... 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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...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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...largest economy that have a good prime market, political stability, military strength, foreign investment, international trade and many more. Plus it all started in 1932 when Joseph Schumpeter an American develop the innovation concept of fracking. France, Bulgaria and Poland have the largest shale reserves in European. France was banned fracking in 2001 due to environmental awareness and Bulgarian too banned in 2012 for the same reasons. Poland also has been banned from using fracking because they are protecting their quality water supplies and currently being managed by coal for power energy. Other than that, China also have a large shale gas reserve at about 1,275 trillion cubic feet. It have not yet been develop so China lose the availability of cheap natural gas. 2. Which countries gain and which countries lose from the availability of cheap natural gas? Based on the case study Germany has gradually shutter all its nuclear power plants and increase reliance on solar and wind energy because their underground water are world famous breweries and they wanted to look after it. Other than that, in India they gained an unexpected discovery of profit by supplying guar to United State. They used it as a thickening agent for fracking process, to have a smoother managing process. Russia’s Gazprom is suspended from the delivery of natural gas because of the diplomatic policies. The...
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...renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar. Coal seam and shale reserves are widely found across Australia, particularly in Eastern Australia. Fracking, or more commonly known as Hydraulic Fracturing, is the technique used to extract coal seam and shale gases from rock as it improves the flow of gases that are difficult to access (Pearson, 2015). With the ability to use the fracking method to extract coal seam and shale gases, the mining industry considers this a viable and practical mining technique. However, there are debates on the social and environmental impacts of this mining practice. What is Fracking: Fracking is the process by which heavy machinery drills down into the hard rock layer below the earth’s surface. Fluid is then injected into the ground through a pipeline, while methane gas and chemicals are used to hold open the cracks in the rock layer (Dong, 2014). High pressure water mixture, containing sand and chemicals, is then directed at the rock, releasing the gas inside. It is a procedure that has been available for over 60 years (globally), as an alternative to the traditional unconventional gas extraction methods, but was not considered a cost effective method due to the low prices of gas. To drill a gas well, it uses up to 11-34 million litres of water to complete each job (Williams, 2015). The fracking fluid is made up of sand, water and typically 5-10 chemicals. Some of the main chemicals used are hydrochloric acid- used to dissolve minerals, glutaraldehyde-...
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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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...1, The economic arguments in favour of fracking Enter “fracking,” the process used to access the country’s massive natural gas and oil reserves and the latest energy extraction method to come under intense fire. Ironically, it’s because of fracking that the United States now has enough oil and gas to potentially meet what has been an insatiable need for energy. (1) The economic arguments concerning fracking can be derived from two aspects, national and international. Because everything related to a country’s economy is always from these two parts. National: 1, It has already driven down natural gas prices to the point where utilities are replacing dirty coal-fired power plants with cleaner natural gas-burning plans and increasingly vehicles are burning natural gas instead of dirtier gasoline. 2, As the shale gas is increasingly explored, the coal and other fuels will be replaced. It can lead to country becoming energy independent to reduce some threats. 3, Fracking is a big industry, which can give a boost to national and local economies in forms of revenue. 4, Fracking need much more people to join in to play different roles such as geologists, well drillers, office workers, truck drivers, construction workers. International: 1, This will reverse the global energy scarcity woes, rising shale gas production has increased alternative liquefied natural gas (LNG) supplies to Europe in the form of LNG displaced from the American market. (2) 2, For some country, it is...
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...It shows that the number of people using train has been increased whilst a decrease in motor vehicles usage. This shows that UK has imposed high tax rate on high usage on carbon dioxide. This may result in reducing the demand of oil and a possibility a drop on oil...
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...The plains of the Karoo are thought to have a huge volume of shale gas deposited in rock formations deep underground. The reserves are yet to be exploited. Hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" is a technique used to extract that gas. A high-pressure mixture of water, sand and chemicals is injected into rock causing cracks to form, sand particles keep the cracks open and that allows the gas to flow up to the surface for use. Local fears relating to possible impacts on ground water in particular and, I suspect, an additional element of "not in my backyard" to boot mean fracking is a contentious point in the Karoo. The arrival of fracking in the Karoo is almost inevitable and on environmental grounds, at some point, this would regrettably be the right decision unless something very dramatic happens to the way in which we humans live. In this article I'm only considering the environmental implications and leave aside economic impacts such as job creation, tax receipts and domestic access to relatively cheap fuel for electricity generation in gas-turbine power stations. I'll consider how damaging fracking would be on the Karoo landscape around Prince Albert and what alternatives could be. Will fracking damage the Karoo? Let's start with the easy question. Would fracking damage the Karoo? Yes, it would. To fully comprehend the sensitivity of the landscapes near Prince Albert I asked retired botanist Sue Milton-Dean to show me evidence of historic human impacts in the area...
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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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...Dear sir/madam, I am submitting for your consideration this thorough analysis to support your plan to use FRACKING technology in a number of oil and gas wells on a private land in Adams County, Colorado. Your approval is required so that we can move to the next step of the project’s lifecycle. PRELIMINARY ACTIONS Seismic investigation is the first step that should be taken prior to a formal analysis of business opportunities. It is vital to ensure that expected revenue will justify cost of operation and result in reasonable profits expected by our customers. Communications Plan is in the pipeline to assure stakeholders that the fracking activity will not connect to the aquifer, since the oil and gas deposits are separated from any useable aquifers by nearly 5,000’ of impermeable shale, and that the cement wall to be used is solidly sealed. There are two resources that will be produced once project reaches its operational phase - OIL and NATURAL GAS. OIL PRODUCTION To minimize transportation costs it would be appropriate to use refining capacity in other US states where production presently exists. The refineries are configured to deal with specific types of crude. Therefore, it is important to examine compatibility of the oil to be produced from this project with target refineries. For example, Commerce City Refinery located in Commerce City, Colorado is going to be our primary target due to low transportation costs of oil to the refinery, as Colorado State is a promising market...
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...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 is not an altogether new technology. It has been used sporadically since the late 1940’s, but advances in oil and gas production technology in recent decades have made it an increasingly viable option in the extraction of these two fuels. In the case of gas production, these improvements have allowed access to trillions of cubic feet of the material, and could turn the United...
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...Problems and Solutions when Fracking to Produce Natural Gas English 215 7 December 2013 Professor Jordan Problems and Solutions when Fracking to Produce Natural Gas In light of the reality of a brutal U.S. Economy and dismal employment numbers, as well as soaring gas prices, it has never been more important than now to aggressively pursue energy independence. One way to do this is to expand fracturing. While this concept is popular in some circles, be they economists or politicians, it is not popular with all, and therein lays the challenge. Where there is challenge though there is also opportunity, and where a problem is identified, a solution must be offered. Does this concept of fracturing make sense to pursue? Yes it does, and we will explore the fracking of shale as a national policy, the challenges thereof, and look at some possible solutions that our lawmakers embrace. We will begin with a brief historical overview of the fracturing of shale. Fracturing in the United States is not exactly unknown, as hydraulic fracturing began in this country 130 years ago, making us the most “fracked” country in the world. Large scale fracking began in earnest though in the 1980s, when Mitchell Energy Development Corporation used this technology on the Barnett Shale play in Texas. What is the current status of shale fracturing? The United States in the past 130 years has produced more than 839 trillion cubic feet of gas (TCFG). Shale gas production is expected to...
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...(About U. S. Steel Tubular Products, 2015) The past century has been a whipsaw for U.S. energy policy. Fifty years ago, the country was a confident exporter of petroleum. By the early 1970s, it suddenly had become dependent on oil imports and suffered at the hands of its suppliers. Ever since, U.S. energy policy had been a balancing act between reducing oil consumption, cultivating friendly oil-exporting nations, and developing substitutes for petroleum. Indeed, the last time liquefied natural gas received interest in Washington, it was as a means to import gas as a supplement for dwindling domestic supplies. (Hubbert, 2014) Hydraulic Fracturing, Shale Plays and Natural Gas What exactly is hydraulic fracturing? Commonly known as fracking, hydraulic fracturing is a forcing open of fissures in subterranean rocks by introducing water and other agents to extract natural gas and oil from a well. Shale formations represent a growing source of natural...
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...High Volume Hydraulic Fracturing: Tight Oil Kevin Conibear 10060801 Geology 377: Petroleum Engineering Dr. Rob Taerum April 11, 2014 Introduction Tight oil has reversed a decline in Western Canadian and U.S oil production. In tandem with advancements in horizontal drilling, high volume hydraulic fracturing has enabled companies to tap into billions of barrels of tight oil that were previously thought to be inaccessible. Tight oil, trapped in microscopic pores within impermeable layers of shale, is an unconventional oil reservoir. Unconventional reservoirs cannot be extracted through a traditional ‘well and pump’ procedure. Conversely, conventional oil reservoirs can be extracted through this traditional process. Conventional reservoirs are layers of rock that allow oil to flow relatively easily through a series of pores in the rock, thus are high in porosity and permeability. However, there are a diminishing number of conventional reservoirs, leading to the increased demand for the production unconventional oil – tight oil. Hydraulic fracturing is a technique that creates cracks within shale formations, allowing tight oil to flow freely for efficient and profitable extraction. This process has only recently been utilized to its great potential, and has proven to have profound economic implications. What is shale? Shale is fine-grained sedimentary rock that is often rich in in petroleum and natural gas. Sedimentary rocks are formed through an accumulation of sediment...
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...corporation, and also ranks as the second largest publicly held company across the globe, as classified by market capitalization, just behind Apple Inc. In addition to its high market capitalization, the corporation also falls within the top ten revenue-generating companies across the globe. We have chosen to scrutinize this particular industry and stock due to shared interests in the technological advancements of hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, and how this technology affects Exxon’s current market price and overall company growth. Given these new technologies within the industry, we will utilize various valuation models to assess Exxon Mobil’s financial records and share data in order to determine whether their current market price is an accurate representation of intrinsic value, and also to assess company outlook. We will use XOM as a potential investment vehicle, in hopes to ascertain a better understanding of the company and to best predict what’s in store for Exxon Mobil as well as the oil and gas industry. As mentioned before, “fracking” has been prominent. Hydraulic fracturing, which emerged around 2005, has given the United States precedence in the oil and gas industry. In 2013, the Economist stated that “America is expected to overtake Russia and Saudi Arabia to become the world’s largest producer of oil and gas combined”. Although this technology has enormously sped up gas production and output, it does have negative ramifications as well. Shale oil production has...
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