Regulatory Requirements Governing Produced Water Management

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

A process for retrieving natural gas from 7,000 feet below the earth’s surface has caused environmental concerns. Hydrofracking has been around since the 40’s but wasn’t until the 90’s where technology allowed for a vertical drill to drill horizontally into shall deep below the surface creating several bores and accessing hundreds of acres of shale. Hydrofarcking comes with its controversy, some argue that it is contaminating water sources and creating environmental concerns, while others say there is no proof of this despite many studies.

Natural gas is a fossil fuel that plays a critical role in the demand and supply of energy in the United States. It is considered to be a clean burning transition fuel. Compared to coal and oil, natural gas combustion does not generate as much pollution and is therefore considered an ideal partner for renewable energy resources. Natural gas is extracted from shale formations underground that require horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing – “hydrofracking” or “fracking”. This drilling and extraction method is currently considered a global widespread issue due to the rapid increase in the amount of new gas wells that threatens the quality of water around the source (Entriken, Evans-White, Johnson & Hagenbuch, 2011).

Coal-bed methane is naturally occurring methane with some amounts of hydrocarbon gas as well as non-hydrocarbon gas that is contained in coal seams resulting from chemical

Supporters of hydraulic fracturing correctly point out that energy derived natural gas is less damaging to the environment than coal. However, this does not take natural gas leaks into account. Leaks in the piping that transports the extracted natural gas from the well to a storage container emit methane into the atmosphere. Methane has a greenhouse effect 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide. (Environmental Protection Agency) In 2009, the Environmental Protection Agency estimated that these leaks totaled 570 billion cubic feet (Alvarez, Pacala and Winebrake 6435), making natural gas operations the largest source of methane emissions in the United States (Environmental Protection Agency). When this amount of leakage and the damaging nature of methane is taken into account, natural gas is actually worse for the environment overall than coal (Alvarez, Pacala and Winebrake

Even more disturbing to some, possible groundwater contamination is the claim that the methane released during the extraction process cancels out any of the assumed environmental benefits. Although the overall amounts are relatively low, methane has one-hundred and five times more warming impact pound for pound than carbon dioxide, and so a little really does go a long way when it comes to climate change. Not surprisingly, there is wide disagreement on how much methane is being leaked into the atmosphere as part of the fracking process.

In America, we tend to take for granted our simple luxuries in life. Running water would be considered to be among these in most cases. We turn on the faucet, and out comes a safe and refreshing source of sustenance that is vital to our well-being. Now, if you can imagine, what happens when that refreshing drink of water is not replenishing your body, but killing it. A silent poison contaminating your way of life, only to find out years later that every ailment you and your family have endured and possibly even succumbed to, would be blamed on a source of drinking water. This is exactly what happened to the individuals that were stationed or employed at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina from the years of 1953 to 1987. The most horrifying of

The Federal water pollution control act in 1948 is the first initiative by federal to ensure the cleanliness of water, although the water pollution is considered as one of major problem for many states, the federal has set up this act with a few goals and objectives. But after mid 1950’s and 1960’s there were four amendments were noticed, which primary dealt with providing financial assistance for municipal drainages and for other research activities based on water pollution. By late 1960’s these activities performed by federal were not effective in controlling water pollution because of slow progress in cleanup initiatives and no strict regulations against violation of this law mainly resulted in raise in public interest towards

1-2-5 Public Water Use : Water used in public buildings (city halls, jails, schools, etc.) as well as water used for public services including fire protection, street washing and park irrigation is consider public water use. 1-2-6 Water Unaccounted For : In a water supply system there is a certain amount of water that is lost or unaccounted for because of meter and pump slippage, leaks in mains, faulty meters and an authorized water connections. 1-2-7 Infiltration / Inflow : Infiltration is the ground water that enters sewers through service connections, cracked pipes, defective joints, and defective pipes and manhole walls.

McGraw describes several of the numerous incidents of air and water pollution that occurred directly from the fracking. Methane, a colorless and odorless greenhouse gas that is known to trap radiation, leaked several times in Susquehanna. Not only were water supplies contaminated by chemicals, but fracking can often lead to droughts as the oil companies draw water for the hydraulic fracturing. Some people have found so much gas in their water that it could be set on fire. Methane can have harmful long-term effects from

The way of drilling through the earth’s surface and water using hydraulics, high-pressure system, and chemicals to obtain natural gasses and oil is a heated debate. North Carolina citizens are against this type of energy because it does have many risks involved not only to the environment, but to the wildlife, and the citizens in the surrounding area as well. With the drilling has the potential to spills harmful wastewater and can pollute rivers and lakes which North Carolinians take pride in. The methane gas stirred loose during the drilling process can end up in tap water, causing it to ignite (Environment of N.C.,

Why do they want to regulate water ? We are having a drought in California because there are farmers that are taking a lot more water.I think they shouldn't limit water because it is making living a lot harder in other cities.Consequently,”When it first went dry, we used to drive to my daughter’s house in Visalia about 45 minutes away to have a shower”Source 2. Quotes an East Porterville Man. It was a big transition from having enormous amounts of water to not even being able to take a shower or wash yourself.It’s officially getting crazy.Ordinarily, “We go and we go, but it just seems like we can’t go fast enough”,Source 3, a drill worker speaks. It Explains we need laws because it shows that they are tired of being in this severe drought

These methane emissions are at least 30% more than and perhaps more than twice as great as those from conventional gas. The higher emissions from shale gas occur at the time wells are hydraulically fractured—as methane escapes from flow-back return fluids—and during drill out following the fracturing. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential that is far greater than that of carbon dioxide” (Wilber 261). Fracking not only represents a risk for environment but is also an impediment for a greener world, although natural gas is a much better fossil fuel, and oil is not as bad as coal, these fuels are still a non-renewable source of which we will run out of someday, and as a country there is this mentality of waiting for the next generations to pay for the mistakes or the lack of action of the current

Although oil companies uphold the idea that fracking is a cheaper and efficient, fracking damages the local water, air and soil in the surrounding cities. According to the Science of Total Environment, scientists speculate that wells require up to 5 million gallons of fluid per extraction event, which would require tons of chemicals including benzene, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides to unconventionally bring out the shale gas (Werner et al. 2014). The lengthy list of air pollutants, most of which are combustible, suggests that both human health and the environment are at risk and the surrounding water aquifers located near the horizontal wells could also be damaged. The amount of water needed for extraction also demonstrates the strain the process of fracking has on the environment and local water supply. Similarly, the potency of methane is 20 times worse than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, which is further aggravated by the process of flaring (Weinhold 2012). Thus, flaring and fracking serves not only as a nuisance to the community through the health hazards and water pollution, but can worsen the status of global climate

If one decision could save the water we need to thrive and survive would you do it? According to Financial Times , “ ...At least 1,300 people have lost their water in and around Porterville…”(California ).The state should pass down a legislation limiting the amount of water taken from the ground.