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Analysis: Hydraulic Fracturing

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Does the government do enough to regulate production of natural resources in the United States. Hydraulic Fracturing is a method used by companies to extract natural gas and oil underneath the earth surface in places where it is present. Fracking can occur anywhere as long as is shale, meaning it can occur in forests, urban, rural, or even in the suburbs. The government does not regulate Hydraulic fracturing enough as it should be throughout the United States. Serious regulations need to be placed on hydraulic fracturing while being imposed as well. Companies that do not follow those regulations should be given a negative consequence involving a fine or stripping away the company's ability to frack in that area they failed to meet the regulations. …show more content…

When things are not regulated well, specially if the consumption is very high. There no reason to wait the outcome of it therefore regulations are needed to avoid any negative externalities. According to the article “ How much water does it take to frack a well?” by Stateimpact Pennsylvania, “4.4 million gallons of water is needed for each well per day. The process of water takes about 2-6 days. That consumption is equal to 11,000 families consuming water in one day.” That is water that we are never going to get back and that we humans should be prioritized in receiving. The consumption of water is not regulated by the government which is an exponential amount when considering there are thousands of wells in the United states. When natural resources are taken for granted and not well managed, it will lead to the Tragedy of the commons. The supply needed would not satisfy the demand. Considering fracking uses millions of gallons of water for each well. When an aquifer or underground water reserves are contaminated, there are more millions of gallons of water lost there. But does that contamination really come from Hydraulic fracturing? According to the article “4 States Confirm Pollution from water drilling.” by Kevin Begos, “A 2011 Penn State study found that about 40% of water wells tested prior to gas drilling failed at least one federal drinking water standard. Pennsylvania is one of only a few states that don't have private water-well construction standards.” The study found at Penn State regarding water wells and the drinking standard. The percentage of wells that failed the test is exceptionally high and is a straightforward threat to the population that potentially will use those wells. However, that high number is before the drilling process, nevertheless, the remaining 60% comes from hydraulic fracturing that companies decline to

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Fracking one well can take millions of gallons of water, but it 's not just water. In the water there are chemicals, helping to break down the rock. According to the article, Fracking Fury, “ the fluids consist of millions of gallons of water, chemical additives, and proppants” (2 AT). Chemicals like benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene are shot down into a well. The author claims that, “Critics are nervous the cocktail of fluids will leak”(2.3).

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Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is a very controversial method of capturing oil and natural gas. It involves shooting a solution of water, sand, and almost 600 chemicals at extreme pressure into underground wells, causing the rock formations to crack. This allows the oil and natural gas to flow more freely, allowing previously trapped resources to be harvested. Fracking is so controversial because the potential monetary gains are enormous, yet the environmental impacts are devastating. The documentary “Gasland”, directed and narrated by Josh Fox, provided first hand insight into the fracking industry.

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