Should people be worried about fracking?
In order to answer this question, it is important that we first define what fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is. The Independent Petroleum Association of America explains that “Fracking is a proven drilling technology used for extracting oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, or water from deep underground” (Hydraulic Fracturing). To summarize how fracking begins, a well is drilled and cemented into layers of rock, then the drill drops down to shale formations where it releases a high pressure mixture (‘fracking fluid’) which creates fractures that cause a release of gas. This gas is caught by the casing of the well and can then be used for cooking, heating, fuel, etc.
Fracking, like many things, has both it’s pros and it’s cons. It is a widely controversial topic in the United States for several reasons. First, we will discuss the pros, or the advantages, of fracking. Due to fracking, natural gas prices are decreasing as there is now an abundance of them. The Brookings Institution expands on this by saying “The U.S. fracking revolution has caused natural gas prices to drop 47 percent compared to what the price would have been prior to the fracking revolution in 2013” (The Economic Benefits of Fracking). With this abundance of natural gas, the United States has become the world’s largest producer of natural gas, meaning that rather than being an importer of natural gas, the U.S. is now an exporter.
A controversial advantage of fracking is that it is a more environmentally friendly way to recover fuel (as opposed to coal). Natural gas that is obtained from fracking has surged while the need for coal has decreased (burning coal produces much more carbon dioxide than burning shale gas releases). However, this is controversial because fracking does also have a negative impact on the environment.
Now that we have discussed some of the advantages of fracking, we can discuss the disadvantages that often turn people off from fracking. The main disadvantage is the effect fracking has on the environment. It can be dangerous to the environment for a plethora of reasons. If an oil or gas well used for fracking is not build sturdily enough, a leak can form and contaminate groundwater. This water can then contaminate other water supplies with chemicals that are harmful to humans and animals. The Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College informs us that “A recent study by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) monitoring gas wells in Weld County, Colorado, estimated that 4 percent of the methane produced by these wells is escaping into the atmosphere. NOAA scientists found the Weld County gas wells to be equal to the carbon emissions of 1-3 million cars” (Potential Health and Environmental Effects of Hydrofracking). There are also many other air contaminants that are released during the procedure of fracking that are known to cause cancer, organ damage, birth defects, etc.
Fracking also causes a large increase in oil spills, especially while transporting the oil and gas obtained from fracking. Not only are oil spills incredibly harmful to animals, but they can also cause respiratory and liver damage, a decrease in immunity, an increase in cancer risk, etc.
The last disadvantage of fracking that we will be discussing regards earthquakes. Earth and Space Science News explains that “In hydraulic fracturing, a slurry of water, sand, and chemicals is pumped through the ground at high pressures, cracking open rocks to release oil and natural gas. This produces tiny earthquakes that usually can’t be detected without sensitive instrumentation. Disposing of wastewater by injecting it into the crust can also trigger quakes: As the increased fluid pressure migrates away from the well, it can reach a well-oriented fault that is close to breaking and cause it to slip. Since these deeper faults are often larger, they are capable of producing larger earthquakes” (More Earthquakes May Be the Result of Fracking Than We Thought).
To answer the question: people who want to be worried about hyaluronic fracturing should be, and people who do not want to be worried should not be. There are both clear advantages and disadvantages to fracking, however it is unclear which side outweighs the other.
https://www.ipaa.org/fracking/
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brookings-now/2015/03/23/the-economic-benefits-of-fracking/
https://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/health/case_studies/hydrofracking_w.html
https://eos.org/research-spotlights/more-earthquakes-may-be-the-result-of-fracking-than-we-thought