Hydraulic fracturing (also known as fracking, fracing, hydrofracking, fraccing, frac’ing, and hydrofracturing) is a well-stimulating process involving a pressurized liquid fracturing the geological rocks. The procedure entails injecting high-pressure ‘fracking fluid’ (mainly mud, including sand or other proppants suspended with the help of thickening agents) into a well-box to create gaps in deep-rock layers from which natural gas, fuel, and brine can spill more easily. Once the hydraulic pressure is withdrawn from the pipe, the cracks are held open by small quantities of hydraulic fracturing proppants (sand or aluminum oxide).

Risks and Concerns of Fracking

  • Contamination of groundwater
  • Methane pollution and its impact on climate change
  • Air pollution impacts
  • Exposure to toxic chemicals
  • Blowouts due to gas explosion
  • Waste disposal
  • Large volume water use in water-deficient regions
  • Fracking-induced earthquakes
  • Workplace safety
  • Infrastructure degradation

They have found scientific evidence, according to the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), that under certain circumstances hydraulic fracturing activities can have an impact on drinking water resources. The study describes some circumstances under which there could be more serious or extreme impacts from hydraulic drilling activities:

  • Water withdrawals for hydraulic fracturing in times or areas of low water availability, particularly in areas with limited or declining groundwater resources.
  • Spills during the handling of hydraulic fracturing fluids and chemicals or produced water that results in large volumes or high concentrations of chemicals reaching groundwater resources.
  • Injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids into wells with inadequate mechanical integrity, allowing gases or liquids to move to groundwater resources.
  • Injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids directly into groundwater resources.
  • Discharge of inadequately treated hydraulic fracturing wastewater to surface water; and
  • Disposal or storage of hydraulic fracturing wastewater in unlined pits resulting in contamination of groundwater resources.

The impact of Fracking on the environment is enormous, it is not only creating air pollution, water pollution, soil, and oil spill contamination and earthquakes. It also impacts on health even at low levels, it will cause considerable damage to humans; the endocrine system is susceptible to parts-per-billion or less of chemical exposures. Nevertheless, many of the health risks associated with the toxins used during the fracking process do not immediately express themselves and require studies that investigate long-term health effects.

In summary, while hydro-fracking is the most widely used method for extracting natural gas, questions about its environmental and health consequences are growing. But the environmental and safety implications of the procedure need to be discussed. Hydro-fracking is related to immune suppression, health effects of pregnancy, and even genetic mutations. The approach should then be modified in such a way that it would not have a detrimental impact on human health and the environment without compromising its efficacy.

References

Hoffman, Joe. Potential Health and Environmental Effects of Hydrofracking in the Williston Basin, Montana, 15 Feb. 2019, serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/hydrofracking_w.html.

Hydraulic Fracturing For Oil and Gas: Impacts From the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources In the United States (Final Report), Environmental Protection Agency, 15 Nov. 2017, cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/hfstudy/recordisplay.cfm?deid=332990.

Team FPFIS. “An Overview of Hydraulic Fracturing and Other Formation Stimulation Technologies for Shale Gas Production – Update 2015.” EU Science Hub – European Commission, 26 July 2019, ec.europa.eu/jrc/en/publication/eur-scientific-and-technical-research-reports/overview-hydraulic-fracturing-and-other-formation-stimulation-technologies-shale-gas-0.