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The Pros And Cons Of Fracking

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eople and society thrive off of a good economy when there is energy, business, or good markets, yet when the means of production (Bourgeoisie) interferes with the proletariats (working class) negatively, then problems arise. This is what is happening with hydraulic fracturing in America in relation to air pollution and the rate of which emissions are being released into the atmosphere. “The hydraulic fracturing water cycle describes the use of water in hydraulic fracturing, from water withdrawals to make hydraulic fracturing fluids, through the mixing and injection of hydraulic fracturing fluids in oil and gas production wells, to the collection and disposal or reuse of produced water” (EPA). In this operation, methane is being released in …show more content…

For example, “Given too that UGOD (unconventional gas and oil development) is exempt from other federal provisions of the Clean Water Act (CWA), Clean Air Act (CAA), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), as well as several Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations related to hazardous waste disposal, the degree of water and soil contamination caused by fracking is largely unknown to the public” (Ladd, Anthony., York, Richard pg. 6). The issue with fracking is that the process can be done in a cleaner matter, yet fracking is exempt from multiple federal environmental regulations and legislation because there isn’t scientific evidence that proves that hydraulic fracturing is dangerous and harms the environment, according to politicians. It is our hope that politicians will review this letter to understand that the EPA has announced its findings that hydraulic fracturing is contaminating the atmosphere and underground water aquifers. During the process of hydraulic fracturing, “3.6-7.2 percent of all methane gas obtained from the fracking process is lost into the atmosphere via the well completion and transportation” (Tollefson). The mining of the well is the main contributer to the 1.9% of released methane emissions, which is why some scientists believe conventional gas is better than fracking for shale gas. Yet the issue is that there is so much shale gas to be harvested from shale formations that the economic difference is worthwhile. A comparison of conventional gas vs shale gas is represented below in table

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498 Words | 2 Pages

While delving into the advantages and disadvantages of domestic natural oil and gas production I realized that hydraulic fracturing has proven itself to be a valuable asset to the United States economy. In “Fracking: Fix It or Forget It?” by Daniel E. Klein, Daniel shares with his readers that “in the last decade, shale development technologies have become technically and commercially feasible. Pairing horizontal drilling with hydraulic fracturing, “fracking” has revolutionized the oil and gas outlook as few other industries’ ever have done before. Increased domestic production of both oil and gas has led to enhanced energy security, reduced fuel imports, and improved balanced of payments for the United States.

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856 Words | 4 Pages

Natural gas is said to be the fuel of the recent future but at this point in time it as a resource that is quickly dwindling. A process called hydraulic fracturing or fracking is being used to access hidden reserves of gas in shale deposits under the ground. The process of fracking isn't new, but is being used more frequently and in more areas as easy-to-access deposits run out. This is where the dispute comes in; is the economic gains of fracking worth the environmental harm it causes? Fracking is too dangerous to risk when finding ways to access natural gas because it can affect water sources, has long lasting effects on the environment, and ruins areas surrounding the well site.

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1135 Words | 5 Pages

One of the most heated debates in the political and environmental areas is the debate over hydraulic fracturing, or more its more colloquial term “fracking”. Fracking is the process by which normally inaccessible hydrocarbon deposits are made available. First a well is drilled down vertically, once the pipe has reached the shale it begins to bore horizontally for thousands more feet. Then, a combination of water, sand, and various chemicals are pushed out of the pipe at up to 9000 pounds per square inch. This frees the natural gas (a hydrocarbon) to then be pumped to the surface.

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1387 Words | 6 Pages

Two parties make up the fracking debate: the proponents and the critics. Very little of a middle ground is present in this conversation; the opinions appear to be very polarized with strong convictions. The advocates of fracking believe the procedure can relieve dependence on foreign oil, vitalize local economies, is safer than other methods of oil and gas extraction, and that it occurs so deep underground it is nearly impossible for it to affect groundwater or drinking water. In contrast, opponents argue that fracking can pollute their water, its runoff emissions are hazardous, the trucks needed to operate this procedure disturb the local ecosystem’s carbon levels, and that people have little say in these operations. Both sides provide legitimate arguments; however, the consequences of fracking are far more significant than the so-called benefits.

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961 Words | 4 Pages

Hydraulic fracturing or better known as “Fracking” is one of the many rising topics in Michigan. Fracking is the process of mixing water, proppants, and chemicals together and injecting it at a high pressure down 10,000 feet into the Earth to break shale rocks. This is done to extract hundreds of thousands of natural gases that are used every day. But little do people know it is not only affecting their soil, animals, and natural resources, it is affecting them. Fracking should not be authorized in the state of Michigan because it causes health issues for humans, harms animals, and hurts the environment.

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811 Words | 4 Pages

The popular, mistaken fallacies of the environmental destruction of fracking have been proven to be unsound. When extracting natural gas, underground water wells are drilled through in order to place pipes. The pipes lead to a rock containing natural gas, commonly referred to as shale, to withdraw the gas and bring it to the surface. In a certain instance, residential water wells contained high levels of methane, which is the core component of natural gas. However, researches reported that the contamination came from natural biological sources such as bacteria found within the soil, not from leaky gas wells (“Fracking not Linked to Contamination”).

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1618 Words | 7 Pages

Even though hydraulic fracturing allows access to more gas and oil, it should be banned because it uses harmful chemicals, pollutes water, causes earthquakes, and is affecting wildlife. While fracking has been going on for many decades, these last ten years has had a spike in publicity. Accusations of hazardous chemicals being used in the waste-water solution has been flying

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548 Words | 3 Pages

For this reason, some people feel blessed that the companies started fracking in their territories. I can completely justify that because it allows people an opportunity to let their kids go to colleges, buy houses, cars, and live a luxury life which would not be possible without it. However, there is only a small number of people who were lucky enough to get the profit from that since fracking companies do everything to avoid paying people. Overall, I believe that the cost of the fracking is way too detriment and it benefits fracking companies’ considerably more than it does people who live in the areas where fracking is active. 2.

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1221 Words | 5 Pages

Hydraulic fracking has the capabilities to change the United States economy and improve the lives of many people. Fracking produces large amounts of natural gas that can be used as fuel, but because fracking is such a new process, researchers and environmentalists do not yet fully understand the negative effects it can have on our environment over time. Fracking has been linked to the contamination of groundwater and this contamination is a danger to people who live near fracking sites. The process of hydraulic fracking requires the use of hundreds of potentially dangerous chemicals which need to be regulated to keep our environment safe and clean. Hydraulic fracking should be allowed in the United States because it provides a useful resource,

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1284 Words | 6 Pages

The amount of fracking has increased by access to the oil reserves and natural gas in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois and many other states. During the late 1900's there have been many arguments on whether fracking does contaminate water or not. The EPA (environmental protection agency) have studied this problem at a site in Alabama. Over the time there weren't any evidence on contamination or any problem in the aquifers. Also another research conducted by the U.S department of energy, found that the fracking is a "safe and effective" technology from deep geological formations.

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1497 Words | 6 Pages

Introduction News outlets often use cherry-picked scientific findings as a way to grant credibility to the information they are ‘reporting’, thus making it confusing to the viewer on whether the information is politically motivated or unbiased. Scientists have an invisible halo atop them in mainstream media, and they are frequently cited in regards to important policies that have significant ramifications. It’s common for media outlets and politicians to take research conducted by scientists and display it as a fact without proper context with the intention of misleading, additionally companies also regularly hire ‘scientists’ to justify that it meets proper regulations. A contemporary example of this is the manner in which hydraulic fracturing

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695 Words | 3 Pages

With that knowledge and knowing that Marcellus Shale operation planned to construct up to 200,000 new wells, means that 190,000 leaky wells could very well be in operation in one year (Nikiforuk 24). Now there are some arguing that it’s just as, if not worse than fracking. Jeff Tollefson, states that methane pollution in the air is just as bad. “[there is] hard evidence that the cleanest-burning fossil fuel might not be much better than coal when it comes to climate change” (1). He continues by saying “methane is some 25 times more efficient than carbon dioxide at trapping heat in the atmosphere” (2).

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682 Words | 3 Pages

Fracking within the state of New York has been cause for controversy in recent years. This fracking controversy has greatly polarized members of the communities affected with some show great support of it, and others downright despising it to the point of banning it in their communities. While fracking is quite a complex issue with many economic benefits, it’s still quite clear that the only rational stance on the issue is one of opposition. Any person who shares concerns on the future of this planet should maintain of firm opposition to fracking due to the negligence of the fracking companies harming the environment. In response to fracking supporter and Range Resources spokesman Matt Pitzarlla’s blatant dishonesty on the issue in his paraphrased

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1945 Words | 8 Pages

The life we live today was built on the foundation of oil and it is the centerpiece of our society. Today, more than ninety percent of all oil and natural gas wells are fracked at some point during the life of the well. Fracking is nice on the energy consumers billfold, considering it on averages saves each household nine hundred dollars per year. In Colorado alone, fracking generated 30 billion dollars for its economy. As well as it generates a lot of jobs for people in the oil

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893 Words | 4 Pages

Hydraulic fracturing is a process used in nine out of 10 natural gas wells in the United States, where millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are pumped underground to break apart the rock and release the gas (what is). This new and booming form of extracting natural gasses from shale rock is sweeping the nation in controversy. Fracking has many issues, those for it claim it has large economic benefits while remaining environmentally safe. Those against claim it does in fact effect our environment, The debate over fracking and its recent boom indicate a need for better understanding of the effects of Hydraulic Fracking.

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