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 “Our country will have drilled and fracked our way down a blind alley for a short lived energy boom” (qtd. In …). Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground at high pressure in order to fracture shale rocks to release natural gases inside. Many people are referring to fracking as an energy revolution that will last America at least 100 years. What they don’t know is that at the rate we are going, it wont last us 40, and the effects that it has on the environment will make earth’s lifespan shorter too. We need to stop hydraulic fracturing because it is wasteful, harms water reservoirs, and is hazardous to people and the environment. North America has never been one to boast of rich oil reserves, but we have an abundant amount of natural gases. Until recently these natural resources have been unobtainable and untapped. But thanks to technological advancements, we are now able to exploit these rich gas reserves. Hydraulic fracturing has revolutionized the production of energy in the United States as well as other places in the world. In 2011, shale gas made up 25% of American gas supply. We depend on these natural resources to fuel our everyday lives. Without them, what would we use for water heating, cooking, or anything else that relies
Hydraulic fracturing also called fracking has been around for many years despite the recent events of controversy to continue fracturing or not. With the earth’s resources depleting rapidly every year and no sufficient replacement for energy humanity needs fracking. The process of fracking has been around for more than six decades. Fracking has been around since the 1940s and was created to increase the removal flow of oil and natural gas. In the words of chemical engineer Robert Rapier “Fracking involves pumping water, chemicals, and a proppant down an oil or gas well under high pressure to break open channels in the rock holding the oil or gas (Rapier).” A proppant can be different materials,
Hydraulic fracturing is a public policy that devises the query of whether the economics of the process justifies the risks because it boosts jobs based on inexpensive industrial inputs, but at the same time, is at the center of several controversies concerning environmental law, economic growth, and public health. Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is a process to release natural gas and oil from the ground. The contemporary period of fracking correlates to the progressive era conservation movement during 1890-1960 because both reveal the idea that humans have dominion or control over the environment. According to the progressive era, humans must plan their use of fracking to make sure it maximizes wealth and preserves the environment in the future. The debate between the advocates and the opponents argue if economics prevail over the risks involved in fracking. Nonetheless, the negative influences on
Hydraulic fracturing is a controversial practice commonly used by oil and natural gas producers. This practice, better known as “fracking”, is used to stimulate the production of oil by fracturing shale to release natural gas. The birth modern day hydraulic fracturing began as early as the 1940s and today it is widely practiced across the United States, from new york, to Oklahoma, even all the way to California. The process of fracking is fairly simple, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) involves tapping shale and other tight-rock formations by drilling a mile or more below the surface before turning horizontal and continuing to drill several thousand feet more (Energy from Shale 2016). is drilled water is injected at an extremely high rate
Hydraulic Fracturing, or “Fracking,” was first developed and implemented in the 1950s under President Truman. The method of energy collection is constantly
America has one of the highest energy consumption rates in the world. This demand has led to the popularization of the hydraulic fracturing industry. First introduced in the 1940s, hydraulic fracturing is method by which a well is drilled one to two miles below the Earth’s surface. The well then injects water and chemicals in the Earth that create fractures through which gas can flow through. Hydraulic fracturing, which is also known as fracking, became popular because of horizontal drilling in fracking is more efficient at extracting gas. As a result, a fracking boom ensued in which over a million wells were drilled in the United States in the past decade. However,
Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is a process the the oil and gas industry uses to extract natural gas and oil from shale rock formations buried deep within the Earth. Fracking is done in order to recover oil and natural gas from formations and areas that scientists didn’t think were possible to produce. It is also used for the extraction of oil and natural gas from older wells in more mature oil and natural gas fields. Many people don’t know about the many harmful effects to people and the environment because of fracking. Hydraulic fracturing is harmful to the environment and people because it contaminates drinking water, pollutes the air, and threatens the climate.
In today's global economy, energy is one of the most crucial and sought after commodities. Who supplies it and how much they supply determines how much influence they have over other countries as well as the global economy. This is why hydraulic fracturing is currently such an important and controversial topic in the United States. Hydraulic fracturing, more commonly known as "fracking" or hydrofracturing, is the process of using pressurized liquids to fracture rocks and release hydrocarbons such as shale gas, which burns more efficiently than coal. This booming process of energy production provides a much needed economic boost, creating jobs and providing gas energy for Americans. The efficiently burning shale gas reduces carbon
As we become increasingly technologically complex, humans are becoming more and more reliant on energy. This energy is used for gasoline, heating and electricity among many others. Acquiring energy is very important but acquiring this energy in the most environmentally friendly way is even more important. There are various methods used when obtaining natural gas but one of the most controversial ways is through the process of hydraulic fracturing. The idea of Hydraulic fracturing or Fracking dates back to 1866 when inventor Col. E.A.L. Roberts lowered a torpedo to the bottom of a well, filled the well with water and the detonated the charge. The weight of the water forced an explosion and oil began to gush out. Modern
Since 19th century fracking, coal, and other fossil fuels have supplied humanity with energy. With fracking In 2000, shale beds provided “just 1% of America’s natural gas, but now they provide 25%” (fracking good idea?)of America’s natural gas. Fracking has a big part in our world with supplying the world with energy. In just Pennsylvania, West Virginia, New York, and Texas the amount of natural gas in the ground is enough energy to power the country for 110 years.
Hydraulic fracturing, commonly called fracking, is a drilling method used for extracting oil or natural gas from deep underground. Fracking is a problem that not many see as controversial. Each human being depends on daily energy, as long as they see the cost for use of energy is cheap they won't question the actual effects it may present to the environment. The energy sources can be mined or pumped from locations worldwide. Each technique for extraction of the resource is having serious impacts on wildlife. Even worse is that fracking can have a serious impact on our water supply. Large amounts of gas now is available due to high use amount of fracking. Though fracking is used worldwide to extract gas and oil, a fracking boom has occurred
The implementation of fracking has had a dramatic economic impact on the United States. The use of fracking in the last decade has increased the production of natural gas from shale formations by 10 times. (Issues) This has resulted in the United States moving more toward natural gas and away from coal to fulfill its energy power needs. In fact, one of the largest production growth areas of
These methane emissions are at least 30% more than and perhaps more than twice as great as those from conventional gas. The higher emissions from shale gas occur at the time wells are hydraulically fractured—as methane escapes from flow-back return fluids—and during drill out following the fracturing. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential that is far greater than that of carbon dioxide” (Wilber 261). Fracking not only represents a risk for environment but is also an impediment for a greener world, although natural gas is a much better fossil fuel, and oil is not as bad as coal, these fuels are still a non-renewable source of which we will run out of someday, and as a country there is this mentality of waiting for the next generations to pay for the mistakes or the lack of action of the current
The global crisis surrounding energy needs grows in severity as time goes by and in order to solve it, scientists have created the innovative solution known as hydraulic fracturing (Source 5). Hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as “fracking,” is a process that injects water, chemicals, sand, and other materials into layers of shale. The injected mixture cracks the layers of shale, releasing trapped natural gasses that can be collected (Source 1). Fracking occurs deep under the surface of the earth, miles below the groundwater that is accessed from drinking-water wells. In the mid-2000s, “fuel prices were rising rapidly” (Source 5). Hydraulic fracturing was a cheap solution that not only brought the world out of a state of emergency but made oil prices drop. The new method of gas collection grew the oil and gas industry, benefiting people all around the world. Fracking is a cheap, effective solution to global needs, but is under attack from skeptics who worry about environmental hazards. The claims against fracking not only have no real evidence but also risk destroying the jobs in the oil and gas industry as well as support for energy needs. Hydraulic fracturing is not only a cheap but a safe method that supports global needs surrounding both energy and jobs.
There is widespread agreement among most experts that the current energy sources we use in the United States today are in need of a change. How we rely on the fossil fuels of coal and oil is a concern for two main issues: which is the negative impact on the environment and how the U.S. relies on other countries for supplies. This too has created issues on the political standpoint of the situation. This is where hydraulic fracturing comes in to play. Hydraulic Fracturing is a horizontal drilling process by the energy industry that has presented the means to solve both problems. This technology has provided the U.S. access to 100 years’ worth of energy. Natural gas has been located within the country’s borders and thousands of feet below
It is the coupling of the twin practices of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing that allows for the extraction of shale-bound natural gas deposits. It is the combination of those techniques along with the inherent properties of the shale and the natural gas bound in the rock that has led to a maelstrom of controversy. Unexplained health problems, contaminated groundwater, mysterious earthquakes, poisonous wastewater, and surprisingly increased carbon footprint have all been linked to the modern practice of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. What are the facts backing up those claims? Is fracking hazardous to our health? Before addressing these key questions, the economic and geopolitical benefits of our natural gas bounty should be examined.