Fracking:
Without fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, America’s oil and natural gas resources would not be as abundant as they are now. Fracking has played a huge role in the development of these resources for many years. According to energyfromshale.org, there are an estimated 35,000 wells in the United States that are used with the fracking method and that there have been over one million wells since the first well in the 1940s.
Hydraulic fracturing uses water and sand to create breaks in the earth to allow resources to come up from the rock where it is trapped. This method has been used for many years for a safe way to extract oil and natural gas from deep in the earth for more than 60 years. It has provided us with a way to safely extract these resources while still being environmentally friendly.
How it Works:
It all starts at a well located above ground. They use drill pipes and bits to drill down to below the water level. It is almost like they are making vertical wells branch off from the horizontal one on the ground. They pump water, as well as sand, into the horizontal well at a high pressure. The water is then pumped from the horizontal well to the vertical wells in the ground. The water and sand at the high pressure will cause breaks in the rock which will then release and extract gas, oil, and water into the cracks. The resources then travel up to the main horizontal well.
Here is a video that will show the process in more detail:
The Pros:
-People get to access these resources that are hidden way below sea level that would normally be very hard to get a hold of
-Fracking only involves drilling one well then it can be branched off to many locations
-Less dependence on foreign oil
-Getting domestic natural gas can bring a lot of revenue
-Create jobs
-Americans will get much more natural gas
-Natural gas more environmentally friendly than oil or coal
-reduces emissions (there are arguments against this)
The Cons:
-Wells are situated near farms which could cause damage to crops and equipment
-Fluid that is pumped along with the water and sand could be harmful (ex. according to earthworksaction.org, The fissures in the rocks are created by injecting propane or nitrogen. sometimes, they use a process call acidizing where they pump hydrochloric acid into the fissures to to dissolve rock material and this helps the gas, oil, and water to flow more easier into the well.)
-According to earthworksaction.org, there have been studies that have shown that more than 90% of tracking fluids remain in the ground
-Fracking chemicals are toxic to humans and animals and some could cause cancer
-Chemicals could linger into water
-Humans can be exposed to fracking chemicals through the water, air, or skin contact
Environmental Impacts:
-The water used for fracking has raised concern about aquatic resources. The EPA estimated that about 70 to 140 billion gallons of water were used for 35,000 wells in the U.S. every year.
-The toxic chemicals used along with the water and sand are used in large quantities. They would be deadly if it came in contact with humans or wildlife. There have been various examples of spills in waterways in the news. According to earthworksaction.org, in 2013, 41 spills were impacted in Colorado alone.
-Air quality in the vicinity of the wells have been measured and in Texas, high levels of benzene have been found. These chemicals could be found in the air due to chemical spills or leaking pipes.
However, with all these environmental concerns that come with hydraulic fracturing, companies have recently been using non-toxic additives and additives that are not harmful to marine life.
References:
http://www.energyfromshale.org/hydraulic-fracturing/how-hydraulic-fracturing-works
http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/hydraulic_fracturing_101#.VBSN0UtH3FI
http://science.howstuffworks.com/environmental/energy/hydraulic-fracking3.htm
http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/hydrofracking_w.html
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/natural-gas.html