Fracking the death of nature’s beauty
In the day and age, we live in there is a shortcoming of fuel and resources, but people keep calling forth advances in the field of renewable energy, but there is not much drive behind their calling. We have to conform to the methods being used in this day and age, but the most complicated and yet controversial method is hydraulic fracking for oil and gas. Hydraulic fracking comes at a great cost. Some of the cost of hydraulic fracking include but are not limited to the water pollution caused by this process and the inevitable damage to the area where the gas and oil were extracted from. In the process of fracking, there is a need to vent the gas build up thus creating more air pollution that is only part of their total air pollution, the heavy machinery used for hydraulic fracking also emits carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Aside those risk, there is the biggest concern is the damage it may cause to livestock and agriculture.
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The process of hydraulic fracking is not related to drilling, hydraulic fracking is the process of fracking which involves the pumping fracturing fluid.
But before this process can be done their is prerequisites before the pumping can begin. The first stage is called the acid stage, this process consist “consisting of several thousand gallons of water mixed with a dilute acid such as hydrochloric or muriatic acid” ("Hydraulic Fracturing: The Process"). This is process helps to clear cement debris in the well to provide an open route for the other fluids to flow freely through. After this stage the pad stage this stage consist of running “100,000 gallons of slick water without proppant material: The slick water pad stage fills the wellbore with the slick water solution” ("Hydraulic Fracturing: The Process"). A proppant is a solid material, typically sand, treated sand or man-made ceramic materials, these products are designated to keep induced hydraulic fracture open, during or following the fracture
procedure. The most controversial procedure is the prop sequence stage it is in the process that the process of pumping the mud through the veins of the fracture. The mud consistence of “Water and sand which make up 98 to 99.5 percent of the fluid used in hydraulic fracturing. In addition, chemical additives are used. The exact formulation varies depending on the well” ("Hydraulic Fracturing: The Process"). It is in the stage that the most of the water is used, it is believed that hundred thousand gallons of water are used in this process. The water involved in this step goes through a rigors cycle. In the beginning of this cycle the gas extraction company must consider the amount of stress they can put on the water reserves especially during drought seasons.
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.
Then rupture the layer of sediment with high pressures of water, sand and a plethora of chemicals. Once the chemicals are saturated in the crevices of the drill site, they extract the excess fluid and then ship them to market. The process of hydrofracking allows for a new source of renewable energy, but it takes a toll on the environment. Five-hundred plus of toxic chemicals like hydrochloric acid, sodium chloride and formic acid are left in the ground.
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.
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...
Ever since the process of hydraulic fracturing—or fracking—made its entrance to the oil industry, issues and problems surrounding the process have become a common occurrence. Fracking is the controversial process of horizontal drilling (see fig. 1), where millions of gallons of water mixed with sand and chemicals are pumped deep into an oil well to extract natural gas from the earth’s crust (Ehrenberg 20). This practice has even been banned in some places (see fig. 1). The methane that comes out of the earth and the water used—called fracking fluid—has the potential to cause problems with local ground water supplies. Whether or not fracking is the cause of these problems, concern should be observed during the fracking process to reduce the chances of water contamination among residential areas.
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
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.
“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.
Imagine a world where fresh and clear water was a luxury. Imagine water so contaminated with chemicals that every plant it comes into contact with dies. As the trees begin to die, oxygen levels drop. As the vegetation dies, wildlife begins to die out. The polluted water which flows through the ground into wells causes instant contamination. As the water flows out of the sink, one can strike a match and light the liquid on fire. Showering in these chemicals is out of the question. Fresh water has become a comfort, rather than a given. Could planet Earth survive this existence? If hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as fracking, were deemed legal, this question may be put to the test. Fracking is a process in which chemicals, sand and water are used in “high volumes… to fracture gas-bearing layers of rock” (Dolesh 2). As the rock breaks, natural gas is released and then collected to be used as energy. The United States is currently sitting on a gold mine of natural gas which could stimulate our ever declining economy. The question is what price are we willing to pay for a temporary fix? Fracking is a dangerous process that should be deemed illegal due to its harmful short and long-term environmental effects.
Fracking is a pressurized, chemically treated mixture of water and sand to release and extract natural gas and petroleum from shale rock. There are many articles, studies being done, and organizations fighting for what they think is right. Environmentalist want the technique of fracking banned because it plays a part in global warming, affects our water, and causes human health problems. If fracking cannot be banned because of its necessity then it should be made safe and eco-friendly. The process involves a well being drilled vertically to the desired depth, then turns ninety degrees and continues horizontally for thousands of feet into the shale believed to contain the trapped natural gas. A mix of water, sand, and various chemicals is pumped into the well at high pressure in order to create fissures in the shale through which the gas can escape. Natural gas escapes through the fissures and is drawn back up the well to the surface, where it is processed, refined, and shipped to market. Flowback returns to the surface after the
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, 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...
Fracking is the process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks, boreholes, so as to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas. Fracking is not causing most of the induced earthquakes. Wastewater disposal is the primary cause of the recent increase in central united states. Hydraulic fracturing is more likely to induce earthquakes if there is wastewater being disposed. Not all wastewater injection wells induce earthquakes. Most injection wells are not associated with felt earthquakes.
Around the world, countries are dependent on oil and more often than not, foreign oil. The U.S. is at a time where they believe buying foreign oil supports terrorism and hurts our economy. Shale formations deep underground that spread all over the U.S. have been found to contain natural gas. This includes the Marcellus Shale formation and the Utica Shale formation, which can be found all throughout New York State and down the East Coast (Hydro-Fracking pg.1). To get at this abundance of gas underground, hydraulic fracturing was invented, but this new method of gas extraction safe for the environment and for the people around it?