Hydraulic Fracturing And The Natural Gas Industry

With the age of constant industrial and technological growth has come the necessity for not only cost effective and efficient methods for industry, but also the need for obtaining fuel for the machines that make the modern world possible. Oil has become as precious a commodity as gold, if not more so; its attainments constantly driving the world's largest businesses and governments across the world into action. Naturally, a "quick-fix" solution to this problem is constantly sought after by oil companies wishing to provide oil on a massive scale. One of these drilling methods is known as induced hydraulic fracturing (also known as fracking).

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.

This paper explores the hydraulic fracturing process, exactly what it is, what the fracturing process does to the earth and the surrounding environment in addition, to the consequences. Hydraulic fracturing is fracturing of rock by pressurization. This process by which oil and natural gas can be forced from the earth. The hydraulic fracturing process takes millions of gallons of clean water, sand, chemicals and pumps them underground at high pressure to break apart rock to release gas and or oil. My research has led me to the discovery that there are as many proponents for fracking as that are those that oppose the process. One thing

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.

As we become increasingly technologically complex, humans are becoming more and more reliant on energy. This energy is used for gasoline, heating and electricity among many others. Acquiring energy is very important but acquiring this energy in the most environmentally friendly way is even more important. There are various methods used when obtaining natural gas but one of the most controversial ways is through the process of hydraulic fracturing. The idea of Hydraulic fracturing or Fracking dates back to 1866 when inventor Col. E.A.L. Roberts lowered a torpedo to the bottom of a well, filled the well with water and the detonated the charge. The weight of the water forced an explosion and oil began to gush out. Modern

Hydraulic fracturing can be very beneficial to the American economy. While beneficial, it has proven to be very harmful. As studies show, fracturing is using an absurd amount of water to complete these wells. Not only is the amount of water usage detrimental to our water supply, but oil companies are showing no signs of slowing down. On top of the high water usage, fracturing is physically crippling our environment with the injected fluids. With over 600 different types of chemicals added into the water mixture, how sure can we be that it isn’t contaminating our food and agriculture? The only 2 solutions to this energy crisis are to slow down, maybe even end it all together, or find an alternative. One alternative that has already made its way to our neighbor up north, Canada, is a process known as Gas Fracking. Gas Fracking proves to be much safer and quicker, while also not leaving as much of an environmental impact as water fracking.

There is widespread agreement among most experts that the current energy sources we use in the United States today are in need of a change. How we rely on the fossil fuels of coal and oil is a concern for two main issues: which is the negative impact on the environment and how the U.S. relies on other countries for supplies. This too has created issues on the political standpoint of the situation. This is where hydraulic fracturing comes in to play. Hydraulic Fracturing is a horizontal drilling process by the energy industry that has presented the means to solve both problems. This technology has provided the U.S. access to 100 years’ worth of energy. Natural gas has been located within the country’s borders and thousands of feet below

Within this scientific report, Tony Dutzik and Elizabeth Ridlington underline the numerous flaws that hydraulic fracturing has on social, environmental and economic spheres. The introduction of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing has brought upon not only poisonous contaminants into the water of several cities, but also a long-lasting detrimental effect on the natural resources that reside by the “fracking” sites. Furthermore, both Dutzik and Ridlington effectively demonstrate the lack of regulations for fracking, causing the problem only to worsen.

The United States has one of the largest deposits of shale oil, so drilling for it may seem like a logical decision “…over 750 trillion cubic feet of …shale gas and 24 billion barrels of … shale oil resources…exist in…shale plays… developing these resources creates jobs and fuels our economy… the key…is through the process of hydraulic fracturing…” (Energy Tomorrow 2013). The number of jobs created by the institution of hydraulic fracturing is widely touted by proponents of hydraulic fracturing, but the number of jobs directly created may actually be smaller than claimed. In Pennsylvania, many jobs were created from hydraulic fracturing, though most are not as a direct result from the institution of hydraulic fracturing. In the third quarter of last year, 216,946 jobs were created in Pennsylvania as a result of hydraulic fracturing…but only 30,000 of those jobs are actually from fields that are closely related to hydraulic fracturing. “It (number of jobs created) covers industries whose connection to oil and gas development is tenuous …ranging from freight trucking to highway, street, and bridge construction… agency officials …admit that the figure—when used to estimate jobs supported by shale—amounts to little more than a guess” (“Foran”). Even though hydraulic fracturing is continuing to create jobs, the number is starting to decline as a result of the success of hydraulic

There are many pros and cons to hydraulic fracturing which has made it a very controversial topic in the United States Government the past few years. What is now commonly known as “fracking” is the use of chemically infused water that is pressurized and used along with drilling into the earth’s bedrock to create an earthquake that releases natural gases from pockets thousands of yards below the Earth’s surface. Fracking causes these earthquakes when releasing the gas, and is concerned to be the cause of water pollution due to the chemicals used all over the U.S. There have been many congressional hearings regarding the 34 states affected by fracking including one held on July 24th, 2013. Lessons Learned: EPA’s Investigations of Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic Fracking is a drilling method developed for the extraction of energy resources buried beneath shale formations located deep below the Earth’s surface. The practice of vertical drilling has been safely performed for more than 50 years, but the recent development of horizontal drilling has exposed the practice to harsh scrutinization. Vertical drilling inserts pipe directly into the shale formations allowing for limited access to pockets of methane. The last 10 to 15 years has brought about the development of horizontal drilling, which allows drilling to be conducted with greater economic benefit. The process splinters shale formations horizontally, allowing the escape of larger amounts of methane. The methane travels through fractures and eventually is stored for transport. Proponents of hydraulic fracking contend the practice is safe, provides jobs, and is healthier for the environment than fossil fuels. Opponents postulate the practice pollutes the water table, is a health risk, is a viable danger to the climate, and causes earthquakes. The

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is the process of drilling wells thousands of feet below the Earth’s surface to extract natural gas deposits that are trapped in shale layers. Large amounts of a solution containing water, sand, and chemicals are shot down the well to fracture the shale layers, thus releasing the desired product. Natural gas is seen as a potential solution to the energy dilemma that faces the world today. However, the process of fracking and the advantages and disadvantages it poses to the environment are heavily debated. In order to gather a real idea of viability of fracking, all issues must be taken in to account and the subject must be looked at from multiple perspectives.

In order to this purpose, articles will provide information of general conceptions about the importance of the hydraulic fracking to the oil and gas industry; the environmental impacts caused by hydraulic fracking and possible solutions to reduce those impacts.

Hydraulic Fracturing or Fracking, as it more commonly known, is a very controversial topic across the globe. In the United States, its status remains the same. Hydraulic fracturing is a method of oil and natural gas production. The process includes the drilling of pipes 1-1.5 miles within the earth. After that pipe is secured and has an impermeable layer around the pipe, a tool that creates small holes within the impermeable layer is sent down through the pipe. It creates holes in the pipe that allows pressurized water and sand to flow out of the pipe and into small cracks, or creating new cracks within the earth. These cracks are held open with the sand that is carried along with the pressurized water. After all cracks have been created

While it is true “fracking”, a procedure to obtain natural gas removal from shale formations, it is also true there have been infrastructure security issues associated with this practice. Furthermore, there have been ecological considerations from fracking brought to the forefront by countless environmentalists. Indeed, hydraulic fracturing, as it is referred to, is a process by which shale gas and oil is uprooted from a depth far below the earth’s exterior. The process of extracting shale gas and oil is employed aggressively while water is forced deep beneath the earth surface through a geological arrangement. From this arrangement, oil and gas is exerted back to the earth’s surface. Moreover, once the hydraulic fracturing process is