Fracking As A Solution To Fracking

1876 Words4 Pages

To frack, or not to frack, that is the question. America is becoming more and more worried about where it will get the resources it needs for energy. Coal is becoming an expensive resource and under close observation due to its effect on our atmosphere with its carbon dioxide emissions. Nuclear power has created concerns since the recent Japanese disaster. We return to looking for a way to have fuel needed to supply us with the energy needs of today, and also the future. Natural gas then presents itself as an option. Natural gas is being celebrated as a solution to sustain us till we can become more dependent on renewable resources, such as wind and solar. The source for all this gas is literally right under our nose. It lies in shale formations underground. One such formation, the largest in America the Marcelus Shale, a huge formation in parts of Ohio, New York, and Pennsylvania contains more than $500 billion worth of gas in one area alone. A relatively new process, and a topic recently under a lot of attention around the world is fracking, or horizontal high-volume slickwater hydraulic fracturing. Fracking is the term for the oil and gas industry's relatively new process of taking already existing wells, or sometimes creating new wells, and using them in such a way to extract the natural gas from the shale formations. Fracking has inspired a recent boom in natural gas extraction and our urgent energy situation. Fracking has potential to bring huge economic return to several groups including landowners, the oil and gas industry, and even the states involved. This process is attracting attention by many around the world and causing much controversy. The majority of controversy lies in the lack of regulations, uncertainties in ... ... middle of paper ... ...of carbon dioxide released in fracking is also staggering. The process is also creating small earthquakes, which raises concerns about what could happen to the wells and is also increasing regulation of the wells. Test drillling is also done frequently due to an uncertainty in the amount of the resource. The resource area is known to be large but how much fuel can be obtained is often uncertain. The industry often over-estimates. This can have profound effects on the local economy of drilling sites. All this shows that fracking is nothing more than a quick fix for our need for energy and a quick fix for money for the gas and oil industry. Regulations needed to be tightened, processes and equipment are in much need of improvement, the effects on both our environment and our wallet need to be better understood before we keep pressing forward to uncertain consequence

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