...Hydraulic Fracturing Hydraulic fracturing is a process of drilling and injecting fluids at a high pressure into the ground to break rocks and release methane gas and toxic chemicals and contaminate groundwater. “Hydraulic fracturing is used after the drilled hole is completed. Put simply, hydraulic fracturing is the use of fluid and material to create or restore small fractures in a formation in order to stimulate production from new and existing oil and gas wells. This creates paths that increase the rate at which fluids can be produced from the reservoir formations, in some cases by many hundreds of percent.” (Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 2010) This process allows production in older oil and natural gas fields. Hydraulic fracturing has been used in the United States since the 1940’s. “The U.S. has vast reserves of natural gas that are commercially viable as a result of advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies enabling greater access to gas in shale formations. Responsible development of America's shale gas resources offers important economic, energy security, and environmental benefits.” (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2013) Fractures in Onshore shale and Tight Rock formations are oil fracking. It can be natural or man-made through rock. The fluid includes water, sand, ceramic and often chemicals. “High-pressure Fracking is done from a wellbore drilled into reservoir rock formations to increase...
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...Legal Issues in Hydraulic Fracturing Demand for energy shows every promise of remaining high, and supplies of natural gas and oil worldwide are dwindling. Renewable and alternative energy sources – for example, wind-generated electricity, or nuclear power – are being developed and considered at the national level; however, at the time of writing more than half of the total energy consumed in the United States comes from oil and natural gas sources. Specifically, natural gas was – in 2011 – providing fully a quarter of the total energy consumed in the United States (Obama, 2013). Hydraulic fracturing, also known as “fracking”, provides a means of exploiting the reserves of natural gas within United States territory. These natural gas reserves are positioned in such a way that they cannot typically be exploited by traditional methods, and instead are produced by a process of hydraulic fracturing. This means of oil and gas production is relatively new, and it remains controversial in terms of economics, safety and environmental cost. In addition to ecological, sociological and political considerations, there are many legal issues involved in the production of energy via hydraulic fracturing (Hagstrom and Adams, 2012). Regulation The actual activity of hydraulic fracturing is carried out by private corporations; however, the process is governed by multiple State and Federal regulations and laws. As the field of hydraulic fracturing is developing quickly and recently, legislation...
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...in hydraulic fracturing, has kept prices for natural gas extremely low while crude oil prices have fluctuated and changed over time. One reason for this is the different nature of exportation in the two hydrocarbons. As will be discussed below, the transportation and exporting of natural gas is much different than for crude oil. Natural gas must undergo a liquefaction process in order to travel by specialized cargo ship, the alternative to a pipeline, which adds substantial costs to the activity. There are currently no operational natural gas export terminals in the lower 48 states, but a few are under construction. The large sunk costs will be a large part of our consideration of the exportation of natural gas. The U.S. has traditionally been a net importer of gas, and considering the high upfront costs of building export terminals, the sale of American gas has been isolated almost exclusively to the domestic market. The only exception to this has been to export natural gas only where existing pipelines can carry it, which has limited foreign export to North America. Despite this historical trend, calls for the US to begin exporting natural gas have been growing louder as the potential to seek higher priced natural gas markets become more attractive. This paper will explore liquid natural gas (LNG) export terminals and their prospects in the United States, analyze current legislation and regulation surrounding exportation, identify potential markets for...
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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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...Course: Environment and Development Department of Policy Studies, The Energy and Resource Institute (New Delhi) Submitted on 9th December 2012 Table of Contents Executive Summary 1 Literature Review 4 Scope 6 Conclusion 10 Works Cited 11 Executive Summary The gradual shift of the US gas sector- from one of deficit to one of surplus has gathered appreciative appraisals from the rest of the world and initiated talks about the prospect of harnessing shale gas in other countries, as US reached the lowest CO2 emission level in the last 20 years due to shift to natural gas. It has been referred to as “the biggest energy innovation of the decade”, in light of the growing need for suitable alternatives to conventional oil and gas with increasing pressure on energy over time. 90% of global shale gas is currently produced by the US. India meets two-thirds of its petroleum requirements by importing of fuels that include coal, and this figure is expected to rise in the future in spite of India being a coal-rich country. Even with introduction of more efficient technologies and cases of higher CO2 emission reduction, our country’s import dependence on petrol, oil and gas will significantly rise in the future, raising the pressure on the resources. This concern for energy security calls for further research in technological solutions for greater efficiency and control. With that backdrop, India’s Integrated Energy Policy (IEP) in its policy proposal has stressed heavily...
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...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 energy sources from our own land in an effort to cut down dependence on foreign energy. As it sounds great that it will help our economy and to produce...
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...Shale Oil | A Controversial Energy Source | | Gabriel Lessard-Kragen, Daylon Hutton, Nikolai Sie | 12/4/2014 | | Table of Contents Table of Figures i Introduction 1 What is Hydraulic Fracturing? 1 Socio-Economic Impacts 3 Local Economic Impacts 3 U.S. National Economic Impacts 5 International Economic Impacts 6 Environmental Issues 8 Water Impacts 9 Greenhouse Gases 11 Liability 12 Conclusion 13 Bibliography 14 Table of Figures Figure 1: Marcellus Shale 10 Figure 2: GHG Eissions Associated with Oil Extraction 12 Figure 3: Deepwaater Horizon Impacts 12 Introduction The topic of this document is shale oil and gas, and the issues surrounding their extraction and usage. The terms oil and gas are used interchangeably in this article, however they technically are different substances. The issues and economics attached to the two substances are similar, and thus are discussed as a group. This document will begin with an analysis of what hydraulic fracturing (fracking) actually is, as a lot of controversy and misinformation has been released around it. Afterwards the economics of the shale boom will be analyzed, from both a local, national, and international perspective. Finally the environmental impact of shale gas will be discussed, as this is the major concern surrounding the technology. What is Hydraulic Fracturing? Fracking is the term most often used to describe the process of hydraulic fracturing. Unknown to most, fracking...
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...Odenweller 05/04/2014 Welcome to the machine Hydraulic fracturing has become one of the key issues of our time, due to the important part it plays in our nation’s ambitions for a clean and sustainable energy future. Due to recent technological advances in horizontal drilling techniques, the vast natural gas reserves found within the shale formations underground in the United States have become easily accessible. Responsible development of these resources is believed to be key to a sustainable financial, and environmentally prosperous future for America. However, recent environmental and health concerns beg to differ, and question whether these new developments pose more of a threat to americans than they are worth. Nature sustains life on our planet. Humans have developed an organization of society that runs on machines. What does it take to run the machines that power our world? Our society also runs on money. So anything that plays into the running of our society must must invariably be tied to how it profits the people in charge of running things. How does it benefit us as a whole? This question is larger than the debate which this paper addresses, yet it is valid in that it is an overarching theme that drives the situation behind the issues within. A big part of what our economy has deemed is important in order to sustain the current level of comfort that we have been sold is largely based on non-renewable energy sources such as oil, coal, and gas. It is a very competitive...
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...Hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as fracking, is a 60 year old practice of pumping high pressure water into shale rock thousands of feet below the earth’s surface. The pressurized water is pumped through cement encased pipes at pressures reaching 9000 pounds per square inch. The treated water is forced into small cracks in the gas-rich shale rock, resulting in the breaking of the rock and the release of natural gas that would otherwise be unobtainable. Hydraulic fracturing is a safe, economically efficient way to drill for natural gas, create jobs, and lessen America’s dependency on foreign oil. Safety is always an important factor when considering new methods for obtaining raw energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural and shale gas. The process of fracking can be considered relatively safe when compared to oil drilling and mining. For example, in 2010 an offshore drilling station suffered a malfunction in a blow back valve that caused a massive explosion killing 11 people and spilling an estimated 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico (Center for Biological Diversity, 2011). While the cost of lost lives is immeasurable, the costs of lost profits from the spilling oil, and the clean-up, are astronomical. The consequences of oil spills are not only immediate, but can also be felt for years after. Similar to the BP oil spill, in 1989 the Exxon Valdez ship ran aground spilling an estimated 750 thousand barrels of crude oil, an amount that equals almost...
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... | | [Type the document subtitle] | University of Phoenix Com/156-University composition and communication II May 7, 2012 Authored by: Eric Rullmann University of Phoenix Com/156-University composition and communication II May 7, 2012 Authored by: Eric Rullmann Hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as fracking, is a 60 year old practice of pumping high pressure water into shale rock thousands of feet below the earth’s surface. The pressurized water is pumped through cement encased pipes at pressures reaching 9000 pounds per square inch. The treated water is forced into small cracks in the gas-rich shale rock, resulting in the breaking of the rock and the release of natural gas that would otherwise be unobtainable. Hydraulic fracturing is a safe, economically efficient way to drill for natural gas, create jobs, and lessen America’s dependency on foreign oil. Safety is always an important factor when considering new methods for obtaining raw energy sources such as coal, oil, and natural and shale gas. The process of fracking can be considered relatively safe when compared to oil drilling and mining. For example, in 2010 an offshore drilling station suffered a malfunction in a blow back valve that caused a massive explosion killing 11 people and spilling an estimated 200 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico (Center for Biological Diversity...
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...executive summary As part of a data room organized by the Dominicans government, Storengy was asked by the BEE to study the basement part of a geothermal power plant construction project. The island of Dominica (73 000 people) is a republic within the Commonwealth, independent since 1978. Its capital Roseau is counting approximately 24 000 people. It is located exactly halfway between the islands Guadeloupe 41 km north and Martinique 40 km south. It relates to evaluate the potential of Wotten Waven geothermal field (initially presented with a capacity of 120 MWe in 2012 before the three exploration wells and 90 MWe in 2013) and estimate if it can provide enough energy for electricity production not only for home market but also for export to Guadeloupe and / or Martinique.This geothermal field is located in the southern part of the Dominica island approximately at ten kilometers east of Roseau, in an area known for its geothermal surface manifestations including mineralized hot springs, fumaroles, sulfur deposits and phreatic explosion craters (whose "Boiling Lake", one of the largest known in the world). The main conclusions of the analysis and integration of data provided in data room, but also from additional bibliographic research carried out in support, are the following: Geological context and conceptual model of the geothermal system Three exploration wells (WW-01 to 03) were drilled in 2012 at depths of 1200 to 1600 m. They helped prove the existence of a deep...
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...Chapter 14 Review The environmental effects of gold mining can harm the environment in many negative ways. Gold miners removed enough rock to equal the weight of 50 automobiles to extract a little amount of gold. The leftover waste is piled near the mine sites and can pollute the air and nearby surface water. Mining companies also created a new mining technology called cyanide heap leaching to level entire mountains of rock. In order for them to extract the gold, they spray a solution of highly toxic cyanide salts. This cyanide is extremely toxic to birds and mammals drawn to these ponds in search of water and they can leak into the rivers posing as a threat to fish and other life forms. Geology is the science devoted to the study of dynamic processes occurring on the earth’s surface and in its interior. The core is the earth’s innermost zone. The mantle is a thick zone surrounding the core. The crust is the outermost and thinnest zone of the earth. The tectonic plates are various sized areas of the earth’s lithosphere that move slowly around with the mantle’s flowing asthenosphere. The lithosphere is the outer shell of the earth, composed of the crust and the rigid, outermost part of the mantle outside the asthenosphere. A transform vault is an area where the earth’s lithospheric plates move in opposite but parallel directions along a fracture in the lithosphere. Weathering is the physical and chemical processes in which solid rock exposed at earth’s surface is changed to separate...
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...Company, was established in 1990 to develop a deeper understanding of the evolving global economy. Our goal is to provide leaders in the commercial, public, and social sectors with the facts and insights on which to base management and policy decisions. MGI research combines the disciplines of economics and management, employing the analytical tools of economics with the insights of business leaders. Our “micro-to-macro” methodology examines microeconomic industry trends to better understand the broad macroeconomic forces affecting business strategy and public policy. MGI’s in-depth reports have covered more than 20 countries and 30 industries. Current research focuses on four themes: productivity and growth, the evolution of global financial markets, the economic impact of technology and innovation, and urbanization. Recent reports have assessed job creation, resource productivity, cities of the future, and the impact of the Internet. MGI is led by McKinsey & Company directors Richard Dobbs and James Manyika. Yougang Chen, Michael Chui, Susan Lund, and Jaana Remes serve as MGI principals. Project teams are led by a group of senior fellows and include consultants from McKinsey’s offices around the world. These teams draw on McKinsey’s global network of partners and industry and management experts. In addition, leading economists, including Nobel laureates, act as research advisers. The partners of McKinsey & Company fund MGI’s research; it is not commissioned by any business, government...
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...Chesapeake Energy T E A M - C Members: Misti Smith Kyle Thompson Daniel Ogeto Harding University Spring 2013 TEAM C: The team assignments for our research paper are as follows: Week 2 - Outsourcing – Daniel Ogeto Week 3 - Overview of the Oil and Gas Industry – Daniel Ogeto Week 4 - Chesapeake Energy & its four affiliates - Kyle Thompson Week 5 - Chesapeake Company Operations - Misti Smith Week 6 - Chesapeake Company Future - Daniel Ogeto Abstract Chesapeake Energy is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. This independent company is involved in oil and natural gas exploration and production. The company’s operations, shares and debt; affiliations, outsourcing and future will be discussed in this paper. The oil and gas industry overview will also be covered. CONTENTS 1. Overview of the Oil and Gas Industry ------------------------Page 4 – 21 2. Chesapeake Company Operations ----------------------------Page 21-27 3. Chesapeake & Affiliates ----------------------------------------- Page 28-32 4. Outsourcing -------------------------------------------------------- Page 32-37 5. Chesapeake’s Future --------------------------------------------- Page 37-42 References ---------------------------------------------------------- Page 43-44 OVERVIEW OF THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY Companies in this industry develop and operate fields to extract crude oil and natural gas. Major players include Apache, Conoco Phillips, and...
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...Kavethkar Green energy is the need of the hour to sustain our energy requirements. Green energy includes natural energetic processes that can be harnessed with little pollution. Anaerobic digestion, geothermal power, wind power, small-scale hydropower, solar energy, biomass power, tidal power, wave power, and some forms of nuclear power (ones which are able to "burn" nuclear waste through a process known as nuclear transmutation, such as an Integral Fast Reactor, and therefore belong in the "Green Energy" category). Some definitions may also include power derived from the incineration of waste. In this report we have discussed on various dimension of non renewable energy resources and its impact on our environment. It is aptly said that “The Earth has enough to satisfy the Need but not the Greed of the Humans” We have gone beyond boundaries, now if we look back the results of our greed is appalling for us. The below sections show the various examples of non renewable energy sector- Electricity Sector in India The electricity sector in India had an installed capacity of 250.256 was of end July 2014. Out of which considerable amount, approx. 69.12% (172.986 GW), is generated from non-renewable energy source. India became the world's third largest producer of electricity in the year 2013 with 4.8% global share in electricity generation surpassing Japan and Russia. On 31st May 2014, in India, there was installation of Wind Power Capacity Project. Non-Renewable Energy Resources Non-renewable...
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