Hydraulic fracturing

Part I: Short Answer Question 1a: • What are the implications of natural gas extraction for groundwater supply? • What are the effects of extraction on air quality? • What are the potential consequences of chemicals used during extraction on human and livestock health? • What are the repercussions of long-term exposure to chemicals on crops and soil? • What are the economic implications of extraction in regard to agriculture and tourism? Question 1b: Rachel Carson’s widespread cautionary tale…

In many people’s minds, the term “Fracking” only applies to the controversial extraction process and the environmental impact surrounding that process. Hydraulic Fracturing or “Fracking” for short is a process where chemicals and water are injected into wells to breakup rock formations that have gas or oil trapped in the rock itself. This process is specifically used for developing and extracting oil and natural gas from shale. While most people have heard the term “Fracking”, very few…

For centuries, the manufacturing industry has depended on fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, as a main source of energy to drive economic development and power everything from homes to cars. Despite the positive influences of fossil fuels, society is beginning to solely depend on them as an energy source and as a result, irrevocable damage is being done on the environment in forms of pollution, carbon dioxide emissions, climate change, acid rain, and oil spills. Because of this, humans are…

As a writer, filmmaker, creative director, and communications consultant, I believe in the power of great stories to inform, educate, excite, entertain, and to open minds. I advise institutions, corporations, and individuals on communications strategy while providing the tactical tools – web content, media relations, video scripts, speeches, live events – to reach both targeted and mass audiences. At all times my work requires close collaboration, attention to process, proactive project…

In 1987, Baker International and Hughes Tool Company merged and Baker Hughes Incorporated was conceived. Baker Hughes Incorporated is one of the world's largest oilfield services companies. Operations of Baker Hughes are carried out in over 90 countries all over the world having its main headquarters in the America Tower in Houston. Services provided by Baker Hughes are for drilling, completion, reservoir consulting, formation evaluation, production and unconventional solutions. Baker Hughes's…

One of the biggest controversial topics in the media today is global warming. Whether it is politicians claiming it is a hoax or a new “scientific article” on why global warming is a natural process the earth goes through every couple hundred thousand years. On the other side of the scale, there are groups demanding that the government help regulate air pollution from natural gas and CO2 emissions caused from burning oil. These people just get pushed aside most times and ignored. Or they do not…

Coal and Coal Seam Production and Use in Australia. Coal and coal seam gas (CSG) are both naturally occurring resources. They are both extracted from the ground by mining. Coal is burned to produce electricity in huge power plants. CSG can be cooled to produce liquefied natural gas, or the methane gas can used to power electricity generators. The mining of coal in order to produce electricity has advantages and disadvantages, which divide the opinions of society. The same can be said for the…

Summer of 2014, my life was changing quite a bit. As I come back from my first year at school in U.S. and more than prepared to live away from home, I pack my bags and go to São Paulo. Although it is very close to my hometown, Santos, it was still a great change: new swim club, new city, new friends. São Paulo it is much known to be a complete chaos: anywhere with 12 million habitants has to be at least somehow different. With too many people comes too many problems: air and river pollution,…

Introduction To truly understand the mining industry, one must look at its roots; from ancient times, gold, silver, copper, coal, and other valuable items have been mined. Described as pioneers and often a subset of culture, miners developed a distinctive ethos, which defined them and was passed down from generation to generation. This principle of miner brotherhood dictated acceptable practices including: the labor-intensive day-to-day functions, the risks associated with carving into nature,…

The making and absorption of carbon dioxide by the environment happen naturally on earth. However, the recent extremely high levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere can be blamed on human activity (EPA 9). In the UK alone, they produced 655 million tons of carbon dioxide in 2005 (Gill, Smith, and Wilkinson 3). This fact is especially staggering when you realize that because it is gas, it takes a lot more of it to make a ton than something like wood or iron would. The countries of the world…