BLOG POST: Fracking
Bryan Vermes
BLOG ENTRY: Fracking
Fracking is easily one of the most hotly debated energy topics of the 21st century. Following years of turmoil in the Mideast, many see fracking as the way out of international crises. On the other hand, the environmental community is up in arms over what is seen as an attack on landscapes across the central U.S. Seeing as exploration is continuing to expand, with technologies and studies on safety still being studied, the one sure bet is that the debate will continue in the coming years.
Below is a simplified diagram of fracking, also known as hydraulic fracking. Currently in the U.S., there are about 35,000 wells that process using this method. In these jobs, pumping fluids (mainly sand and water) are injected at a high pressure. The water (and small amount of chemical) create fissures that allow the fuels to be more easily extracted from underground, while the sand helps maintain the passageway. Most often, the resources would be unattainable without the fracking technologies. The latest development in the technology has centered around horizontal drilling, which allows for a substantial amount of liquid to be pumped underground. A steel pipe is often cemented in towards the top of the well to prevent groundwater contamination, although the effectiveness of this method is contested by environmental groups.
Being able to get to the point of production is far along in the fracking process. Planning and surveying often takes years, especially in places where regulations against oil and natural gas exploration are more restrictive. Furthermore, leasing and permitting processes vary across different states (with EPA regulations now being rolled out from the Obama administration).
As stated prior, the debate around fracking is hardly over. The opposition is generally focused on the environmental impact of fracking. The injected liquid often contains chemicals and acids that are not regulated by the federal government, but are speculated to pose a danger to public drinking water. As contaminated water returns to the surface, it usually tests positive for a small amount of radioactive material.
At a larger scale, fracking causes methane to be released from the wells (which is a greenhouse gas). This is only a piece of the global environmental impact, as many claim fracking prevents politicians from taking climate change initiatives seriously. Climate change activists state the oil companies are downplaying the environmental impact at the local level, while ignoring the fact these new reserves are going to pave the way for decades of increased carbon emissions.
Putting environmental considerations aside, fracking also has its share of supporters. The prospect of a surplus in oil and natural gas supplies leading to North America being an exporter of energy products promises to be an economic boon for the US and Canada, while concurrently decreasing security concerns from the Mideast. Proponents discount environmental concerns, stating that the impact on drinking water is exaggerated by environmental groups. Lastly, many actually use climate change as a reason to promote fracking. They point out the fact that natural gas fracking is better in terms of carbon emissions when compared to coal, which is used heavily in the US for electricity.
The discussion on fracking is still evolving, as the technology is changing and new studies are still being published. This is likely why the Obama administration has had a muddled policy towards fracking, with the President refusing the outright endorse the exploration but stating that it can be a “bridge” to a clean energy future. This has left both sides of the debate upset, which will likely be the case for the foreseeable future.
References
http://online.wsj.com/articles/oil-from-u-s-fracking-is-more-volatile-than-expected-1403653344
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/14/opinion/global/the-facts-on-fracking.html?pagewanted=all
http://www.energyfromshale.org/hydraulic-fracturing/logistics-shale-production
http://www.mlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/05/fracking_a_divisive_practices.html
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