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Hydraulic Fracking

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Submitted By sailboatman
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Hydraulic Fracturing; Fracking 2
Abstract
What are the environmental concerns surrounding hydraulic fracture drilling (fracking) for gas? With the fast expansion of shale gas drilling operations and reduced federal regulations has placed our environment in harm’s way. If the environment is in trouble so are the health of humans and animals. Without proven scientific studies, the gas drilling boom sweeping the U.S. and the world will remain an uncontrolled health experiment of enormous scale. There is much controversy surrounding the impact of this type of drilling on air and water quality, placing gas and oil companies against individuals and groups concerned with environmental and health protection. It is time for federal regulation and tougher oversight control of this out of control drilling.

Hydraulic Fracturing; Fracking 3
What Is Fracking Hydraulic fracturing or hydrofracking better known as fracking is a method of mining for natural gas which greatly increases the efficiency of extracting shale gas from deep underground. This method has been used since the 1940’s and perfected by Floyd Farris of the Standard Oil and Gas Corporation. In the beginning the process was simple in its technique of introducing non-explosive fluids (acids) under pressure of sand and water to cause fractures in gas shale deposits. (Montgomery & B.Smith, 2010) As this method was improved and put into commercial use, gas extraction increased by 75%. When combined with newer technology called horizontal drilling, this is the ability to turn a downward-plodding drill bit as much as 90 degrees and continues to drill within the shale

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