Hydraulic Frracturing

1437 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Essay on the effects of hydraulic fracturing

Hydraulic fracturing is one of the main producers of natural gas and oil. Although it is a main contributor, hydraulic fracturing causes more problems than what meets the eye. Hydraulic fracturing companies are not being fully honest with the public when it comes to the contaminants in the water, air, and soil. The hazardous chemicals used, those chemicals infecting and contaminating drinking water, and companies not regulating the fracturing are just some of the main problems caused by hydraulic fracturing. The chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing and the harm they cause is one of the biggest arguments in the anti-fracturing debate. The companies have attempted to keep the chemicals they use and the process of hydraulic fracturing a secret. Frank R. Spellman in “Environmental Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing” states hydraulic fracturing depends heavily on the use of chemicals that are undisclosed to the public (131). There are four qualities that fracturing fluids should possess: they must be vicious enough to create a fracture of adequate width, measure fluid travel distance to extend fracture length, be able to transport large amounts of proppant into the fracture, and require minimal gelling agent to allow for easier degradation or “breaking” and reduced cost (131-132). The main fluid categories used in hydraulic fracturing are acids, foamed gels, gelled fluids, plain water, and potassium chloride water (132). Linear gels, a type of gelled fluids, contain products that are biodegradable (132). To create a fracturing gel that can create a fracture of needed width, the guar powder, which is non-toxic and made of the seeds of the guar plant, is mixed with diesel fuel (132). Diesel fuel is a petroleum distillate w... ... middle of paper ... ...taining toxic chemicals underground where they believe it cannot cause harm, but the Indians are the ones dealing with the consequences (750). Although hydraulic fracturing produces thousands of gallons of natural gas a day, but the numerous safety, environmental, and health hazards should be taken into effect and consideration. Although we are using this oil and natural gas now, there will none left for the future. Also, contaminating the public’s drinking water and air is a serious problem and should be more of a concern for the companies and government. If the companies put in their best effort to protect the public health, drinking water, air, and soil and let it be known what chemicals are being used, more people would be for hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing companies keeping the processes and chemicals a secret is causing more harm than good.

Show More
Related

  • Shepard Krech's The Ecological Indian

    782 Words  | 2 Pages

    Modern day Native American are widely known as stewards of the environment who fight for conservation and environmental issues. The position of the many Native American as environmentalists and conservationists is justified based on the perception that before European colonists arrived in the Americas, Native Americans had little to no effect on their environment as they lived in harmony with nature. This idea is challenged by Shepard Krech III in his work, The Ecological Indian. In The Ecological Indian, Krech argues that this image of the noble savage was an invented tradition that began in the early 1970’s, and that attempts to humanize Native Americans by attempting to portray them as they really were. Krech’s arguments are criticized by Darren J Ranco who in his response, claims that Krech fails to analyze the current state of Native American affairs, falls into the ‘trap’ of invented tradition, and accuses Krech of diminishing the power and influence of Native Americans in politics. This essay examines both arguments, but ultimately finds Krech to be more convincing as Krech’s

    Read More

  • California Interpretive History

    491 Words  | 1 Pages

    As a result, when the Spanish colonizers arrived they felt that the native race was inferior to their race. As the chapter continues, this false perspective of the Spanish colonizers proves to be wrong. The California Indians knew so well how to use their natural resources that they made it a success the adaption to their environment. They acquire a grand understanding of natural resources which aided them for their everyday survival. The state natives also were capable of inventing a system that would allow them to reuse and replenish their soil by burning the ground; presently a practice used in field plantation to renew the soil.

    Read More

  • Cronon Discussion Questions

    1057 Words  | 3 Pages

    On one hand some say Native Indians in New England had ritual practices that created a stable self-regulating system. It balanced the human impact upon the surrounding ecology. On the opposite hand, one could say there is no stable way to interact with the environment. An unstable reaction can always be found. The riddle compels the reader to explore both the differences between Native Indians and Colonials way of living and how they impacted the land and its ecology. Through this study one can determine not only what exactly happened, but also how the land was before such changes

    Read More

  • The Tar Creek Mine Environmental Disaster

    2804 Words  | 6 Pages

    The Tar Creek mining site was originally owned by a Native American tribe, the Quapaw. The Quapaw wanted to keep these lands, but the Bureau of Indian Affairs deemed members opposing a transaction with mining companies “incompetent” (1). In such a case, the business could continue and the Bureau of Indian Affairs sold the lands to mining companies. In essence, these lands were stolen from the Quapaw because they were ripe for mining. These mines were then used from approximately 1891 to 1970.

    Read More

  • Mean Spirit

    1062 Words  | 3 Pages

    Although the 160 acres of land per Indian seemed generous, the land was barren and dry. The government did not know, however, that black oil seeped out of the earth, and many Indians became very wealthy because of their “worthless” pieces of land. As a result of the Indians’ wealth, hundreds of white businessmen, fortune-hunters, traders, thieves, and swindlers swarmed to the reservation to make cash.

    Read More

  • The Pros and Cons of Fracking

    1351 Words  | 3 Pages

    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.

    Read More

  • Filling the Void: Hydraulic Fracturing

    1272 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hydraulic fracturing, also commonly referred to as fracking, is a type of drilling for natural gas and oil that started in the 1940’s. In the beginning, when a well was slowing down, dynamite or TNT were placed inside the well head and detonated to help the flow of gas and oil by expanding natural cracks and veins in the earth. This method of fracking was used extensively for almost fifty years in the United States until the easy to mine and profitable oil had been almost completely tapped. A new form of hydraulic fracking was created in the early 90’s to help capture the less available oil and gas pockets remaining in the United States. The current method of fracking begins by drilling a vertical shaft lined with several piping layers and an outer layer of cement up to 10,000 feet deep. After achieving the appropriate vertical length a horizontal shaft is cut off of the vertical shaft that can stretch to lengths up to one mile long. A mixture of sand, water, and chemicals are injected in the shaft fracturing the shale formations and release pockets of oil and natural gas. The water is brought back to the surface where the gas and oil is separated out. The issue many people have with fracking is the possible side effects of chemicals used and water contamination. With the use of fracking helping American’s reach energy independence, economic benefits, and a bridge to help attain a clean energy source; fracking should be expanded in the United States.

    Read More

  • Indian Horse Wagamese Analysis

    1457 Words  | 3 Pages

    The novel “Indian Horse” by Richard Wagamese demonstrates the many conflicts that indigenous people encounter on a daily basis. This includes things such as, the dangers they face and how they feel the need to flee to nature, where they feel the most safe. Another major issue they face is being stripped of their culture, and forcibly made to believe their culture is wrong and they are less of a human for being brought up that way, it makes them feel unworthy. Finally, when one is being criticised for a hobby they enjoy due to their indigenous upbringing, they make himself lose interest and stop the hobby as it makes them different and provokes torment. People who are trying

    Read More

  • Environmental Injustice Endured by the Native Americans

    2091 Words  | 5 Pages

    Starting from the beginning, natural resource consumption has been a process in environmental injustice. The Indian Removal Act passed in 1830 forced Americans Indians from the east to western reservations in a form of ethnic cleansing (Schaefer 146). Donald A. Grinde and Bruce E. Johansen, the authors of Ecocide of Native Americans: Environmental Destruction of Indian Lands and Peoples, make note of a specific quote that non-American Indian settlers phrased during the process, which is “kill the Indian, but save the man” (10). In the book they also point out an interesting fact about how the settlers spoke of the “final solution” well before the Nazis used the phrase. Anyhow, after reforming and internally colonizing Native Americans, the non-American Indian settlers pushed them even further into their corner. A specific occurrence would be the incident at the Great Sioux Reservation. Non-Indians were supposed to keep away from their land and not allowed to hunt. However, in 1874 non-Indians flooded the territory in search of...

    Read More

  • Fracking and the Halliburton Act

    1142 Words  | 3 Pages

    ...t decades but recently the government has been more involved trying to regulate fracturing processes so that they are safe to the environment and to the people. Although fracking is not very well accepted, many believe that fracking is the only way to extract natural gas and oil efficiently. While others believe that it is harmful to the drinking supply of water and to the environment as all other extractions of natural resources are. Today states, the House of Representatives, and the Senate are all working to help minimize the effects that hydraulic fracturing has within communities and the environment by enforcing stronger laws and regulations within fracturing wells and fracturing companies. Hydraulic fracturing provides sufficient and clean energy that will help minimize the impact on other natural resources that are used for energy as well.

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Fracking

    1715 Words  | 4 Pages

    Conflicting reports make it difficult to discern just how detrimental the practice is to the environment and people. What is known is that fracking uses phenomenal amounts of water, which is becoming a scarce resource in many parts of the country. There is no doubt that the fluid used in the fracking process contains chemicals, and when released into water supplies, has negative effects on these sources. Injection of flowback materials into deep wells has been definitively linked to increased seismic activity.

    Read More

  • Identity in the Film Thuderheart

    850 Words  | 2 Pages

    In this scene, Ray and Crow Horse go to a place on the reservation during the night and discover pools of liquid after Ray nearly fell into one. Ray questions what it is and then Crow Horse throws a rock that he picked up into one of the pools and concludes that it test drilling for uranium. Crow Horse then sticks a knife into a hole and discovers sealant and then comments about how the Natives have been voting against the mining on the reservation. Crow Horse mentions that Jack Milton has tried to own the lands and keeps getting kickbacks from the leases. The mining is the reason for why the water has been contaminated. They both conclude that the murder was set up and pinned on Jimmy just so the mining could be done. Crow Horse tells Ray that “his people”, referring to the Americans, did this. Ray replies saying “they’re not my people”, and this means that he considers the Native Americans. In th...

    Read More

  • Climate Change Essay

    1818 Words  | 4 Pages

    Hydraulic fracturing, which is the process of natural gas extraction, has been in debate for the past few years. It was first introduced back in the late 1900s, as a beneficial way to obtain clean fuel, and it also benefitted the economy by providing employment for many. However, recent studies have shown that hydraulic fracturing is causin...

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Fracking

    1029 Words  | 3 Pages

    Fracking has become a highly controversial and publicized topic due to rising concerns and growing analysis into the mutual benefits of hydraulic fracturing to retrieve natural gas and oil reserves. With concerns of water pollution, mismanagement of toxic waste and irreversible

    Read More

  • Hydraulic Fracturing Research Paper

    1764 Words  | 4 Pages

    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...

    Read More

More about Hydraulic Frracturing

Open Document