Hydrofracking, also known as slick water hydraulic fracturing, is one of the newest developments in natural gas extraction. Companies such as Halliburton Inc., Schlumberger Inc., and Messina Inc. are a few companies that created this process and displayed what it does. (“NOON”).
The process of hydrofracking makes mining for natural gas in dense shale much more economically possible, in comparison to when it was not before. Hydrofracking is much different than the other techniques of natural gas drilling. Hydrofracking uses much more water and uses it’s “slick water” which helps release the gas and it is less damaging because it is not drilling into the site. (“NOON”).
Even though hydrofracking seems like a much better alternative to regular natural gas drilling, it uses up to 6-8 gallons of freshwater per fracking. (“NOON”). After injecting the water and the proppant, there are many chemical-based additives added to make a more timely, efficient, and economic process to the hydrofracking process. This offers many benefits but it also adds risk of water getting polluted by these chemicals.
When hydrofracking is active, it operates 24/7, seven days a week. Mass amounts of toxins, radioactive and liquid waste are produced during the process and are released into the environment afterwards. Regular operations of hydrofracking can adversely impact the environment and public health, such as the public water system and air quality. (Eckel).
This past January, the state of New York declared that hydrofracking could be conducted in their state after the state’s Health Department did many tests. (Hakim). The main concern when deciding whether to allow hydrofracking or not in the state of New York was whether it was a health concern due to the chemicals but fortunately it is not. “By implementing the proposed mitigation measures, the Department expects that human chemical exposures during normal HVHF operations — short for high-volume hydraulic fracturing — will be prevented or reduced below levels of significant health concern.” (Hakim)
Hydrofracking seems to be a bad solution to natural gas drilling because even though it is faster and more efficient, the risks of the public’s health are not worth it and hopefully a better solution will turn up in the future.
References:
Eckel, Sarah. “NATURAL GAS HYDRO-FRACKING IN SHALE.” Citizens Campaign for the Environment. 22 Jan 2013: n. page. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://www.citizenscampaign.org/campaigns/hydro-fracking.asp>.
Hakim, Danny. “Gas Drilling Is Called Safe in New York .” New York Times. 03 Jan 2013: n. page. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/03/nyregion/hydrofracking-safe-says-ny-health-dept-analysis.html>.
“What is Hydrofracking?.” Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation. n.d. n. page. Web. 21 Feb. 2013. <http://www.peacecouncil.net/NOON/hydrofrac/HdryoFrac2.htm>.
As always very well written Isabella; I am amazed to read that six to eight gallons of water are used for one fracing. One of the articles I read and mentioned in my own blog when talking about the perils of fracing stated that nearly sixty to eighty percent of the contaminated water is actually left inside the drilled, one can only imagine the amount of contaminated water such a process would leave inside the ground.
I am constantly looking online for articles that can benefit me. Thx!
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