Imagine a world where clean air was never questionable. Imagine a world where fresh water was never a luxury, it was simply given to us. Imagine the flowing green grass among a land that was never exposed to an earthquake. Now imagine a world where there are limited amounts of unpolluted air. Now imagine water so heavily contaminated with chemicals that every plant or living thing it comes in contact with, dies. Now imagine the once flowing green grass that is now dried and dead due to overexposure to chemicals and earthquakes. How is it possible that our world could live under these harsh conditions? The harsh reality of this all, is that our world simply would be impotent to fathom the polluted resources. As hydraulic fracturing, also known as “fracking,” continues across the globe, our environment, society, and overall well-being would diminish as water, air, and soil are contaminated. Hydraulic fracturing is so harmful to our environment that there are endless different practices of fracking, numerous issues in health, worldwide bans, and even environmental issues. Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the inner gas. Water, sand, and many chemicals are injected into the rock …show more content…
“Lawmakers in Europe have strictly limited the use of fracking technology in some EU countries, such as France, The Czech Republic, Bulgaria, and to an extent, Germany.” (EurActive). The statement above from Oil Price highlights the serious issue that some European countries have with fracking. However, bans aren’t just for European countries. “Not only are European countries being banned, but even U.S. States such as Vermont and New Jersey.” (Global Frackdown Committee). There may be bans across the globe, but this does not prevent the numerous health issues involved with global
For the past twenty to thirty years, hydraulic fracturing, more commonly known as fracking, has been the number one source of natural gas, oil, and energy in the United States. The process of fracking is that a well is built above the ground and then a drill digs several thousand feet deep into the ground to extract the oil and natural gas that is trapped inside of rock formations. Fracking is very controversial because of the cost of the process and the environmental “threats” that it poses. From methane emissions to earthquakes, fracking has been accused to be linked with several environmental issues. To prevent any environmental dangers, states place regulations and boundaries that energy companies have to follow in order to build a well and keep it up and running. The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) also works with states to help regulate these wells. More importantly, fracking in the United States is very important and acts as a bridge to the future. While it may be argued that hydraulic fracturing is not beneficial to the economy and harmful to the environment, fracking in the United States should not be banned because fracking is not only imperative to the growth of jobs and the economy, but it also does not put the surrounding environment in danger.
Fracking is a pressurized, chemically treated mixture of water and sand used to release and extract natural gas and petroleum from shale rock. The process involves a well 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 are 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 process is completed (Fracking: The Process 1). 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.
I have some thoughts about fracking that I would like to talk to you about. I am worried about the recent development and expansion of fracking here in the United Kingdom. I am shocked that you are even thinking about starting more drill sites. Studies have shown that fracking causes methane and chemicals to leach out and contaminate the groundwater and drinking wells. The contaminated wells are then used as drinking water for cities and towns nearby and as a consequence studies shows that people with polluted drinking water have more headaches and breathing problems. Furthermore there have been cases of neurological damage caused by ingesting contaminated water as well. The British Geological Survey shows that North England has enough gas
“Fracking: the process of injecting liquid at high pressure into subterranean rocks, boreholes, etc., so as to force open existing fissures and extract oil or gas”(Google). Ten years ago no one would have thought hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” would have caused such environmental harm; infecting public and private water systems, cutting down national parks, and causing extraneous health problems.
The most dangerous consequence of fracking is that hundreds of chemicals are blasted into the Earth’s crust, which creates cracks in the bedrock. Many times, these cracks lead to an aquifer, in which case, all of the water in the aquifer becomes contaminated with these chemicals (Jackson, 2014). Additionally, when the natural gas is being pumped out of the wells, methane is released into the atmosphere. A study conducted by NOAA found that approximately 4% of the methane is being released into the atmosphere. This same study found that methane pollution increases climate changes because it traps heat in the atmosphere 25 times more than carbon dioxide (Hoffman, 2016). Furthermore, fracking waste wells are the primary cause of the increase of earthquakes in the Central U.S. This is because these wells operate for a longer period of time, which means that they inject more “solid ‘cake’” into the Earth than the actual fracking process (USGS, n.d. and StateImpact, 2017). Finally, recent studies have found that people who live near a fracking site are at higher risk to develop respiratory problems, which is due to the increased levels of pollutants. These pollutants are not only affecting the people who live in close proximity to these sites, but to the workers, as well. The most common type of respiratory problem reported was lung
We need fossil fuels to power up our automobile, heating our homes, and lighting our streets throughout the night. Fracking is an innovation developed by the Halliburton corporation in the 1940s. It is an innovation that extract natural gases by injecting water mixed with sand and chemical additives. Hydraulic fracturing led the energy industry in the United States increased dramatically. How fracking works is drilling holes vertically or horizontally breaking the subsurface spewing chemical-laced water into the ground. This will widen the shale rock and force the gas to be released where we can collect it (What is Fracking?). Now, hydraulic fracturing is a worldwide controversial issue. It is in constant controversial debate about the water system and the chances of earthquake activity.
The issue of whether we should continue fracking without research has been widely debated around the world. The issue is important because it has fundamental environmental concerns and economic questions about the process of hydraulic fracturing. “Fracking” is the process of penetrating down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is absorbed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand, and chemicals are then inserted into the rock with compression which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. Fracking fluid, which can be polluted with heavy metals like arsenic, known human carcinogens, has seeped into local waterways and polluted groundwater. People who live near fracking wells have a heightened danger of developing cancer, asthma, and other serious ailments associated with inhaling or ingesting the toxic chemicals involved in the fracking process. Countries approach fracking and researching much differently from each other. The injection of fluid into shale beds at high pressure to extract petroleum resources has been happening across the United States of America at rapid pace. By 2003, a gigantic public relations campaign was launched to lobby Congress to pass what is
population support fracking, 40% are opposed to fracking and 20% don’t have an opinion on it (Swift, 2015). Most people who support fracking are older American and most people who oppose fracking are younger Americans (Swift, 2015). Also noted in the article posted by Gallup News, Republicans are likely to support fracking while the Democrats show support low (Swift, 2015). Many Democrats and young Americans believe it is better to protect the environment instead of damaging it to provide energy for the country. The results of this poll reflect this.In Europe, where people are “more than three times as densely packed on the land… than in the U.S.”, people are more likely to participate in NIMBY protests (Gilblom, 2017). For example, protesters camped around a village south of London until a fracking company, Cuadrilla Resources, abandoned its well there (Gilblom, 2017). Many Europeans are against fracking because “they fear it will sully their scenery, contaminate their drinking water, and clog their country lanes.” (Gilblom, 2017). It is difficult to find unpopulated land and plenty of water to exploit shale wells in Europe (Gilblom,
The dictionary states that fracking is a method used for getting oil and gas from underground rocks by injecting liquid into the rocks so that they can break apart (Merriam-Webster). Fracking can be a controversial topic in numerous people’s eyes due to the side effects that coincide with this procedure. Fracking has evolved over the years and made a comeback around 2010. Lately, the United States has heard tremendous news regarding this procedure and the drawbacks from fracking natural gases and oil. Fracking can be beneficial; sadly, the side effects greatly outweigh the benefits. The environmental risks, pollution, and the overall risk factors prove to not worth the risk of fracking.
Fracking is a process in which a drill is inserted into a shale, which is a cracked surface,
California faces an imminent danger from Big Oil. Big Oil wants to use millions of gallons of water and frack oil from Sacramento, my hometown, to Los Angeles. Fracking, also known as Hydraulic Fracturing, is a method of obtaining natural gas by drilling a hole into the ground and than injecting “water, sand, and a proprietary mix of chemicals into the shale fracturing the rock and releasing the natural gas, which is captured when it flows up and out of the hole (Mitka).” In the process millions of gallons of water are polluted and large amounts of air pollutants are released into the atmosphere. The ramifications on human health as a result of fracking is what causes most to worry. In the next four decades, fracking possesses dangers that directly affect human and animal health, the land, and our ecosystems.
The global crisis surrounding energy needs grows in severity as time goes by and in order to solve it, scientists have created the innovative solution known as hydraulic fracturing (Source 5). Hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as “fracking,” is a process that injects water, chemicals, sand, and other materials into layers of shale. The injected mixture cracks the layers of shale, releasing trapped natural gasses that can be collected (Source 1). Fracking occurs deep under the surface of the earth, miles below the groundwater that is accessed from drinking-water wells. In the mid-2000s, “fuel prices were rising rapidly” (Source 5). Hydraulic fracturing was a cheap solution that not only brought the world out of a state of emergency but made oil prices drop. The new method of gas collection grew the oil and gas industry, benefiting people all around the world. Fracking is a cheap, effective solution to global needs, but is under attack from skeptics who worry about environmental hazards. The claims against fracking not only have no real evidence but also risk destroying the jobs in the oil and gas industry as well as support for energy needs. Hydraulic fracturing is not only a cheap but a safe method that supports global needs surrounding both energy and jobs.
Could your gas be killing you? The truth behind fracking. Is it’s true that fracking has lowered gas prices and your power bill if you run on natural gas. But did you know that this could raise your water bill up to three times! Hydraulic fracturing or fracking has lowered are gas prices but, has made water scarce, higher in price, and even flamibile. What we need is to slow Hydraulic fracturing down while we switch to renewable energy. This will cause gas prices to slowly go up but, it will be cheaper for your electric bill and lower your water bill.
The process of fracking begins with drilling into the ground. After that thousands of gallons f water are mixed with a proprietary blend of several toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that are then shot into the ground to break that shale rock that protects the gas underground. When this process has been completed fracking companies take the chemical
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 a word used to refer to the word hydraulic fracturing. There are in fact many benefits from fracking. Fracking should be used to release oil and natural gas.