A common topic in the news for the past few years has been the application of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” as it is more commonly known in the American oil industry. Fracking is used to find and extract natural gas from within the earth’s crust. Natural gas, a flammable gas mixture consisting of methane and several other hydrocarbons, is commonly used for fuel for heating cooking, and even some automobiles. The idea of fracking is several decades old, however it has only become economically feasible and thus a widespread practice in the past decade due to rising prices of fossil fuels. While this new source of fuel is an obvious economic boost to the American economy, it is often accompanied by problems relating to the practices impact on the environment and the people in the surrounding area. Due to the destructive nature of the process, contamination of the working area and alteration of the natural environment is a very real problem which has caused very polarized opinions on the subject. First tested by the Stanolind Oil and Gas Corporation in 1947, fracking is the process of extracting natural gas from layers of shale rock deep within the earth through utilization of local water, often harmful chemicals, and intrusive drilling. Fracking is practiced in zones known as “plays”, locations where large …show more content…
Between reports on its economic benefit, impact on heating prices, environmental effects, and potential health hazards, there becomes an overload of very polarizing information which often leads to the further development of these opposing viewpoints. These viewpoints clash with one another constantly across many forms of media leading to increasing controversy. While the economic benefits and increase to quality of living for some are enticing, the impact on the people and natural environment caused by fracking just can’t be