...Is Natural Gas Worth It? Fracking, what is it? Fracking or hydraulic fracturing is the fracturing the shale rock to release the natural gas inside by drilling or injecting fluid into the ground at high pressure. According to thedangersoffracking.com each job uses from 1 to 8 million gallons of water mixed with chemicals to make fracking fluid. The fracking fluid contains up to six hundred chemicals including numerous carcinogens and toxins. In this essay I will be explaining why fracking should be stopped. First, the air quality around the fracking sites has become dangerous. The emissions are leaking from wells; the most notable offender being methane which is a greenhouse gas commonly is linked to being a component of global warming. The air has contained chemicals like benzene, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. These chemicals have been known to cause lung related issues as well as several types of cancer. In high enough doses these chemicals could cause death, in humans and livestock alike. Volatile organic compounds are released into the atmosphere from the waste fluid produced during fracking. These waste fluids are unsafely left in open air pits to evaporate creating acid rain, ground level ozone and contaminated air. All of these unnatural occurrences are devastating to surrounding communities, and ecological systems. The once pristine fields in Wyoming now have an ozone count higher than LA on its worse days (Jackson 3). The amount of children with asthma has risen...
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...A Colossal Fracking Mess Just a decade ago, only the smallest sliver of the U.S. population had even heard of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Today, it’s one of the most incendiary environmental topics going. Natural gas is found underground, and is produced when trapped gas is released above ground. Hydraulic fracturing is a process that extracts natural gas from the ground. In order to try to break our country’s dependence on foreign oil supplies, we have begun to dip into our own natural gas supply. As harmless as the billion dollar producing oil companies would want us to believe, environmental groups, scientists, and average citizens have raised concerns about the negative impact of hydraulic fracking on the environment and surrounding communities. From an ethical perspective we might look at the harms and benefits of fracking. Is U.S. energy independence more important than the potential for harm to those affected by fracking procedures? Hydraulic fracturing poses the greatest current threat for communities because its potential for environmental and human damage is vast and its management is fairly unregulated. Modern day hydraulic fracturing results from the marriage of two technologies: hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. Although these technologies are not new, it was not until 2002 or 2003 that they were first combined. In a typical fracking operation, pressurized water, sand and chemicals are injected into shale rock formations to release trapped...
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...Table of Contents INTRODUCTION 1 MAIN BODY 2 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION 7 CONCLUSION 9 BIBLIOGRAPHY 10 Introduction Over the last few years controversy surrounding Fracking has reached new levels. Fracking or hydraulic fracturing as it is also known as is the process where natural gas is extracted from layers of shale rock deep within the earth. Fluids are injected into the earth at high pressure which then creates new passages from which the gas is then extracted. The process of fracking has created controversy due to the fact that many believe the process has had a negative impact on the environment. Anti-fracking groups believe that the process in morally wrong due to the vast quantity of water which is required in order for fracking to take place while others believe that fracking is responsible for the increase in earth tremors. On the Other hand Pro-fracking groups believe that the claims regarding the negativity surrounding the dangers of Fracking are unfounded and the process is completely safe. The issue of fracking in the area has seen the emergence of groups with polarising points of view, those who believe that fracking will benefit the local region and those who believe that fracking will cause long lasting damage to the environment, local wildlife and the health and wellbeing of the local community. This essay will look at the historical context of the issue and the underlying causes of the conflict to date. The essay will also look at...
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...who is a representative for an energy company called Global Crosspower Solutions. The film highlights recent and upcoming issue of fracking by questioning corporate responsibilities. This paper will discuss the environmental and corporate issues presented in the movie. “The Promised Land” focuses on fracking which is a process used to extract natural gas, this extraction is done by pumping gallons of pressurized chemically treated water into coal beds. This water then expands the cracks in the rocks allowing trapped methane to escape. The fracking procedures have been reported to contaminate water supplies and affect the health of local citizens and cattle. The controversy behind this procedure first snatched public attention after a documentary called Gasland directed by Josh Fox was released in 2010. Gasland follows Josh Fox as he investigates the issues behind fracking. He interviews family after family to paint a dreadful picture for the viewer. The take home message is very clear, the corporations specifically the oil companies show a complete lack of responsibility in the jurisdiction of citizen health. The citizens interviewed in the documentary are lied to about the safety of their water and given sums of money to avert law suits and public attention. The plotline therefore focuses on the environmental and corporate involvement in fracking. The plot begins with Butler getting a promotion for excelling at leasing farm lands for a value less than...
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...FRACKING: GOOD THING Natural gas is rapidly emerging as a major fuel of the world economy, meeting the rising requirements of natural gas is hard to achieve. Fracking is one of the most important technologies for natural gas production. Fracking has been used widely in oil and gas industry for decades; it is a technique used to get gas and oil from shale rock. The process of fracking is injecting the mixture of water, sand and chemicals into the rock at a high pressure to release gas (BBC, 2013). Fracking technology experiences long time of development. In 1947, Stanolind Oil conducted the first experimental fracturing to stimulate natural gas; in 1949 Halliburton conducted the first commercial fracturing to extract natural gas (Montgomery and Smith, 2010). Until 2003 fracking was used widely, energy companies actively expand natural gas exploration in Texas and Pennsylvania (Eecworld, 2010). fracking played an important role in America's natural gas resources for many years and countries such as Canada, England and China are actively pursuing implementation of fracking. Nationally, fracking can boost energy industry and promote economic grow in countries. However, like any advanced technology, it can also raise environmental concerns, cause water and air pollution. Therefore, whether the advantages of fracking worth the disadvantages? Yes, it worth. fracking is good, so it should be used on a massive scale to contribute to the increasing demands of energy. There are three economy...
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...transpire by undergoing the process of Hydraulic Fracturing, also known as and most commonly called, Fracking. Fracking is the process whereby natural gas is extracted from underground rock formations, known as shale, with the...
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...| Hydraulic Fracturing Hydraulic fracturing is a completion process that has been proven. It allows producers to recover natural gas and oil safely. This process reduces our national carbon dioxide, reduces our reliance on foreign fuel imports, and accelerates our transition to a carbon light environment. The development of natural gas and oil is critical to America’s energy needs and economic renewal. The process of hydraulic fracturing is using water pressure under tight controls to create fractures in rock that allow oil and natural gas to escape and flow up out of the ground. While in this process “fracturing fluids” are mixed in using high pressure. This creates fissures that allow resources to move freely from rock pores where they are trapped. (Chesapeake Energy) First, the way hydraulic fracturing works is a production drill is drilled through the rock layers to intersect the coal seem that contains coal bed methane, CBN. Second, fractures are created or existing fractures are enlarged in the coal seem so that the CBM can be drawn from the well and pumped to the surface. These fractures are created or enlarged by using a thick water-based fluid which is gradually increased by rate and pressure. Third, over time the coal seam is unable to keep up with the fracturing fluid which results in high pressure causing the coal to fracture along the weaknesses within. Sand is pumped into these fractures to keep them ‘propped’ open after the pressures are released. After a...
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... Fracking Essay Fracking is a very controversial topic of conversation that’s has been around for years, but has just recently reached the forefront of the environmental scene because of increase in its activity and added opposition against this controversial topic of retrieving natural gas. Fracking is defined as the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. This process seems very dangerous at first sight since the process of drilling deep into the ground and releasing natural gas from rocks in the ground does not sound environmentally safe and may harm our local water supply and poison us. Fracking works by huge horizontal pipes or “veins” being placed inside large vertical wells full of rocks filled with natural gas, after this the horizontal pipe is then filled with water and is forced into the well at high speeds and pressures forcing the rocks to be cracked or broken apart which thus releases the gas inside them into the tiny cracks created. Furthermore, the gas and oil is then collected and placed in large storage tanks for distribution and use. The chemicals used in fracking are a large amount (up to 600), however the main chemicals used by fracking companies are; water, sand, salt,...
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...In the first evening lecture, Miles Howe spoke about the anti-fracking movement that occurred in New Brunswick. Focusing primarily on the Elsipogtog First Nation, he discussed the Aboriginal resistance and the clash between the Mi’kmaq Warriors and the RCMP. While Howe’s story occurred in 2013, he went back to the 1700s as he believes that the encroachment of the French and British on unseeded Indigenous territory provides context for the upset and discontent that Aboriginal peoples currently have. Then, Howe outlined how hydraulic fracturing came to New Brunswick in 2009, without public knowledge. For this reason, many New Brunswick citizens reacted through various forms of protest including rallies, petition, vandalism, and blockades. However, the bulk of Howe’s lecture was focused on the Elsipogtog First Nation and the Mi’kmaq Warriors and their clash with the RCMP. Howe spoke negatively about the RCMP officers stating...
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...Tax on Fracking? Tax on Fracking? Even though Fracking is harmful to the environment, and if Pennsylvania taxes fracking, the gas companies might take offense and leave Pennsylvania entirely to focus on other states, Candidate B's position on Fracking makes him the most qualified candidate to support in the election. By Taxing Fracking, it will lessen the budget cuts while simultaneously be creating more jobs for people by just simply existing in Pennsylvania, and by hydro-fracking it will also be cost-efficient and will help provide an increase in natural gases and fossil fuels as a whole. Candidate B’s statements that taxing fracking could help lessen the budget cuts is completely true when you look and study the facts that support his statement. Pennsylvania Gov. Corbett has made into effect so far only impact fees for fracking instead of severance taxes. Many of his critics so far have shown reliable information that clearly shows that by not taxing the gas companies, Pennsylvania is losing millions of dollars in revenue because there has been noticeable decreases in revenue per year, while there is a rise in production value each year as well. The statistics show that from 2011 to 2013 there was an increase in revenue, but with that increase, the production costs have increased as well which is leading to Corbett’s rebuttals on criticism that his impact fee system isn’t working. (http://articles.mcall.com/2014-02-22/news/mcpa-corbett-marcellus-shale-2...
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...Environmental Ethics Essay The Problems with Fracking I. INTRODUCTION In the Real-Time Strategy Game Glest, players are required to gather resources in order to create their nations and win the game. These resources – stone, gold, and wood are very limited, and when a player consumes all of the resources in an area, he needs to relocate later in the game to survive. Glest represents the real world, as resources required for a high standard of living on Earth are limited. Oil, natural gas, minerals, metal ores, and fossil fuels are all non-renewable resources—like the resources in Glest—and are critical to society. These resources are used to power our cars, to manufacture goods, and to create electricity which is used for many other convenient...
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...Fracking is a growing contentious, political issue in the United States, but what is fracking? Hydraulic fracturing, or more commonly know by it’s infamous nickname fracking, is a process used for finding oil and natural gases. While advocates of this technique find it to be beneficial to society; however, many critics believe there are many repercussions because of this issue. Fracking has numerous causes, and if it is not solved, the effects could be drastic. Fracking starts by a well being drilled, vertically and horizontally, into the ground around one to two miles or more in order to obtain natural gases and oil (Lallanilla). Then, the well is drilled and is covered in steel or cement. After being drilled and covered, a water mixture is...
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...A new study of hundreds of thousands of hydraulic fracturing (or “fracking”) operations has found that the process has only caused earth tremors that could be felt on the surface in three cases. Hydraulic fracturing is the method by which sedimentary rock is deliberately cracked to recover oil and gas, including shale gas. The research, led by Durham University and entitled “Induced Seismicity and the Hydraulic Fracturing of Low Permeability Sedimentary Rocks” found that almost all of the resultant seismic activity was on such a small scale that only geoscientists would be able to detect it. Furthermore, it was discovered that the size and number of felt earthquakes caused by fracking is low compared to other manmade triggers such as mining, geothermal activity or reservoir water storage. But...
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...Agnes Kurthy BUS 140 – Research Paper December 2, 2013 Should the State of California Permit Fracking on a Large Scale Despite a recent decline attributed to a relatively nominal growth over the past couple of years, California continues to rank among the top 10 of the world’s largest economies. It is currently ranked as the world’s ninth largest economy, surpassing many developed nations with an annual GDP exceeding two trillion Dollars, according to a report by CNN last year.1 California’s crude oil and natural gas deposits are located in six geological basins in the Central Valley and along the coast. California has more than a dozen of the United States' largest oil fields, including the Midway-Sunset Oil Field, the second largest oil field in the contiguous United States. California is sitting on a massive amount of shale oil and could become the next oil boom state. But only if the industry can get the stuff out of the ground without upsetting the state's powerful environmental lobby. Running from Los Angeles to San Francisco, California's Monterey Shale is thought to contain more oil than North Dakota's Bakken and Texas's Eagle Ford, both scenes of an oil boom that's created thousands of jobs and boosted U.S. oil production to the highest rate in over a decade. In 2010, California produced 12% of the natural gas, 71% of the electricity, and 38.11% of the crude oil it consumes. The remaining electricity and natural gas was purchased from Canada, the Pacific Northwest...
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...countries sounds like a convenience, but hydraulic fracturing is not safe for people, wildlife or the environment. There are several steps in the fracking process. Hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as fracking, forces open fissures in subterranean rocks by introducing liquid at high pressure to extract oil or gas and there are more than 500,000 active natural gas wells in the U.S. (dangersoffracking.com). Each and every gas well requires at least 400 tanker trucks to carry water and supplies to and from each site and it takes 1-8 million gallons of water to complete just one fracturing job alone (dangersoffracking.com). After the water is brought in to the site, it is then mixed with chemicals and sand to create the fracking fluid. Nearly 40,000 gallons of chemicals are used per fracturing, some of which include lead, mercury, radium, and formaldehyde (dangersoffracking.com). After the fracking fluid is made, it is then injected into the ground at a high pressure through a pipeline. Once the fluid reaches the end of the well, the high pressure causes shale rock around it to crack then creating fissures where gas flows into the well. During this process, chemicals and methane gas make their way into the system and contaminate groundwater nearby. Methane concentrations are 17 times higher in drinking water wells near fracking sites compared to...
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