Hydraulic fracturing, sometimes called fracking has been an important of the development of America’s natural gas and oil resources for at least 60 years. in the U.S. approximately 35,000 wells are processed with the hydraulic fracturing method. All wells are a little bit different, and there are different lessons with each to develop the best possible practices to minimize the environmental impacts. Fracking is a controversial process, it has pros and cons. The environment plays a crucial role and can be affected in many ways, from the actual process down to where the water released into the environment can be polluted.

Fracking is simply shorthand for hydraulic fracturing, it refers to how the rock is fractured apart by the high pressure mixture. Fracking is actually the process of drilling down before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Sand, water, and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure, this allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. The process can be done vertically, but more commonly drilling horizontally to the rock layer. The process can be used to create new pathways to release gas or to extend existing channels. Most of the water used in fracking is collected from the well and processed, but concerns arise that potentially carcinogenic chemicals can sometimes leak out and find their way into drinking water sources. The industry itself denies that shale gas is unsafe (some householders claim that shale gas can cause tap water to ignite), and blames pollution incidents on bad practice instead of risky technique.

Fracking has positive and negative effects as does most energy utilizing processes. The advantages of fracking consist of U.S. Energy Production being increased, short-term jobs for a few local people, profit for mineral rights owners and a few land owners, customers can be increased for local business on a short-term basis. The disadvantages definitely out way the advantages . Some of the cons that do not affect the environment are loss of property values, greatly increased traffic and accidents, loss of county property tax revenues, risks to mortgages and property insurance, loss of viable economic base, destruction of peace in the surrounding areas. Some of the negative impacts to our environment directly relating to fracking can include: poisoned drinking water supplies, accidental spills and criminal dumping, radioactive waste, earthquakes, unregulated minimal oversight, inadequate legal protection for landowners. The most impact on the environment is disease causing chemicals (93% of identified chemicals are dangerous; 25% cancer; 37% endocrine disruptors; 52% neurotoxins. For sure a lot of conflict with the safety of our health and environment.

Hydraulic fracturing technology maintains a strong environmental track record, and is regulated by state, local, and federal regulations, however, concerns are raised due to the potential scale of operations it recognizes that steps need to be taken to ensure safe operations. Fracking requires a large amount of water, drilling companies work with local water planning agencies to ensure local water needs are not disrupted, and often they recycle water for reuse in other wells. Properly designed oil and gas wells provide shielding to present low environmental risk to our groundwater. Proper safeguards for running of engines and compressors also provide low risk to air quality. Oil and natural gas companies work with local communities to reduce noise, traffic and other environmental concerns. And last the hydraulic fracturing process only can cause very slight seismic activity, usually 10,000 to 1M times lower than a magnitude 3.0 earthquake.

Let some of this information be helpful in understanding the fracking concept better.