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Hydrof**cking

 

What on earth is hydrofracking? (No pun intended). Hydrofracking is a quick and easy way to refer to Hydraulic Fracturing, which is by definition a formation stimulation practice used to create additional permeability in a producing formation to allow gas to flow more easily toward the wellbore for purposes of production. It’s used increase the necessary production to support the increasing demand for energy. Now what the frack does that all mean? Let me break it down into simpler terms for you.

Hydrofracking’s key role is to extract natural gas for the purpose of creating cleaner energy in our atmosphere. We capture the gas by using a wellbore to drill horizontally (in order to reach the fractures in the shale) to release the natural gas. It uses water pressure to create fissures in deep underground shale formations that allow oil and natural gas to flow. (API)

This technology was first used in the United States in 1947, and since then has continuously improved. For the past 60 years it has been used more safely in over a million wells. Without the use of this technology, we would lose 45% of domestic natural gas production and 17% of our oil production within 5 years. The benefits are obvious, on top of the new jobs and higher incomes we receive by transforming our energy use.

The API gave an easy to understand diagram of the benefits we gain from hydrofracking. Basically, it’ll take 70-100 days to prepare with the drilling and fracking, and 20-40 years of production we gain. People have their controversies as to whether this use of technology is hurting or helping our environment and it’s affects on our water supply. The API explains that although we have land disturbance, dust, noise, diesel exhaust, and water management disposal for a short period of time, our long-term benefits outweigh significantly. With 20-40 years of production, we benefit by reducing air pollution, reducing GHG emission, water manage and disposal, and site restoration.

“Methane concentrations in drinking water were much higher if the home was near an active gas well. We wanted to try ad separate fact from emotion”, explains scientist Robert Jackson of Duke University. People who live near homes that have been effected by the fracters complain about the quantity and quality supply of their water. Although I understand their point of view of opposing this technology, I on the other hand think it’s a great way to use our energy, since it’s so successful in the majority of our country.

Clean Planet = Happy People!

 

http://www.api.org/~/media/Files/Policy/Exploration/HYDRAULIC_FRACTURING_PRIMER.ashx

 

http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/hydraulic_fracturing

 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=fracking-for-natural-gas-pollutes-water-wells

 

http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/hydraulic_fracturing

 

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