The Pros And Cons Of Hydraulic Fracking

The United states has one of the largest demand for energy in all forms. One common way to get the energy we need is through hydraulic fracking, but it has become more controversial as we know more about it. This paper will discuss what Hydraulic fracking is, what has been the recent controversy around it, and finally what effects the injection of wastewater has on the ground water and seismic geology of the region. Generally speaking, hydraulic fracking is the process of drilling a hole and pumping water mixed with various chemicals and sand to fracture the rock, releasing the oil and natural gas for it to be brought back up to the surface. After they drill the initial hole for the well, they inject a series of cocktails with various purposes to ready the well for full functionality. First they inject acids in order to clear cement debris, clear a path for the frac fluids, and open fractures near the well bores. Next, they conduct the padding stage where they inject …show more content…
Finally, the flushing stage consists of a large volume of fresh water being injected to flush out excess proppant from the wellbore. The fluid that comes out from flushing the wellbore is called “flowback” or “produced water” and usually contains many of the injected chemicals …show more content…
To date, the largest induced earthquake that Oklahoma has experiences was a 5.8 magnitude quake near Pawnee Oklahoma. This quake along with others sparked anger with the public and further study to assess the situation. Shortly after, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, which oversees oil and gas extraction in the state, has asked companies such as SandRidge Energy to stop and reduce injecting wastewater in some areas. They refused, saying that there wasn’t enough evidence and it would hurt their profit, and the case ended up going to