Hydrofracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is the use of pressurized water to fracture rocks, typically below the Earth’s surface. This is typically used to access pockets of natural gas tucked away under rock. It works by basically putting so much pressure into the cracks of a rock, that those cracks spiderweb further through it, eventually compromising the integrity of the rock and reducing it to much smaller, and manageable pieces. This is a highly controlled and calculated process, because if done improperly, can cause a variety of problems that negatively affect the Earth’s atmosphere.
Hydrofracking is a technique that has been around for quite some time but has only been used commercially very recently. The first use of hydrofracking was in 1947, but the technology had to modernize before it was ready to be used industrially in 1998 in order to obtain natural gases. Since then it has been a rather controversial technology as it has been known to contaminate nearby water and release harmful chemicals into the atmosphere. It is seen as a destructive technology to the environment (on top of the product it delivers already) and has been outright banned in France and other countries. It has also been found to be harmful to those who work with the hydrofracking equipment as it releases crystalline silica, which makes the practice under fire by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. All in all, hydrofracking is a complex technology based on a simple idea, that, while providing and economically viable way to obtain petroleum and natural gases, is ultimately an environmental and health concern that should really be dealt with.
Sources:
http://www.epa.gov/hydraulicfracturing/
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/shale-gas
http://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2012/05/silica-fracking/
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