Hydraulic Fracturing And Its Effects

I became interested in hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as “fracking”, after watching the documentary Gasland II. It chronicled the experiences of those who inhabit areas in proximity to active fracking wells in Pennsylvania. Detailing how their lives had been affected by the drilling. Focusing primarily on water contamination and illnesses that potentially could be linked to the chemicals used in the drilling process. By the end, I had questions about the actual process and what chemicals were used. I was also left wondering about the existence of environment laws and monitoring, if any, which would have ensured the use of only substances safe for humans as well as the environment. Why would this process have been allowed if it

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is a process the the oil and gas industry uses to extract natural gas and oil from shale rock formations buried deep within the Earth. Fracking is done in order to recover oil and natural gas from formations and areas that scientists didn’t think were possible to produce. It is also used for the extraction of oil and natural gas from older wells in more mature oil and natural gas fields. Many people don’t know about the many harmful effects to people and the environment because of fracking. Hydraulic fracturing is harmful to the environment and people because it contaminates drinking water, pollutes the air, and threatens the climate.

One of the most common arguments against fracking is that fracking should be banned being that it causes harmful effects on the human body. During the process of fracking, chemicals and methane gas are leaked out of the system and contaminate nearby groundwater. Unfortunately, many people are unaware of the fact that their water has been contaminated so they end up drinking it and causes them to become ill. Due to people drinking this contaminated groundwater, “There have been over 1,000 documented cases of water contamination next to areas of gas drilling as well as cases of sensory, respiratory, and neurological damage due to ingested contaminated water” (“What Goes”). Exposure of fracking chemicals to humans can also causes reproductive issues. Out of the hundreds of chemicals used in fracking, “20 to 30% cause reproductive, mutagenic, or cancerous

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, has become a large part of the economy in northeastern Pennsylvania, and has impacted the area’s economy, environment, and mindset. Fracking is the process of extracting natural gas from the earth, and the industry it has brought to areas like northeastern Pennsylvania shows effects consistent with the ideas of neoliberalism and hegemony.

These environmental and social harms develop because the oil and gas industries and the Native nations' governments externalize costs of environmental and social protections onto the public in order to reap the benefits of saved costs” all the harm to our water is real and only we the consumers can stop it..The U.S is a high user of fracking methods as it is the cheaper version to achieve natural gas . According to Shale gas and fracking: The Science Behind the Controversy, that number almost doubled to 510,000, by 2010. Each year about 13,000 new wells are drilled near safe drinking water and a study released in 2011 by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency that some drinking water that comes up from shallow wells near hydrofracking drilling sites in Pennsylvania had about 17 times as methane as those far away from drilling. Imagine the danger that this water can cause to people, one always thinks that natural water is good for use and that the government will not let companies contaminate our limited water

Hydraulic fracturing in combination with advancement in directional drilling has made it possible to economically extract oil and gas from unconventional resources. The growth in U.S. oil and gas exploration and production made possible by the increase in use of hydraulic fracturing, has raised concerns about its potential to impact human health and the environment. Concerns have been raised by the public about the effects of hydraulic fracturing on quality and quantity of drinking water resources. The hydraulic fracturing water cycle includes five main activities: the withdrawal of ground or surface water needed for hydraulic fracturing fluids; the mixing of water, chemicals, and proppant on the well pad to create the hydraulic fracturing fluid; the injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids into the well to fracture the formation, the return of injected fluid and water produced from the formation to the surface; and the reuse, treatment and disposal of wastewater generated at the well pad, including produced water (U.S. EPA, 2015). With the water cycle being so massive and prolonged, the presence of potential negative impacts is greatly increased.

Hydraulic fracturing is a public policy that devises the query of whether the economics of the process justifies the risks because it boosts jobs based on inexpensive industrial inputs, but at the same time, is at the center of several controversies concerning environmental law, economic growth, and public health. Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is a process to release natural gas and oil from the ground. The contemporary period of fracking correlates to the progressive era conservation movement during 1890-1960 because both reveal the idea that humans have dominion or control over the environment. According to the progressive era, humans must plan their use of fracking to make sure it maximizes wealth and preserves the environment in the future. The debate between the advocates and the opponents argue if economics prevail over the risks involved in fracking. Nonetheless, the negative influences on

Unfortunately, the extent of the environmental risks that are associated with hydraulic fracturing are largely unknown. According to a number of studies and publications GAO reviewed, fracking may pose risks to air quality. This ‘wishy washy’ finding was because the studies that were reviewed were not taking into account the long-term, cumulative effects of this extractive process (“Oil and Gas” 2012). The increase in air pollutants, the reports found, were more likely a result of engine exhaust, emissions from diesel-powered pumps, gas that was vented or flared for operational reasons, and unintentional emissions from faulty equipment or storage areas for waste (“Oil and Gas” 2012). Not surprisingly, a number of studies and publications GAO reviewed also indicated that fracking only might put our water quality at risk. Fracking can cause the contamination of surface water and groundwater as a result of erosion, spills and releases of chemicals, or the underground migration of chemicals (“Oil and Gas” 2012). So we have oversight agencies that release reports siting cases that are understudied, yet in the meantime permits are still being

Hydraulic fracturing is a divisive issue in the United States. One side argues that hydraulic fracturing has the potential to create jobs and prop up the economy while the other side argues that the resulting environmental damage from hydraulic fracturing greatly outweighs any potential benefits. A lot of evidence seems to support the opponents of hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing should be banned because it can cause great harm to the environment; it can lead to geological disasters and has the potential to negatively affect the health of those in surrounding areas.

One of these factors is water consumption. Water is a precious resource for all of humanity, people need it to survive, and with water shortages all over the world its a resource people should not misuse. Batteries overtime dissipates the water that is in them due to heat and evaporation. So a consumer, after a period of time, will need to fill the batteries with water, just like maintenance of a standard non-electric vehicle. Furthermore experts have stated, “A new study by University of Texas researchers found that switching cars from gasoline to all-electric or plug-in hybrid would cause three times more water usage than what oil refineries would normally consume.” Which means, not only do you have to fill it up to cool the batteries, but

Hydraulic Fracturing is the process in which a borehole is made on earth, and the Shale

Fracking also known as Hydraulic Fracking is important because it helps reduces the unemployment rate and cuts down on greenhouse gases.

Natural gas has taken the energy market by storm as a result of the eight years of democratic influence this country has seen. America in the past six years has begun moving away from coal and converting to natural gas. Instead of harvesting coal in the Appalachian Mountain region, new energy companies have moved out west in an effort to harvest the abundance of natural gas located beneath the surface; they do so by a process known as hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing is a drilling method where high volumes of chemicals mixed with water are injected into the naturally occurring surface cracks. This is done all in an effort to release the small pockets of natural gas trapped within these surface cracks. In recent years, throughout the Midwest, hydraulic fracturing has been linked to the contamination of many farmers and homeowner’s wells. There have been reports of triggered earthquakes as a result of hydraulic fracturing. These cases have all come to find that hydraulic fracturing techniques played a role in these incidents; energy companies have failed to acknowledge or compensate individuals affected. Hydraulic fracturing is destroying our natural environmental stability in the Midwest and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and federal government have done nothing to stop it.

Hydraulic fracturing is known as the process of inserting sand, chemicals, or water into the ground to crack the deep deposits. Additionally, high pressure is required due to the far distance. Next, a pressurized rock layer is created, this is called Marcellus Shale. After, sand or water is used to keep the fissures open for continuous release of shale (natural) gas or oil. To transport water to the site, the trucks must be used for transportation. However, these huge trucks use a massive amount of diesel, so it releases particles that harms the atmosphere. .Lastly, once the process is concluded, the pressure causes the water to flow above the ground surface. Thus, the water is contaminated with chemicals or other

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?