The Issues of Hydraulic Fracturing
Of the many problem facing our nation hydraulic fracturing is one of the forefront issues. It poses threat to our environment and water supply yet has potential for companies to have increased economic gain. The efficiency of Fracking is proven but is it worth the toll is take son the environment?
Hydraulic Fracturing involves drilling a well about 1-2 miles down and then extending the well horizontally for about a mile.The well is sometimes then lined with concrete or steel and fracking fluid (or slickwater) is pumped at a very high pressure down it. This breaks the shale, a layer of rock in the earth’s crust that contains the natural gas, apart. The slickwater is about 98% water and the other 2% consists of chemicals such as: detergents, salt, acids, alcohols, lubricants, disinfectants, etc. When this fluid is pumped down the well it creates small fractures in the shale layer which releases the trapped gas. This gas is then pumped up to the surface using flowback fluid. This flowback fluid contains water with contaminants such as radioactive material, heavy metals, and hydrocarbons. The excess waste is usually pumped deep into the ground or taken to waste treatment plants. This toxic fluid is very salty and sometimes radioactive due to the high radon content.
Hydraulic fracturing can have many devastating effects on the environment and human health. One effect is air pollution, the process of fracking has the potential to release carcinogens, cancer causing substances. These include Benzene, Hydrogen Sulfide, and formaldehydes. In a study done by Dr. David Carpenter, Excess Formaldehyde levels were 30 to 240 times higher than normal. Benzene levels 35 to 770,000 times greater than normal. Both of these chemicals are directly linked to causing cancer. The study also found hydrogen sulfide levels above federal standards were 90 to 60,000 times higher than normal. This chemical is corrosive and flammable and prolonged exposure can lead to damage in the central nervous system and upper respiratory system.
The practice of hydraulic fracturing can lead to water contamination and depletion of water sources. These wells used for extracting natural gas use immense amounts of water. One well can potentially use 2-10 million gallons of water. Yearly the US uses 70-140 billion gallons of water on 35,000 wells. This is equivalent to the annual water consumption of 40-80 cities each with a population of 50,000. Due to spills during the transport of fracking fluids surface water and soil has been contaminated. The toxic and sometimes radioactive chemicals found in fracking fluid contaminated soil and water. When the fracking fluid is disposed of it is often injected deep into the ground below the water table. These fluids seep up into the water table and contaminate drinking water sources. This has lead to the illness of many people and even some cases of people being able to catch their tap water on fire. Not only does hydraulic fracturing contaminate water sources it can also outright destroy the aquifer. The constant drilling into the coal bed layer can lead to the destruction of the coalbed aquifers. These aquifers are important sources of water for many cities and the destruction of them could lead to an extreme water shortage. The last issue that hydraulic fracturing brings forth is the policy of nondisclosure around the chemicals they use. Through testing scientists have been able to discover many of these chemicals but there are still many unknown additives in the fluid used.
The practicality is fracking makes a lot of sense from a financial standpoint. When done correctly it can be lucrative for not only the companies that do it but, also its customers. Fracking provides a cheap and semi efficient way to provide natural gas (used to create cheap energy) to paying customers. The efficiency of fracking for natural gas far exceeds that if oil. Natural gas sells for $30 a barrel as opposed to the $70 per barrel of oil.
The catholic church most recently has taken a stand against fracking. Pope francis has stood by and supported the view of anti fracking activist. Due to his focus on saving and preserving our planet Pope francis also addressed this in part of his encyclical called, Laudato Si.
In conclusion Hydraulic fracturing(aka “fracking”) is cost efficient but leads to severe environmental effects. The toll fracking takes on the water supply and air quality of the environment far out ways the economic advantages. Proving that Fracking is a method of obtaining natural gas that should be phased out of the industry.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lallanilla, Marc. "Facts About Fracking." LiveScience. Purch, 23 Jan. 2015. Web. 03 May 2017. <http://www.livescience.com/34464-what-is-fracking.html>.
"Swarthmore College." Human Health Risks :: Environmental Studies Capstone :: Swarthmore College. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2017. <http://www.swarthmore.edu/environmental-studies-capstone/human-health-risks>.
"Hydraulic Fracturing 101." Earthworks. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2017. <https://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/hydraulic_fracturing_101#AIR>.
Neuhauser, Alan. "Toxic Chemicals, Carcinogens Skyrocket Near Fracking Sites." U.S. News & World Report. U.S. News & World Report, 30 Oct. 2014. Web. 03 May 2017. <https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/10/30/toxic-chemicals-and-carcinogens-skyrocket-near-fracking-sites-study-says>.
"Graphic: How Fracking Works." Next City. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 May 2017. <https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/graphic-how-fracking-works>.
@elizabethjdias, Elizabeth Dias. "The Real Reason Pope Francis Posed With Anti-Fracking Activists." Time. Time, 15 Nov. 2013. Web. 03 May 2017. <http://nation.time.com/2013/11/15/the-real-reason-pope-francis-posed-with-anti-fracking-activists/>.
