Hydraulic Fracturing: Economic Powerhouse or Environmental Disaster? In erstwhile decades, the economic practice of oil production has perennially been subjugated to the Middle East. However, the rise of domestic production of crude oil and natural gas from shale in the United States has culminated in the passing of Saudi Arabia in terms of oil production. This economic milestone is owed in due part to a relatively-recent implementation of hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as “fracking.” According to Aaron Herridge of Shale Gas España, hydraulic fracturing is “…an effective method of extracting natural gas (and oil) from natural shale formations.” In the process, a well cased in steel is injected with millions of pounds of “fracture fluid,” a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals, and the resulting pressure compels shale rock to create fissures, allowing for natural gas to be pumped back to the surface, along with fracture fluids. In fact, the chemicals in fracture fluid are the catalysts for environmental ramifications. When coinciding with oil spills and dangerous natural compounds, the negatives outweigh the positives. Despite hydraulic fracturing’s auspicious impact upon the U.S.’s production of oil, it poses as a significant threat to the health of the environment; through the proliferation of fractured wells, the use of dangerous chemicals, and high numbers of oil spills, water contamination, land damage, and air pollution have resulted. Undoubtedly the most precarious form of pollution that can beset the environment, water contamination has plagued the mindset that hydraulic fracturing is the future powerhouse of the American economy. According to Elizabeth Ridlington of Frontier Group, there are three particular ... ... middle of paper ... ...g testing market gives a positive premonition that many of the environmental ramifications of hydraulic fracturing will dissipate (Brino). Works Cited Brino, Anthony, Nearing, Brian. “New Waterlesss Fracking Method Avoids Pollution Problems, but Drillers Slow to Embrace It.” Inside Climate News. 6 Nov. 2011. Web. FracFocus. Find a Well. Map. [1:500,000]. GWPC and IOGCC, 2011. Web. Herridge, Aaron, Kerwin, Teresa, Lestarjette, Tricia, Schmidt, Mat, and Wohlgemuth, Lara. “The Consequences of Hydraulic Fracturing.” Powerpoint presentation. Web. 8 July 2014. Hoffman, Joe. “Potential Health and Environmental Effects of Hydrofracking in the Williston Basin, Montana.” SERC Carleton. NAGT, 26 June 2014. Web. 8 July 2014. Ridlington, Elizabeth, Rumpler, John. “Fracking by the Numbers: Key Impacts of Dirty Drilling at the State and National Level.” 8 July 2014. PDF File.
However, the negative side effects such as contaminated water and air, make hydraulic fracturing a process that may not be worth the benefits. One benefit of hydrofracking is that it creates job in the current economic slump that America is in. The increase of hydraulic fracturing in the United States directly benefits the citizens, with the number of employees i... ... middle of paper ... ...
The United States has an immense amount of proven natural gas reserves that could become a major source for the nation's energy future (1). The mining of the natural gas resources have become feasible and cheaper due to the advancement of hydraulic fracturing technologies which have increased the amount the extraction and enabled “greater access to gas in shale formations” (2). Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking of shale formations has positive benefits that includes economic growth and the natural gas extracted is cleaner than coal and oil, however it has caused serious environmental problems and possibly could be the cause of recent seismic activity in areas where fracking operations exist (3).
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...
ing. Jackson, who coauthored a study done about fracking and methane leaks, proposes four possibilities ...
Fracking can cause harm to people, animals, and nature. When they drill into the ground they are pumping chemicals to extract the gas and oil, and this contaminates the water sources around it. “An editorial on gas extraction from the Marcellus Shale in the Post-Star, a newspaper in Glens Falls, New York, contends, “New York state simply can’t take the risk. There are plenty of places to find fuel. It’s not so easy to find a new water supply for 17 million people.”” (Hydrofracking
...king have been placed on shale fracking. This is where fuel is fracked from the harder surfaces, causing more affects to the earth. They do allow tight gas fracking, which is not a dangerous (Inside Climate News). Either form of fracking have many worried about what the future of the country will be.
Hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking, is a widespread practice in the United States. Fracking is a method used to extract oil and natural gas. Scientists and citizens report detrimental side effects of hydraulic drilling. New York and Vermont have banned fracking statewide. Maryland has set a two year moratorium on fracking, so that more research can be done to show the impacts of fracking on the environment. Nationwide, many other cities and counties have banned fracking as well. All states should look into finding alternative sources of energy, instead of using devastating practices like fracking to extract non-renewable resources.
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...
In his article “How Fracking Is Bad for Our Bodies,” Jason Silverstein who is a lecturer and writer in residence in the Department of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard Medical School states the problem of hydraulic fracking in cities in the US. Silverstein article, which was published in, The Atlantic, on October 8, 2013, shows the problems caused by hydraulic fracking. Although Silverstein provides a wide array of disadvantages of fracking, he does not mention any advantages brought by fracking.
Galbraith, Kate. "As Fracking Increases, So Do Fears About Water Supply." New York Times 8 Mar. (2013): Web. 3 Feb. 2015.
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
Hydraulic fracturing can be very damaging to the human body, there have even been lawsuits. Bob and Lisa Parr stated that after suffering through years of things such as rashes, ringing ears, nosebleeds, and nausea they had enough. The Parr’s sued the company, Chesapeake Energy Corporation, and once the case was over, they ended up receiving almost three million dollars. (The Fracking Facts) This is significant because this was the first lawsuit that was successful in the United States that was linked to poisonous air pollution of gas or oil production. Also, in 2012 a company known as Chesapeake Energy Corporation was found guilty of contaminating the drinking water of three families in Pennsylvania. Leading to a 1.6 million dollar lawsuit. Stated the article The Fracking Facts.
The use of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, has been both a blessing and a curse to us. It holds great promise and great demise in one bundle, where when we have one we have the other. I feel fracking is good, but if not monitored it can lead to mass pollution and the destruction of environments.
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...
...i. "Environmental Pathways Of Potential Impacts To Human Health From Oil And Gas Development In Northeast British Columbia, Canada." Environmental Reviews 20.2 (2012): 122-134. Academic Search Complete. Web. 3 Apr. 2014.