Oil and natural gas companies have developed a way to drill for natural gas, a process called hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking. Natural gas is a flammable gas mixture consisting of methane and several other hydrocarbons that occur naturally underground. Natural gas is used as fuel for heating, cooking, and even in some automobiles like the “RideOn” buses. This technique has only recently become economically feasible with the rising prices of fossil fuels, and there is much potential for recovering natural gas through fracking. However, fracking has many waste products and unusual side effects caused by the unnatural forces and materials used. Fracking has a detrimental effect on the surrounding environment through pollution and earthquakes.
Fracking is the process of extracting natural gas from layers of shale rock deep within the earth. One of the world’s largest plays of natural gas is in the Marcellus Shale, is located in the Appalachian basin and extends across New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, eastern Ohio and portions of Kentucky and Tennessee. “Plays” are areas where companies are actively looking for natural gas inside shale rock formations. Plays are drilled for natural gas by hydraulic fracturing in a two step process. First, a production well is drilled down into the ground for thousands of feet and then gradually leveled so that the tip of the drill is travelling horizontally through the ground. The second part of the process is where it gets the name of “fracking” because the second step in the process is where a mixture of sand, water, and chemicals, many of which are known to be harmful, are forced under extremely high pressure down into the shale through the horizontal part of ...
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Gas in shale formations are“low in permeability,” making it very tedious to extract, but with the increase in technological knowledge in fracking and horizontally drilling into shale beds, the vast reserves of natural gas resource could be extracted (4). Fracking is a large industrial operation that boost the “productivity of a oil or gas well” (5). It is a process by which, under very high pressure, a mixture of water, chemicals, and sand, are pumped into shale formations that causes fractures in the rocks to open wider or create new fractures that would allow otherwise trapped oil and gas to flow into the wells (6).
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
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.
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.
“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.
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).
Hydraulic fracking is a process in which water and other chemical additives are pumped through a drill underground to fracture shale formations to extract natural gas. This natural gas can be used as energy for houses heating fuel, propane, and other energy consuming products. However, the downsides of fracking can cause environmental harm such as methane emissions that contribute to global warming and water contamination.
Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is hitting close to home here in North Texas. Dallas-Fort Worth has become a gold mine for the natural Shale Gas that is located deep below the ground in rocks. Fracking is the use of chemicals to break down rock deep under the ground to get a natural Shale gas. In the article ‘Shale gas and tight oil: Framing the opportunities and risk’ the authors Tommy Inglesby, Rob Jenks, Scott Nyquist, and Dickon Pinner points out that fracking is very beneficial with energy security and the natural-gas. But, fracking uses harsh chemicals that can contaminate ground water, dangerous greenhouse-gas emissions and low water availability.
Fracking is a fairly new drilling technique that uses a form of horizontal drilling through the earth to retrieve oil at certain depths. Once it breaks the surface of the ground, a “well” is drilled vertically down until the desired depth is reached. Once there it proceeds to make a 90 degree turn and will begin to drill horizontally for several thousands of feet where they believe the natural gas is. From there a mixture of water, sand, and various chemicals are pumped into the well at exceedingly high pressures. According to clean water action, “This is done to create fissures in the rock in which the gas can escape through” (“All about fracking” 1). Once the gas escapes through the fissures, it is pulled back up to the surface. There they proceed to process the oil, refine it and then ship it to the market. However the process is not over. The “wastewater” returns to the surface and is held in large steel tanks until a long-term waste solution can be reached.
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...
Fracking is a highly controversial practice that utilizes the injection of water, chemicals and abrasives to extract relatively inaccessible pockets of natural resources. Although fracking has the potential to benefit the economy, it may also pose a significant impact on the environment, the ecosystem and safety.
Hydraulic fracturing, also known as Fracking, is a strategic system of obtaining natural gas that could be as deep as several thousand feet underground. Basically a mixture of sand, water, and chemicals are pumped underground at extreme pressures until they hit shale which contains the natural gas and in return the gas is forced up out of the ground. Fracking has become a highly successful process for increasing natural gas reserves in the United States. This process also lowers the United States dependence on foreign gas and oil and it accounts for an estimated forty two trillion cubic meters of natural gas, which is said to be enough to keep the United States in motion for sixty five years. As good as the fracking system sounds, there is always the down sides like the fact that the chemicals used to obtain the gas are extremely toxic. These toxic chemicals are pumped into the ground and can spread into nearby water. If this happens, the water will itself become toxic and undrinkable by neither animals nor humans. There are a lot of pros and cons of fracking, but what many people over the last few years have tried to say is that human life and safety is more important than an easier and cheaper way of doing something.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the process of extracting natural gas from deep in the ground. This method requires a company, usually an oil company, to drill deep into the earth’s crust and into the beds of shale, and then drill horizontally. Water, along with sand and other toxic chemicals, are then pumped into the shale rock to fracture it and letting all the natural gas that is trapped in the rock to flow up to the surface where most of it can be collected (McGlynn 1055).
In the last decade the extraction of natural gas from underground reservoirs has increased. Natural gas supplies 24% of the United States energy demand and is only expected to grow. Shale gas is natural gas that is found trapped in shale. Shale is sedimentary rocks that consist of clay minerals that have low permeability. Natural gas that is found in shale is buried in fractures below ground and must be extracted by hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking [10]. One of the most recognized sites for the extraction of natural gas by fracking has been at the Barnett shale in the last decade. The Barnett shale is a region that extends west of Fort Worth, Texas to the Permian Basin and has been known to extend as far south into Mexico. The Barnett shale is a complex system of fractures in which the region has seen new developments in fracking to extract the natural gas from the ground [11].
Only commercialized in the United States about five or six years ago, a new process of extracting natural gas has emerged called fracking. The natural gas that is extracted from the shale can be into the thousands of feet below the earth’s surface. This new process gives us the opportunity to extract gas that we thought was unreachable through relatively new technological advancements in the field.