Fracking

What is Fracking?

Hydraulic Fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking, is a method of extracting natural gas and crude oil from sedimentary rock stratum deep within the earth. The accumulation of these products is trapped by the nature of sedimentary rock, creating underground reservoirs of these fossil fuels. By injecting large quantities of water, sand, and various chemicals under pressure, the trapped gas and oil can be made to flow to the surface of the earth.

The process of fracking is pretty straight forward. The process begins with boring holes into the sedimentary rock. Next, large pipes with perforations, called casings, are inserted into the length of the bore. Once this step is completed, a slurry of water, sand, and various chemicals are forced into the casings using high pressure, high volume fracking pumps. This process opens existing fractures in the sedimentary rock as well as creating new fractures. With the natural barrier of the rock stratum being compromised, the gas and oil can then be collected.

Materials Used in Fracking

The slurry used in the fracking process consists mostly of water, with additional chemical additives and proppants. Proppants are small, solid particles that fill the fractures created by the process, preventing them from closing again once the pressure used to open them subsides. The most common proppant is high grade silica sand. The exact nature of the chemicals used in the process are not necessarily known to the general public. This is because regulations on fracking allow a company to declare certain details of their process to be “Confidential Business Information” (CBI), and as thus are confidential trade secrets. (Online Article, Fracking 101, Paragraph What Is in Fracking Fluid?; NRDC.org). Studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) suggest that more than ten percent of chemicals used in the fracking process are undisclosed in this manner. 

What is known of the slurry cocktail used in fracking is a bit concerning already. Acid, biocides, gelling agents, and corrosion inhibitors for the piping are used. Because each operation uses their own proprietary method of fracking, there are well over a thousand different chemicals of these types in use according to the EPA. Many of these chemicals are considered hazardous to human health. (Online Article

Fracking Waste Materials

Some portion of the fracking fluid used in the fracking process is pumped back to the surface, with the remainder taking the place of the displaced oil and gas. The chemicals used in the process are already known to be harmful to humans, so the reclaimed water is held in holding ponds or storage tanks until a later time. Eventually, most of this water is pumped back into the earth into underwater wells created for this purpose. 

Economic Positives of Fracking

In the short term, fracking can be a huge economic boon to a community. First, there is a huge amount of infrastructure that has to be built. This translates to jobs. Surges in retail and service related industries are notable as industry qualified workers migrate to the region. This boon to a local economy has indirect effects as well. House prices tend to increase as well. The boons to a local economy cannot be measured without considering other factors, however. Fracking communities incur costs as well. In general, the quality of life tends to decline. One must consider the cost of changes in local amenities caused by fracking, Variables like increased crime, traffic and noise must be considered. Gains attributed to fracking can be greatly reduced, in some cases leaving communities with no net gain at all. 

When one looks at the long term economic impact fracking can have on a community, The numbers suddenly do not look so appealing. First, one must consider the cost of long term issues caused by this industry. Private and public aquifers alike are oftentimes affected by contamination. As a result, one must consider the cost of long term health care requirements. As was stated before, many chemicals known to be harmful to the environment in general and humans in particular are used during fracking. Additionally, once the infrastructure required for a new fracking facility is in place, some portion of the workforce will relocate to new opportunities elsewhere, leaving local businesses with a sudden lack of patronage. Just as stated before, this affects other markets, such as housing, as well. Because the majority of fracking profits go to large corporations, there is no guarantee of long term economic sustainability for a community.

Environmental Concerns Relating to Fracking

Before discussing environmental issues specific to fracking, let us first consider environmental concerns associated with fossil fuels in general. Any process that attempts to capture methane gas will cause an increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Additionally, building the infrastructure required to support such industry can have an impact on local wildlife habitat. Moving from the general to the specific, there are several key areas of concern for the environment.

First, fracking uses a tremendous amount of water. Many communities cannot support the demand, so the water needs to be imported from other regions. In the cases where the local region can supply the water required, taxing local sources can have a measurable impact on local habitat.

Second, there is always a risk of chemical spills. No industry can maintain a perfect safety record indefinitely. Many of the chemicals used in the fracking process are quite harmful, and can be very difficult to clean up once they are released into the environment. 

Next, there is the matter of the high quality sand demanded by this industrial process. The sand must be mined where adequate supplies can be found, then shipped to the fracking site. Mining is already an industry with well defined environmental concerns. The cost of transporting the sand, typically by diesel burning tractor-trailers, contributes to the ever growing pollution caused by burning hydrocarbons. 

Another environmental concern, and perhaps the greatest, is related to the hydraulic fracturing process itself. Fracturing the sedimentary stratum in a region can have undesirable results. Contaminated fracking fluid can leach into new subterranean fields and rivers, destroying local aquifers in the process. Additionally, the waste water held at the surface in holding ponds are susceptible to leakage. Local streams and lakes can suffer greatly as a result. 

Finally, the injection of waste water into deep disposal wells has been shown to increase seismic activating in some regions. This activating can have serious consequences on local habitat. Land mass can suddenly change, causing rivers flows to change. Likewise, lakes and ponds can change size and shape. 

Conclusions

Do I support hydraulic fracking? The answer is a resounding no. First, I do not like any industry that operates without any concern for the environment. We hear about sound practices from many industries, but all too often those practices are more to justify making a claim of environmental consciousness than anything.  Next, consider the amount of investment in the requisite infrastructure to bring fracking to a new region. One can plainly see how the same investment could be made in renewable energy facilities. The technology required to fix the environment exists already. Our dependence on fossil fuels needs to be phased out. Fracking is a growing industry practice, which is a move in the wrong direction. I believe the motivation shown by Big Oil to embrace this unnecessary form of gas and oil production illustrates the utter lack of concern they hold for the environment.

One final thought. I believe environmental law needs to be changed with regard to “Confidential Business Information”. By allowing corporations to keep certain dangerous chemicals undisclosed to the public, accountability is circumvented. No individual or person has a right to pollute the environment. If I were to dump an old can of pain in the forest, I would fully expect to be fined for the infraction, and for necessary remediation. Big Oil and Gas are a group of For Profit organizations. In no way, shape or form should these corporations be allowed to destroy the environment. As a private citizen, I must pay for the gas I put into my vehicle, I must pay for the gas that warms my home, and pay for the electricity that powers my lights. As things stand, I also must pay for the cancer or other degradations to my health caused by these corporations. The system is unfair, unjust, and immoral.     

Fracking 101. Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://www.nrdc.org/stories/fracking-101

What environmental issues are associated with hydraulic fracturing? (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-environmental-issues-are-associated-hydraulic-fracturing

Weighing the impacts of fracking. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13, 2021, from https://www.aeaweb.org/research/fracking-shale-local-impact-net