...Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a well stimulation process used to obtain natural resources from underground geological formations. Although used in several different applications, including the extraction of oil and geothermal energy, hydraulic fracturing in natural gas production from shale formations has recently taken center stage. It is estimated that shale gas will comprise over 20% of the total U.S. gas supply by 2020 (Energy Information Administration, 2009). As hydraulic fracturing has expanded, the public, media, and Congress have expressed rising concerns about the practice. Allegations of natural gas entering private water supplies, well explosions, and polluted streams have sparked controversy about fracking. In response, Congress directed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in fiscal year 2010 to study hydraulic fracturing and its potential impacts on drinking water. The goal of this study is to determine whether hydraulic fracturing endangers drinking water and, if so, how these risks can be mitigated. The results of the study, expected by the end of 2012, will help inform EPA‟s regulatory response to hydraulic fracturing. However, given the urgency of fracking concerns, some members of both the public and the government have called for EPA to regulate or halt hydraulic fracturing now. Thus, EPA must consider the policy options available to address these concerns. This report has multiple objectives: to provide background on hydraulic fracturing, to describe ...
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...Hydrofracking Mark A Carabajal POL/215 August 6, 2015 Imran Anwar Hydrofracking A process for retrieving natural gas from 7,000 feet below the earth’s surface has caused environmental concerns. Hydrofracking has been around since the 40’s but wasn’t until the 90’s where technology allowed for a vertical drill to drill horizontally into shall deep below the surface creating several bores and accessing hundreds of acres of shale. Hydrofarcking comes with its controversy, some argue that it is contaminating water sources and creating environmental concerns, while others say there is no proof of this despite many studies. Benefits of hydrofracking Hyfrofracking allows easy access to natural gas at a time where our country has growing energy concerns. It allows access to energy sources that can be extracted, processed and then used by a consumer. Hydrofracking has been bringing good paying jobs to regions that may have had a low standard of living. Sates such as South Dakota, Colorado, and Wyoming are a few states with large rural areas that have benefited from the huge job growth the hydrofracking has produced. 72,000 jobs were created in Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2011. Local governments are willing to take short cuts due to huge amounts of dollars coming into the local, and state pockets. Fines also could be assessed by local and state inspectors that can result in even more revenue due to high fines. Natural gas is one of the cleanest burning fuels we use...
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...Fracking Jada Stuckert Introduction to Biology 103 – Professor Crespo University of Maryland University College History Hydraulic fracturing “Fracking” is the process of injecting water, sand and chemicals at high pressure underground to break apart the rock and release natural gas to be used by consumers. While this explanation seems simple enough there is actually a lot more involved, so let’s being with this history. The fracking process itself began as an experiment in 1947 by Stanolind Oil and Gas Company in Kansas, however the first commercially successful application took place in Oklahoma in 1949 by Halliburton. While the initial experiments didn’t simulate the well in which the technique would later be applied it was the actual “birth” of hydraulic fracturing. Fracking allows older oil and natural gas fields to remain functional by recovering oil and natural gas from almost impossible geological formations like tight shale formations in certain areas of the United States. Fracking is not a drilling process. Fracking actually begins after a hole is already drilled. Most of these wells are existing oil and gas wells. The generalized process of fracking is outlined below. 1. Water trucks deliver water for the fracturing process. If a bay is being used water is simply delivered through a pump. 2. Separate trucks deliver a mix of sand and chemicals (what chemicals) 3. Both the water and the sand/chemical solution is injected at high pressure down...
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...Hydraulic fracturing, which is sometimes called fracking, is when water mixed with various chemicals and other things is pumped into layers of slate, causing the natural gases trapped inside to be released and available for use. It is also causing horrible things and needs to stop. If hydraulic fracturing is stopped, the environment will be healthier, and people living near fracking wells will be more secure in their health and safety. One argument against this is that we need fracking to support the growing need for energy. Source #5 describes that now that we are in an age of tech where the world needs more energy than ever, it is possible we could run out of common energy resources. Experts fear that these shortages could trigger a major...
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...August 2, 2013 Fracking and the Effects on the Environment and Public Health People are now recognizing some serious concerns to the public health and the drinking water becoming contaminated, because the fracturing of shale in our communities and what can be done to stop it all. The hydraulic fracturing of shale needs to be, banned until further investigations are completed to determine how safe it is to people and the environment surrounding the drilling site. It all started with a few cases of illness, which everyone assumed was a virus that was going around. Over the past couple of years, these illnesses have become a very serious problem, not only to people but to animals and livestock too. This is a big concern and it is obvious that it is not a genetic disease as first thought. Far too many families, who are living near these drilling sites and have contracted the same illnesses in many different areas across the United States,. Is this a coincidence or facts of serious problems taking place in the United States from fracking? It is very important that everyone should be aware and to take notice how close to where they live and if any hydraulic fracturing is taking place because there is much more to this story than many people realize. The hydraulic fracturing of shale needs to be, banned everywhere until further testing can actually be done to determine how safe it is to people and the environment. The US is participating in this method called fracking to extract...
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...Hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as “fracking,” by definition, means the process of drilling and injecting fluid into the ground thousands of feet deep, at a high pressure; in order to fracture shale rocks to release the natural gases inside (Schrope n.d.). A more adequate explanation on to why we perform the method of “fracking” is that it is an easier process to obtain the natural gases inside the rocks. These natural gases are used for many sources of energy throughout the world. Natural gases have also been proven to be more cleaner and more efficient source than coal. The process of fracking involves drilling through deep wells into the shale rocks which breaks up the rock shales releasing these natural gases. While fracking has been a more efficient and cleaner process, there are many dangers that come along with this process which many people overlook. With many countries including the United States using fracking, it is still on going method that many still use today. With this, there are many pros and cons that come along with fracking. This has been a...
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...The development of hydraulic fracturing regulation saw significant changes in the late 20th century. There had been state regulations throughout the 1940’s, but these were mostly concerned with surface water contamination. By the 1950s, however, landowners were complaining of contamination of drinking water, and state oil agencies discovered contaminated acquifers in the 1960’s. These complaints and the subsequent lawsuits in the 1960’s led to the beginning of state regulations on hydraulic fracturing. The Texas Water Pollution Board, for example, was founded in 1961, and was the state’s first true pollution-control agency. High profile cases like when an industrial waste injection well at Hamermill Paper released waste into Lake Erie and affected...
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...Hydraulic fracturing -- otherwise known as fracking -- is a process which allows us to retrieve oil and natural gas from shale. The process consists of a mixture of water and sand -- with the addition of a few chemicals to help carry the sand, keep bacteria from forming, and for lubrication -- being pumped down the wellbore and into the deep underground reservoir formations. The wellbore is the hole drilled beforehand, implemented with steel casing vertically and horizontally, creating the well. Before the trucks are able to pump the mixture down the casing, a perforating gun -- with shaped explosive charges -- would be sent to the end of the casing -- where the target shale is at -- and set off; creating holes which connect the wellbore to the reservoir....
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...Step 6: Once the drilling gets about 500 feet above the shale formation, a downhole drilling motor with sophisticated measuring instruments begins the angle drilling creating a new horizontal path into the shale formation. Step 6: Once the drilling gets about 500 feet above the shale formation, a downhole drilling motor with sophisticated measuring instruments begins the angle drilling creating a new horizontal path into the shale formation. Step 4: The cement and casing are then pressure tested to ensure hydrocarbons and other fluids don’t seep out. Step 4: The cement and casing are then pressure tested to ensure hydrocarbons and other fluids don’t seep out. Step 3: Cement is then poured into this tubing throughout, displacing any remaining fluids and securing the casing in place. Step 3: Cement is then poured into this tubing throughout, displacing any remaining fluids and securing the casing in place. Step 2: The drill pipe and bit are removed and a steel “surface casing” tube is inserted into the well which stabilizes the well sides, creating a barrier. Step 2: The drill pipe and bit are removed and a steel “surface casing” tube is inserted into the well which stabilizes the well sides, creating a barrier. Step 1: Vertical well begins to be drilled with a drill pipe and drill bit past the ground water level a few thousand feet down. Step 1: Vertical well begins to be drilled with a drill pipe and drill bit past the ground water level a few thousand feet down. ...
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...Land Use Control in Hydraulic Fracturing Prepared for Katherine Wears, Phd. Professor and Assistant Dean at Clarkson University Prepared by Martin Sable Student, Masters in Engineering Management at Clarkson University August 10, 2014 Executive Summary This paper will review the process of hydraulic fracturing, its effects on the environment, and the opposition against the practice. A chronological discussion of lobbying activities and regulatory actions will be discussed, with a particular focus on land use control. A discussion of some of the past and potential future litigation on land rights related to the subject will be covered. The paper will end with the author’s opinion on the subject and of the potential future of the industry. Background Hydraulic Fracturing is a method of simulating well production in both natural gas and oil wells. It was first introduced in 1947, and was adopted for commercial applications as early as 1949.15 The process involves drilling wells deep into ground rock formations, then injecting fluids at high pressure into the ground. The high pressure causes fracturing of the rocks that release gas or oil into the wells that may then be extracted. In 1968 high-volume hydraulic fracturing (HVHF) was introduced, in an effort to tap into the large shale basins containing deposits of natural gas. The main difference between this and conventional hydraulic fracturing is tremendous volume of fracturing fluids that are pumped underground...
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...MR Renato Ramirez Federal Government 2306.712S1. 29 June 2014 Fracking, is good for the economy Hydraulic fracturing, or Fracking, a technique to remove natural gas and oil from shale formations, Fracking has been blamed for contamination of drinking water, air pollution, earthquakes, water shortages, radiation discharge, and even cancer. Hydraulic fracturing . So if Fracking a good practice, why do they use all thou toxic chemicals According to the Environmental Protection Agency ; Fracking is dumping toxic chemicals into the ground to release oil ! according to the US Geological Survey the oil that they are remove is the rocker they are removing and replacing wood sand is causing earthquakes in some cases. There have been reports of tap water catching fire from: methane gas eating into the water supplies around these frocking wells. but Fracking is great for the economy it's lousy for the Environment and infrastructure but it's great for the economy . People get make lots of money, and wealth they spend it in the towns . they live in the man camp they go to these hotels are popping up everywhere. you can't find a place to park in the roadside diners that are full of oilfield workers. Yes and make it is good for the economy Clearly, some hydraulic fracturing fluids contain chemicals deemed to be "hazardous wastes." Even if these chemicals are diluted it is unconscionable that EPA is allowing these substances to be injected directly into underground sources...
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...Today the world is at a cross roads in terms of energy. Since the invention of fire humans have constantly been searching for new ways to heat their homes and power all of our growing industries. The newest means if called hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Fracking is the process of drilling about 2 miles, or 10,650 feet, in order to reach the shale level of the earth. The shale holds an abundance of shale gas that is formed by the decomposition of plant materials over millions of years. Once they get deep enough they pump water, sand, and a slurry of chemicals down into the shale layer in order to expand the shale thus, giving the gas the means to travel to the surface. Fracking is a very beneficial alternate means of retrieving natural gas from the ground, in the sense that it would...
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...Some states like New York have reached this point already and have taken measures to ensure that fracking does not become a problem in their communities in the future (3). Kevin Westerling believes that people would think better of fracking if it was done in a safer way (4). What some have looked into as a solution to fracking is Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Fracturing. This type of fracturing can use low pressure fracturing of the rock, and uses a mixture of nitrogen or carbon dioxide and water. It has been used in Texas and Canada (4). A third option is to do foam-based fracking. By using this method of fracking it reduces the amount of water used by almost 90%! But unfortunately it can not be used with rock that needs high pressure to fracture...
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...What is fracking? According to the sources provided hydraulic fracturing or fracking is a different and less expensive method used to extract natural gas out of the ground. This process is done by fracturing porous rock with water, sand, and chemicals to free the gas inside the rock. This procedure is affordable and less complicated than the other strategies used to withdraw natural gas from the ground. Although fracking is more economical there are some disadvantages. For instance, the chemicals utilized in fracking. In source c it explains the downsides of fracking and goes in depth about how, “fracking not only consumes large quantities of fresh water but in...
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...Delivery date: April 19th 2013 NPRE 101 – INTRODUCTION TO ENERGY SOURCES END OF TERM PAPER PROF. RUZIC HYDRAULIC FRACTURING AND THE EAGLE FORD SHALE Patricio Calles Almeida – UIN 651559726 Everyone knows that the urge to find an alternative to fossil fuels is one of the top priorities of technology researchers and scientists. We also know that the United States is becoming more and more dependable on foreign resources as the national ones are running low. However, fossil fuels are still the only cost-effective sources of them all. You could argue that hydroelectric and nuclear power are on the rise, but the first one does not produce large scale amounts of energy and the latter requires a huge initial investment with long waits until returns and profits; all the previous makes these sources not really convenient in developing countries, the ones that ironically need is the most. That’s why fossil fuel sources will continue to dominate the energy scene for the next decades, at least. In this context, I want to focus my paper on hydraulic fracturing, fracking. Actually, more specifically, the absolute focus will be to relate this modern method of oil and natural gas extraction with the Eagle Ford Shale, located in South Texas. Specifications and characteristics that make this shale so appealing for fracking will be a part of the following analysis. Overall, the shale is one that could be the biggest production center of oil and natural gas of the US and bring lots...
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