What the frack is fracking and why it should be replaced with alternative energy
Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, is the extraction of natural gas from deep underground shale using vertical (“conventional fracking”) and horizontal (“unconventional”) drilling. According to C. Mooney (The Truth About Fracking) conventional fracking has been used since the late 1940’s; it involves drilling a vertical well into a layer of shell and pumping chemically treated water and sand at extremely high pressure to fracture the rock and extract natural gas, a non-renewable fossil fuel used as a source of energy for heating, cooking, electricity generation, and as fuel for vehicles. Natural gas, mainly methane (CH4), is thought to be a relatively clean burning …show more content…
Potential environmental impacts of ‘fracking’ in the UK.) However, recent technologies have introduced what is often referred to as “unconventional fracking”. Due to the unsustainable nature of modern fracking, hydraulic fracturing funds should be redirected towards renewable energy; this could prevent pollution of oceans and wet lands, earthquakes, the destruction of ecosystems and biodiversity, and hazards to human health and lives.
Technological advances have allowed upgrading the basic fracking technique and combining it with a newer practice called directional, or horizontal, drilling in order to turn a downward-plodding drill bit as much as 90 degrees and continue drilling within the layer, parallel to the ground surface for thousands of additional feet. Modern fracking has given access to previously unreachable layers of methane-rich shale (Brown, …show more content…
Stricter regulations will not have any effect and cannot keep it from decreasing our quality of life. From cancer, to endocrine disruption, flammable faucet water, and collapsing buildings, this technology continues to threaten our everyday life. Inhabitants of the “fracking zone” are forced to take showers with the lights turned off in order to avoid setting the contaminated water on fire; they often fear for their loved ones, as earthquakes are becoming more and more common at alarming rates. Fracking is expanding and becoming more profitable, while our environment has to pay the cost. While underground pipes are filled with chemicals kept secret from the public at extremely high pressure, we need to pressure our government to redirect energy funds toward renewable sources. Small changes, such as investing in LED bulbs, solar panels, alternative-fueled cars, or energy efficient appliances will create a demand for alternative energy, and steer our society away from fossil fuel and natural
Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, is the extraction of natural gas from deep underground shale using vertical (“conventional fracking”) and horizontal (“unconventional”) drilling. According to C. Mooney (The Truth About Fracking) conventional fracking has been used since the late 1940’s; it involves drilling a vertical well into a layer of shell and pumping chemically treated water and sand at extremely high pressure to fracture the rock and extract natural gas, a non-renewable fossil fuel used as a source of energy for heating, cooking, electricity generation, and as fuel for vehicles. Natural gas, mainly methane (CH4), is thought to be a relatively clean burning …show more content…
Potential environmental impacts of ‘fracking’ in the UK.) However, recent technologies have introduced what is often referred to as “unconventional fracking”. Due to the unsustainable nature of modern fracking, hydraulic fracturing funds should be redirected towards renewable energy; this could prevent pollution of oceans and wet lands, earthquakes, the destruction of ecosystems and biodiversity, and hazards to human health and lives.
Technological advances have allowed upgrading the basic fracking technique and combining it with a newer practice called directional, or horizontal, drilling in order to turn a downward-plodding drill bit as much as 90 degrees and continue drilling within the layer, parallel to the ground surface for thousands of additional feet. Modern fracking has given access to previously unreachable layers of methane-rich shale (Brown, …show more content…
Stricter regulations will not have any effect and cannot keep it from decreasing our quality of life. From cancer, to endocrine disruption, flammable faucet water, and collapsing buildings, this technology continues to threaten our everyday life. Inhabitants of the “fracking zone” are forced to take showers with the lights turned off in order to avoid setting the contaminated water on fire; they often fear for their loved ones, as earthquakes are becoming more and more common at alarming rates. Fracking is expanding and becoming more profitable, while our environment has to pay the cost. While underground pipes are filled with chemicals kept secret from the public at extremely high pressure, we need to pressure our government to redirect energy funds toward renewable sources. Small changes, such as investing in LED bulbs, solar panels, alternative-fueled cars, or energy efficient appliances will create a demand for alternative energy, and steer our society away from fossil fuel and natural