Fracking

What is Fracking? 

Fracking, otherwise known as Hydraulic fracturing is the process of extracting natural gas from shale rock that is located deep within the earth. This involves drilling deep within earths crust as well as injecting fluids at a high pressure to break the shale rocks and release the gas. Because of fracking, we are able to obtain more natural gas to meet our growing demand. Although this seems very important, as a result there are highly negative effects. Fracking is a long yet complicated process in which it can take 1-6 full months to finish extracting the gas. During this time frame, the process affects our water supply, fresh air, health, safety, and causes environmental hazards.

What is Needed? 

Fracking is a long yet complicated process. It takes 1-8 million gallons of water to complete each fracking job. Because the work sights are commonly far from wells or easy water access, it takes 400 tanker trucks to simply carry water and supplies to and from the work zones. At the fracturing sight, water is mixed with sand and a series of chemicals to create fracturing fluid. 40,000 gallons of chemicals are needed. 600 separate chemicals are used such as lead, uranium, mercury, radium, methanol, hydrochloric acid, and formaldehyde. 

What is The Basic Process? 

The process can be broken down into a few different parts. The first step would be to find natural gas. Thanks to new technologies, 3-d imaging and underground friction detectors can find exactly where there is a large amount of natural gas underneath the shale rock. The next step is to hire workers and gather supplies (Of Course). Because the water is constantly needed, tanker trucks need to be filled. Next, the fracturing fluid needs to be made. Once the final checks have been completed. It is time to begin to drilling. On average, they need to drill 1 mile bellow earths crust to reach the natural gas. Fracking fluid is then pressured into the ground through the drilled pipelines. Once the high pressed fluid hits the shale, it will crack above the gas. This will cause the gas to be pumped through the well. During the process, gas and toxins from the fluid will leak out and contaminate the water and soil around it. Some toxins can evaporate with the water and precipitate on nearby areas. (Acidic/toxic rain). After the all of the gas has been contained, most of the remaining hole is filled with cement. (This helps in no way other than to fill up the hole). 

Who is Affected? 

People are affected locally, nationally, and globally. Locally, locals end up with contaminated water. Because of the chemicals that leak into the water supply, if consumed this can result in either illness or possibly death. Because the chemicals do not simply "go away" it costs millions of dollars to re-purify the water. Nationally in the United States, the main states that are affected consist of Arkansas, Maryland, North Carolina, Texas, California, Michigan, North Dakota, West Virginia, Colorado, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Wyoming, Louisiana, New York, and Pennsylvania. The list will only increase if this continues. Globally, this will all add up in the end. This will increase pollution and destroy the world around it slowly buy effectively to the point that it will be difficult to bounce back.  The air becomes more polluted, it kills wildlife, affects our water, affects our health, and destroys the environment around it. It does not help that only 30-50% of the fluid is recovered. The rest is left to contaminate the area around it. The waist fluid is left in open air pits to evaporate, As stated above this causes acid rain. This needs to be stopped.

Positive Vs. Negative? 

On the bright side of this nightmare, over 300,000 barrels of gas are contained every day. Gas is becoming more and more important as time goes on. We depend on it. Yet this destroys everything we know and love. Thousands of reports have been filed claiming that this will only hurt the world more and more.  People everyday are getting sick because of fracking. There truly are healthier ways to extract gas. There is alternative ways to achieve power as well. The best way to power our technology is solar power, wind power, and water. These are all better for the environment as well as our health. After all, Is this really worth it? 

Whats more important, Money or Health? 

Click the Video Below to learn more about Fracking

Sources:
http://www.dangersoffracking.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_fracturing
http://www.energyfromshale.org/hydraulic-fracturing/what-is-fracking


Thanks for reading!!! 

Mr. Sontheimer's Global Issues

~Ethan Tipton