Kayla Shepard

Our world is in frantic need to suckle every last bit of gas from the earth, in the process of extracting natural gases the procedure of Hydraulic Fracturing was created, which is the process of drilling thousands of feet below the Earths surface and pumping millions of gallons of water at certain chemical helpers into a well. Natural gas is crucial to the world’s goal of clean energy in our future. To obtain natural gas from the earth one must use hydraulic fracturing, which is not the most environmentally friendly process to our earth,

“Onshore ‘unconventional’ natural gas production requiring hydraulic fracturing, which injects a mix of water, particles, and chemicals underground to create fractures through which gas can flow for collection, is estimated to increase by 45% between 2007 and 2030. An estimated 60-80% of natural gas wells drilled in the next decade will require hydraulic fracturing” (Investor Environmental Health Network).

Fortunately EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency) is working with other forces to keep the danger out of Hydraulic Fracturing and keep our population and earth safe. EPA is working on education our population on the possible dangers of Hydraulic Fracturing such as:

• Pressure on surface water and ground water supplies from the extraction of large amounts water used drilling and fracturing.
• Corruption of underground drinking water and surface waters from toxic spills
• Air pollution from release of toxins, unstable organic compounds, or greenhouse gases.

To make sure the Hydraulic Fracturing has as minimal hazards as possible EPA is making sure the use of diesel fueling is properly permitted, “The Energy Policy Act of 2005 excluded hydraulic fracturing, except when diesel fuels are used, for oil, gas or geothermal production from regulation under the UIC program” (www2.epa.gov/hydraulicfracturing).

There are arguably both pro’s and con’s to the Hydraulic Fracturing process. Stated in an article in the Huffington Post, author Jordan Howard stated some reasonable facts about Hydraulic Fracturing,

“The energy potential for shale gas is undeniable. It is among the fastest growing energy sources in the country: In 2000, shale gas represented 1 percent of natural gas supplies in the country. Today, that number is 30 percent and rising.”

Some stated pro’s to Hydraulic Fracturing are: potential energy independence, it burns cleaner air than other fossil fuels, more jobs are created for citizens, and finally during this process the nation is buying time to create renewable energy.

Though there are also just as many con’s to this process such as: water pollution, leaks more emissions than coal, could be linked to more earth quakes on earth, companies don’t have to state what type of chemicals are being used, and finally it requires too much water usage.

Howard, Jordan. “Fracking Pros and Cons: Weighing in on Hydraulic Fracturing.”Huffington Post [Washington] 11 Oct. 2011, U.S. ed.: n. pag. Web. 19 Feb. 2013. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/10/fracking-pros-cons_n_1084147.html#s524124>.

“Hydraulic Fracturing for Natural Gas Development.” Investor Environmental

Health Network. N.p., 2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2013. <http://iehn.org/overview.naturalgashydraulicfracturing.php>.

“Natural Gas Extraction – Hydraulic Fracturing.” EPA. N.p., 14 Feb. 2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2013. <http://www2.epa.gov/hydraulicfracturing>.