a sweet taste. When ingested it breaks down into toxic compounds. A person’s central nervous system, heart, and kidneys are affected. Large amounts of ethylene glycol can be deadly. While many say that the 0.5% amount of chemicals used is such a small amount, they are traceable amounts. Additionally, drilling companies are supposed to treat the fracking fluid before it is injected into the ground, left to dissipate, or released into surface water. The EPA claims that flowback is properly treated before it is disposed of, and that it is regulated by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System. After treatment, the EPA Underground Injection Control program is supposed to regulate the flowback being injected underground to dispose of it (epa.gov.,
Before one can see the devastating effects of fracking, one must first understand how fracking works. As previously stated, the main intent of hydro-fracking is to access and harvest natural gas that lies below the surface of the Earth. Having formed over 400 million years ago by the collision of tectonic plates (Marsa 3), the Marcellus Shale plays host to a gold mine of natural gas, which is currently at the center of the fracking debate in the Northeastern region of the United States. Unfortunately, access...
For those of you who do not know what fracking is exactly, it is when water is mixed with sand and chemicals, and then is injected into wells at hi...
The process of fracking is very simple. Around 800 gallons of water is used as the base of what is called fracking fluid. Along with this, sand and 600 toxic chemicals are used to create the fluid. The fluid is then transported from a manufacturing plant to the site. It is then injected at high pressures into the ground through dilled pipelines. The fluid contains chemicals that keep these pipes from rusting over time. The fluid then reaches a well where it causes the nearby shale rock to fracture. This releases any trapped fuel in the rocks. Gravity and pressure is then used to force the fluid out of the pipes back to the surface. The fluid is then taken and left it large holes to evaporate. This causes release of chemicals and also leakage into ground water (Dangers of Fracking).
Saundry, Peter. "Exxon Valdez oil spill." Exxon Valdez oil spill. 9 June 2010. The Encyclopedia
environmental damage mounting, the practice of fracking has only quietly expanded and profited. This concealed expansion into the nation’s backyard has only
Numerous reports have been given on the dangerous affects of hydraulic fracturing. One such affect that has been noticed is that drinking water wells near the fracturing sites have been contaminated. During the hydro-fracking process, injected fluids that help to break and keep open the rock bed where the natural gas is kept, have “been known to travel three thousand feet from the well (Goldman).” This fluid could have the potential to enter and contaminate any water well for homes around hydraulic fracturing sites. This incident is one of the major problems that people want to figure out and know about before they allow a fracturing site by them. It has been the most feared outcome of having a fracking site nearby, and it is highly appropriate. One site in Wyoming had this happen, “…in August, EPA reported that eleven of thirty-nine drinking-water wells near a Wyoming hydraulic fracturing operation were contaminated with chemicals used in the fracturing process (Hobson EPA).” In Pennsylvania, another such case occurred, “There have already been severe pollution cases in Pennsylvania, mo...