Hydraulic Fracturing And Its Effects On The Environment

Hydraulic Fracturing Introduction For this assignment I have chosen to look in to a subject that is in the news media spotlight. The subject is the process of hydraulic fracturing. In this paper, we will learn about this process by answering the following questions. First what is hydraulic fracturing and what is the process used for. Then we will look at the actual process of hydraulic fracturing (how it works). Next we will take a closer look at some of the chemical use during the hydraulic fracturing process. Then we discuss the possible environmental impacts if any caused by hydraulic fracturing? Finally, we will look some of the measures being developed to mitigate the possible impact to the environment from hydraulic fracturing. What Is Hydraulic Fracturing And What Is It Used For? The term hydraulic fracturing (AKA- fracking) is a common term used in today’s media in reference to the oil industry. But what is hydraulic fracturing or fracking? hydraulic fracturing defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) â€Å"as a process used to maximize the extraction of underground resources; including oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, and even water (EPA, 2014). Simply put fluid and a mix of material and chemicals are pumped into an already drilled well at high pressure to extract the desired resource (i.e. natural gas) trapped within a solid such as shale rock, we will look at this process and the elements used in it latter in this paper. How Does HydraulicShow MoreRelatedHydraulic Fracturing And Its Effects On The Environment1087 Words   |  5 Pages Hydraulic Fracturing Maya Murray Mr. Iwasaki Chun MYP Chemistry Essay 3 May 2015 Maya Murray Mr. Iwasaki Chun MYP Chemistry 3 May 2015 Hydraulic Fracturing â€Å"Our country will have drilled and fracked our way down a blind alley for a short lived energy boom† (qtd. In †¦). 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There have been many useful regulations that turned a once feared industry to an environmentally safe, highly profitable industry. Hydraulic Fracturing is worth the risks it poses on the environment, because it will bolster the U.S. economy and foreign policy, provide billions of Petro leum barrels and trillions of square feet of natural gas, and it is not as harmfulRead MoreThe Effects Of Hydraulic Fracturing On The Environment1622 Words   |  7 Pages Hydraulic Fracturing is a process which uses water to crack rock formations as a means to extract natural gas or oil. This method is highly debatable as to whether it uses too much water in areas that have fragile water sources as well as whether the process contaminates surrounding water sources. The State of Texas is a hotspot for hydraulic fracturing because of the amount of shale formations which can produce oil and natural gas. Texas is a dry state which often experiences severe droughts. ThereRead MoreThe Possible Effects of Hydraulic Fracturing in Newfoundland1278 Words   |  5 Pagesessay will examine the possible effects of hydraulic fracturing in Newfoundland. Hydraulic fracturing is the process of retrieving natural gas from the earth by injecting fluid into a borehole and pressurizing it, creating cracks in the rock. hydraulic fracturing fluid is made up of small beads of sand or ceramic, which prop open the cracks in the rock, as well as water and chemicals, which help suspend the proppants (sand or ceramic). The hydraulic fracturing fluid is pressurized, allowing theRead MoreFracking and the Halliburton Act Essay1132 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction â€Å"Hydraulic fracturing involves the use of water pressure to create fractures in rock that allow the oil and natural gas it contains to escape and flow out of a well (Energy From Shale).† Fracking has served to extract natural gas and oil where other methods would not be as successful but many environmentalists argue that fracking is affecting the environment and our drinking supply of water. Although fracking is still a controversial topic, it provides Americans jobs, increases theRead MoreAlternative Energy Sources1852 Words   |  7 Pagesof the energy source through the process of hydraulic fracturing. In this report the following topics will be discussed to get a better understanding of natural gas and the hydraulic fracturing process. An overview of natural gas will be discussed. A detail description of the hydraulic fracturing process will be provided. The advantages and disadvantages of hydraulic fracturing will also be compared. Finally the report will look at h ydraulic fracturing in a South Africa context and weigh all theRead MoreHydraulic Fracturing Is Risky And Dangerous For The Environment1153 Words   |  5 PagesFlint did. Well there is. Everywhere there is Hydraulic Fracturing, there is a risk that your tap water will become polluted. Hydraulic Fracturing is risky and dangerous for the environment and not worth the benefits of natural gas. Hydraulic Fracturing is a process that involves drilling a well and injecting water at high speeds to break up rocks and minerals underground and allows natural gas to flow out to be collected, according to Hydraulic Fracturing Should be Banned written by the Food and WaterRead MoreHydraulic Fracturing Has Recently Grown In Popularity As1516 Words   |  7 PagesHydraulic fracturing has recently grown in popularity as a means of energy production. There are advantages and disadvantages, mainly relating to the environment and the economy, of this industry. Although there are pros and cons to both sides of the issue, a compromise needs to be found for both the safety of the environment and to be able to support affordable energy production. Hydraulic fracturing, as an industry, has had a large economic impact by creating jobs. Using natural gas from hydraulic Hydraulic Fracturing And Its Effects On The Environment Hydraulic Fracturing has led to less cases of contamination than any other method of oil extraction, which is contrary to popular belief. There have been many useful regulations that turned a once feared industry to an environmentally safe, highly profitable industry. Hydraulic Fracturing is worth the risks it poses on the environment, because it will bolster the U.S. economy and foreign policy, provide billions of Petroleum barrels and trillions of square feet of natural gas, and it is not as harmful to the environment as other forms of oil and natural gas extraction. Hydraulic Fracturing is becoming a widely used natural method of Petroleum and Natural Gas extraction. Hydraulic Fracturing can also be referred to as Hydro Fracking, or†¦show more content†¦According to the association press Hydraulic Fracturing has shown no signs of contamination in nearby water supplies.The Fracking process includes depositing chemical infused fluids into colossal man made chasms drilled thousands of feet below sea level. This process is used to extract natural gases and petroleum. Studies show that even in the most depthless holes that are in close proximity to the water table there were still no signs of contamination over time (Begos).Surprisingly, all the the harmful contaminants stayed within a mile of the water supply according to an experiment at Penn State University. One conundrum in association with hydraulic fracturing is making sure all companies are following chemical guidelines, because companies have a right to keep their special formulas a secret (Begos). Therefore, it is becoming increasingly difficult to regulate what chemicals can be added, and in some minute cases there have been an increase in minatory substances found in tap water.On the contrary, the preponderance of the Fracking related issues are not due to the Fracking Chemicals but are caused by poor well construction (Begos). This shows that the issues we are having are a result of human error and not just the nature and hostility conjoined with Fracking corpora. Fracking Is by no means safe yet, but with strict regulations it could be. There have been a