What Are The Benefits Of Fracking For Natural Gas

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.

Over the past decade oil and gas producers have increasingly used hydraulic fracturing also known as fracking to extract oil and gas from the earth. Most people believe fracking is a new process but it has been around for over 100 years. Modern day fracking began in the 1990’s when George P Mitchell created a new technique by combining fracking with horizontal drilling. Since then, U.S. oil and gas production has skyrocketed. But the “new” perception of fracking leads people to incorrectly believe that fracking is temporary and that it somehow harms the environment. The truth is fracking is a reasonable energy solution if oversight and safeguards are used. In the last ten years fracking has improved conditions in the U.S. in three

Hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking, is the process of removing oil and natural gas from in between layers of shale and other low-permeability rocks. This is done by drilling both a well and a horizontal tunnel. Sand and chemicals are shot through the tunnel with incredible pressure, which cracks the shale allowing the oil and natural gas to travel up the well (Jackson, 2014). Fracking has caused a breadth of controversy due to the economic benefits and the geological consequences.

Safe natural gas fracturing or “fracking” is on the rise and our country is benefiting from in on several levels. From meeting energy needs to creating jobs and helping the economy, natural gas is an invisible miracle. Many precautions are taken during the fracking process in order to ensure it is safe as possible. Natural gas is something I work around every day due to the fact I work in the oilfield and the work I do is carried out during a “frac.” Many environmentalist and various people from different scientific fields argue that the benefits are not worth the risk.

In the article, “The truth about fracking,” Chris Mooney analyzes the effects of fracking by big companies looking to extract natural gas. Fracking is done by drilling deep underground, even 5000 feet at times, and shooting high pressure water loaded with chemicals to extract gases that serve as energy. The U.S. has been fracking for about 65 years and there is enough gas in U.S. soil to last many decades to come but there are many setbacks.

The PR firms expound the virtues of natural gas and would have us to believe “the negative side-effects caused by fracking are insignificant” (Larson 2). They rattle off information on how natural gas is a clean burning source of energy and how it is now responsible for 30% of electricity production, as well as heating in half of the homes in U.S.; therefore lessening our dependency on foreign suppliers. All positives attributes, granted, but at the end of the day fracking is a business; big business whose primary focus is keeping their shareholders happy with increase revenue. Unfortunately in their quest to make the almighty dollar, they are putting human lives as well as the environment at risk with the use of chemicals that are toxic, some are known carcinogens. To add insult to injury, the government, who is supposed to protect the interests of all, as opposed to the interests of a few, granted the energy companies an exemption from the laws meant to provide protection to humans as well as two irreplaceable resources, water and air. Granting this exemption is a clear indication that public health and the preservation of local ecology were less of a priority than making a profit.

The implementation of fracking has had a dramatic economic impact on the United States. The use of fracking in the last decade has increased the production of natural gas from shale formations by 10 times. (Issues) This has resulted in the United States moving more toward natural gas and away from coal to fulfill its energy power needs. In fact, one of the largest production growth areas of

Natural gas is the transitional fuel that is cleaner than coal and oil that has been experiencing a boom in the United States for the last few decades. Natural gas is most familiar to us in the form of heating and cooking on gas ranges. It is abundantly available and modern technology has made it much more accessible and cheaper than other energy sources. Hydraulic fracturing, known short as fracking, is the combination of technology with water and chemicals, and high pressure, that breaks through shale rocks to capture energy. The Climate One podcast titled “ Fracking Boom,”explains America’s recent obsession with fracking, surrounding its history, economic stimulus, construction, and community opposition among other issues. Presenting the talk were Russell Gold, author of The Boom: How Fracking Ignited American Energy Revolution and Changed the World, Mark Zoback, professor of Geophysics at Stanford University, and Trevor Houser, co-author of Fueling Up: The Economic Implications of America’s Oil and Gas Boom. The three guest speakers shared their expertise on how the fracking boom can power America’s economy, but can only be successful if the process in making the wells for fracking, are done along guidelines within the regulations.

The new presidency is focused on obtaining more natural resources through fracking in order to become energy independent. Fracking is the process of obtaining natural resources, like oil and natural gas, by drilling into the ground using a mixture of water, chemicals, and sand. However, the presidency has not considered the ill health effects on children. Research has indicated that fracking can pollute the surrounding water and air with dangerous chemicals, which can be detrimental to the health of children. Children are more vulnerable to the damaging effects of fracking chemicals because they are anatomically, physiologically, and developmentally different from adults. Research is still nascent, but possibly risking the health of children

Fracking is a very debated topic around the world, whether we should continue fracking for the oil and gas it produces, or if the pollution caused by fracking is too much of problem. On the negative side of fracking, the effects from include: worsened asthma, stress, heavy pollution around the oil and gas sites, etc. If you look on the positive side of fracking you’ll find it is a way of producing oil and gas that could take America to the top in terms of energy export around the world, and it creates numerous jobs, which surely helps out the American economy.

Public health issues do not have straightforward solutions, including fracking effects on children’s health. There are various challenges, including economic considerations (e.g., economic growth vs. the well-being of future generations) and what to do with residents near fracking sites. With regard to economic considerations, the focus in the United States has been on the access to natural resources, for example coal and natural gas (Mathews & Tan, 2014). Obtaining natural resources, like natural gas, is easier today because of the development of fracking technologies (Jain, 2015). Consequently, the US can become more energy independent, can decrease the money spent on foreign natural resources, and can provide low-cost natural resources

Fracking has actually changed out future as we know it, and has made it possible for many things. Fracking will make the world run on natural fossil fuels for much longer, which is also better for the environment and us. In 2015, the U.S. reached its all time high in oil production in 14 years and is only expected to continually rise. Oil production in the U.S. is one of the main sources of jobs for people living in the U.S. (Nunez, 2013). Fracking is a good way to employ U.S. citizens and is also a good way to get natural ways of oil production. As we all

Fracking is considered by many business oriented people as the way to enhance our fossil fuel reserves that currently are needed within the United States. While there are many people that take either side of this heated debate, the scientific data is just beginning to come in and the perils that are culminating from using this form of extraction are becoming a problem for many throughout the Kentucky and the U.S.

Morse attempts to show the positives of fracking by citing economic benefits. One of his purported benefits is that fracking will “bolster employment by some three million jobs” (Morse 3-7). Although this evidence is convincing, it relies on rosy estimates and ignores the potential loss of jobs associated with fracking. Even Pennsylvania, a state that experiences one of the strongest economic impacts of fracking, has not experienced such levels of growth and prosperity. Former governor Tom Corbett campaigned on the fact that fracking supported 200,000 jobs, yet the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry reported “…just over 30,000 people were employed by industries directly tied to the fracking boom in the third quarter of last year” (Foran 7). The PDLI did also report the 200,000 figure as an expanded estimate; however, officials admit it is mere guesswork.

Eagle Ford-Shale Company is one of the largest companies in the Unites States. Production has risen from roughly 0.9 trillion cubic feet (EBSCO) in 2006 to the approximate 4.8 trillion cubic feet in 2010. The Eagle Ford-Shell Company is responsible for more that 23% of the United States natural gas productions through fracking. This process has become one of the most highly sought out forms of retrieving oil and gas from the earth that does not involve drilling directly on the ocean floor. Though there are many opportunities to save money and provide jobs to ensure for a better economy, there are those who would argue that fracking is dangerous because of long term affects on global warming. Professionally, the research paper will be demonstrated