Hydraulic fracturing is the process used to fracture shale rock deposits, allowing the extraction oil and natural gas from deep below the earth’s surface. The drilling and fracturing process produces large amounts of contaminated wastewater that is pressurized and forced back into the ground deep below the earth’s surface. Over the last several years there have been many debates over the dangers of “Fracking” and the economic impact. There are a lot of concerns from environmental groups and concerned citizens, not only with the drilling and fracturing process, but with the excessive amounts of fresh water wasted in the process and the disposal of wastewater after the drilling is complete.
Hydraulic fracturing poses many dangers to the earth and its inhabitants because the fracturing process, disposal of wastewater, the release of toxic gasses into the atmosphere, contaminated ground water, the excessive amounts of fresh water wasted, and the potential for causing earthquakes. In recent years there has been an increase in earthquakes in areas of the United States, that in previous years were rare. If society continues to allow the big oil companies to use hydraulic fracturing as a method of extracting natural gas and oil the results will be devastating to the environment. The Big Oil and energy companies would like the public to believe it is a safe and an environmentally friendly process. Exxon claims to have been conducting fracking safely for over 60 years, Exxon stated in a release to shareholders in September 2014 “ ExxonMobil – in everything it does- follows a rigorous and disciplined process to ensure safety, security, health and environmental performance.” According to a USGS survey earthquakes have increased in the past few years. From 1973 to 2008, there was an average of 21 earthquakes of magnitude three and larger in the central and eastern United States. From 2009 to 2013 the rate jumped to 99 earthquakes, and the rate continues to rise. The fact is many of the earthquakes are happening in areas where hydraulic fracturing is the main process used by oil companies to extract oil and natural gas. Is this a coincidence with or is it a direct result of the fracking process? The USGS is continually conducting studies in areas where earthquakes and high concentrations of fracking are taking place. The USGS is setting of seismic stations in these areas of increased seismic activities, this typically consist of several seismometers placed around the area. This will allow the USGS to pinpoint the locations of the earthquakes. The USGS is using computer simulations to understand the relationships between the fluid injection and earthquakes. The simulations have shown how fluid pressure underground …show more content…
Once the water is used in the fracking process it becomes hazardous waste unfit for human or animal consumption due to the toxic chemicals mix with the water, for example Hydrochloric acid, Ammonium chloride , Potassium chloride as well as many more chemicals. The waste water is removed from the wells and sent to storage areas where it will eventually be pumped back in to the ground deep below the water tables. Some companies are starting to recycle the waste water by filtering and adding fresh water to dilute the chemical …show more content…
The myth is Oil companies create jobs by drilling more wells. The reality is while oil giants claim it will create 150,000 jobs only about 25% will be directly hired per year. A gas well only requires about thirteen full time employees during the year when drill is completed at the site the jobs drop to around 0.1% for full time jobs. A study from the university of Montana titled “ The local Economic Impacts of Natural Gas developed in Valle Vidal, New Mexico found that the employment level in Colorado Raton Basin was .12 jobs per well” It only takes about a year to drill and extract the gas from a well, after that the jobs drop to a minimum. When a big company moves to a new location local entrepreneurs start small trucking companies to transport the drilling material and water to well sites. Recreational vehicle trailer parks pop up around small towns near the sites, while all this is good for businesses and those who have the ability to provide services to the workers
Hydraulic fracturing poses many dangers to the earth and its inhabitants because the fracturing process, disposal of wastewater, the release of toxic gasses into the atmosphere, contaminated ground water, the excessive amounts of fresh water wasted, and the potential for causing earthquakes. In recent years there has been an increase in earthquakes in areas of the United States, that in previous years were rare. If society continues to allow the big oil companies to use hydraulic fracturing as a method of extracting natural gas and oil the results will be devastating to the environment. The Big Oil and energy companies would like the public to believe it is a safe and an environmentally friendly process. Exxon claims to have been conducting fracking safely for over 60 years, Exxon stated in a release to shareholders in September 2014 “ ExxonMobil – in everything it does- follows a rigorous and disciplined process to ensure safety, security, health and environmental performance.” According to a USGS survey earthquakes have increased in the past few years. From 1973 to 2008, there was an average of 21 earthquakes of magnitude three and larger in the central and eastern United States. From 2009 to 2013 the rate jumped to 99 earthquakes, and the rate continues to rise. The fact is many of the earthquakes are happening in areas where hydraulic fracturing is the main process used by oil companies to extract oil and natural gas. Is this a coincidence with or is it a direct result of the fracking process? The USGS is continually conducting studies in areas where earthquakes and high concentrations of fracking are taking place. The USGS is setting of seismic stations in these areas of increased seismic activities, this typically consist of several seismometers placed around the area. This will allow the USGS to pinpoint the locations of the earthquakes. The USGS is using computer simulations to understand the relationships between the fluid injection and earthquakes. The simulations have shown how fluid pressure underground …show more content…
Once the water is used in the fracking process it becomes hazardous waste unfit for human or animal consumption due to the toxic chemicals mix with the water, for example Hydrochloric acid, Ammonium chloride , Potassium chloride as well as many more chemicals. The waste water is removed from the wells and sent to storage areas where it will eventually be pumped back in to the ground deep below the water tables. Some companies are starting to recycle the waste water by filtering and adding fresh water to dilute the chemical …show more content…
The myth is Oil companies create jobs by drilling more wells. The reality is while oil giants claim it will create 150,000 jobs only about 25% will be directly hired per year. A gas well only requires about thirteen full time employees during the year when drill is completed at the site the jobs drop to around 0.1% for full time jobs. A study from the university of Montana titled “ The local Economic Impacts of Natural Gas developed in Valle Vidal, New Mexico found that the employment level in Colorado Raton Basin was .12 jobs per well” It only takes about a year to drill and extract the gas from a well, after that the jobs drop to a minimum. When a big company moves to a new location local entrepreneurs start small trucking companies to transport the drilling material and water to well sites. Recreational vehicle trailer parks pop up around small towns near the sites, while all this is good for businesses and those who have the ability to provide services to the workers