Fracking damages the environment, threatens public health, and affects communities in ways that can impose a multitude of costs. There are those who believe that fracking severely damages our environment and its inhabitance, and that this process should be banned. Hidden data suggests fracking created widespread, systemic. They discuss legal and ethical issues related to the practice and, in keeping with the intent to provide a fair and balanced overview, share the industry perspective as well. Environmental impacts of fracking related to exploration and exploitation of unconventional natural gas deposits risk assessment, recommendations for action and evaluation of relevant existing legal provisions and administrative structures. Many of the fundamental environmental statutes have. Besides strictly environmental impacts, there are social ones too. In the us, frackinga type of unconventional gas involving the extraction of oil or gas using water, sand and chemicals injected under pressure to split shale depositshas produced a shale gas revolution. This power is usually provided by diesel generators with associated air pollution issues. Fracking is a slang term that caught on as a truncation of hydraulic fracturing 1 and is a process by which natural gas reserves, deep beneath the surface of our planet are brought to the surface to be used as part of our ongoing energy needs. Environmental protection agency epa to study the relation ship between hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas and drinking water in the united states.
Environmental and economic impacts of fracking and oil extraction introduction the united nations environment program was established within the united nations system in 1972 as a voice for the environment. Apr 25, 2011 fracking s environmental footprint to transform pennsylvania landscape. We aim to help fill this knowledge gap and inform the public debate concerning fracking by providing comprehensive, longterm estimates of a set of environmental impacts of natural gas fracking in the interior marcellus shale. The application of hydraulic fracturing during exploration and exploitation of unconventional natural gas reservoirs is currently under intense public discussion. Public discourse suggests a lack of consensus in the united states regarding the environmental impacts of shale gas development. This document represents the best opinion of cna at the time of issue. Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing in the united. Fracking, a form of extraction that injects large volumes of chemicallaced water into shale, releasing pockets of oil and gas, has been on. Frackings total environmental impact is staggering. The goals of the study were to assess the po tential for activities in the hydraulic fracturing water cycle to impact the quality or quantity of.
The actual practice of hydraulic fracturing or fracking is only a small part of the overall process of drilling, completing, and producing an oil and gas well. The potential environmental impact from fracking in the. Frackings footprint soil science society of america. The usgs monitors the environmental impact of this practice across the country, from potential earthquakes to degraded groundwater quality. Bestselling author bethany mclean reveals the true story of fracking s impact on wall street, the economy and geopolitics. Stop fracking and unconventional gas fracking and unconventional gas, including coal seam gas, pose a serious threat to. In the past decade combination of horizontal drilling technologies and hydraulic.
Efforts to stop fracking are happening across canada. Frackings total environmental impact is staggering, report. Fracking directly changes the anthroposphere including the 10 aspects of fracking pads. Disputes over environmental impact of fracking obscure. The present short version of that study summarizes its results and recommendations. Greenhouse gas emissions from the production and use of shale gas would be comparable. Apr 14, 2016 fracking, a form of extraction that injects large volumes of chemicallaced water into shale, releasing pockets of oil and gas, has been on the rise in the united states for the past decade, and. Hydraulic fracturing, informally referred to as fracking, is an oil and gas well development process that typically involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals under high pressure into a bedrock formation via the well. Even though fracking has the potential to provide more oil and gas to consumers, the process has longlasting negative impacts on the environment.
A host of ancillary components released at well sites can lead to health problems such as. This page was last edited on 15 january 2020, at 14. Dec 15, 2014 techniques for minimizing environmental impacts of fracking date. J ust a decade ago, only the smallest sliver of the u. In recent years, wells built for this form of natural gas extraction have spread by the thousands through various parts of the country, an expansion many argue outpaces the science done to. Techniques for minimizing environmental impacts of fracking. Sourcewatch is a project of the center for media and democracy cmd. Epas study of hydraulic fracturing impacts on groundwater. Support to the identification of potential risks for the environment and. Download fracking america ebook pdf or read online books in pdf, epub. Fracking has dramatically increased the amount of natural gas accessible to drillers in the united states.
Recently, scientists have investigated the environmental impacts of fracking, and. In january 2012, president barack obama voiced his support for natural gas extraction. Environmental impacts of fracking related to exploration and. This report synthesizes available scientific literature and data to assess the potential for hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas to change the. Frackings environmental impacts scrutinized sciencedaily. Farmers, teachers, environmental, youth and water activists, indigenous leaders and local residents are working together to assert their right to say no to fracking. Us eia increased potential for impacts massive water use. Environmental impacts associated with hydraulic fracturing. Current knowledge and potential environmental impacts page 3 of 26 preface the extraction of shale gas on a commercial scale is an activity that is licensable by the environmental protection agency epa of ireland. That call gets recorded as a complaint as required by. Environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing umweltbundesamt. Download pdf fracking america free online new books in.
Hydraulic fracturing also called fracking, fracing, hydrofracking, fraccing, fracing, and hydrofracturing is a well stimulation technique in which rock is fractured by a pressurized liquid. Environmental issues that are specifically related to hydraulic fracturing include. Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing wikipedia. What environmental issues are associated with hydraulic. The study describes the potential environmental impacts of fracking, and the potential risks for people. This process is intended to create new fractures in the rock as well as increase the size, extent, and connectivity of existing fractures. British columbia oil and gas commission 2009, flaring, incinerating and venting. These gas reserves were previously inaccessible before the development of the fracking process. I will be looking through previous documents, data and research papers to help me gain knowledge in this field. Potential waterrelated environmental risks of hydraulic.
Fracking and unconventional extraction processes require huge amounts of water and chemicals. In pennsylvania, the power over fracking rests in the hands of the department of environmental protection dep. The need for large volumes of water over short time periods for hydraulic fracking. Hydraulic fracturing uses enormous quantities of fresh water, which gas companies take from nearby streams, ponds and rivers, or truck in if there is no immediate. Some christian ngos take a campaigning stance, opposing fracking because of the impact of fossil fuels in exacerbating global climate change 11, and noting research by the international energy. Skytruth compiles these individual pdfs and ex tracts the data as is, placing the data into a. On behalf of the german federal environment agency we have investigated the potential waterrelated environmental risks for human health and the environment that could be caused by employing.
In response to concerns over drinking water contamination, congress directed the environmental protection agency epa to conduct a study addressing the potential risks to drinking water associated with fracking. Ian urbina, recycling of fracking wastewater is no cureall, new york times, 222011 drillers are permitted to apply fracking wastewater residues to roads for deicing and dust suppression in states like pennsylvania and new york, and allowed to spray it into the air over tracks of land used for agriculture in texas. The analysis and recommendations of this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the department of environmental affairs. The process involves the highpressure injection of fracking fluid primarily water, containing sand or other proppants suspended with the aid of thickening agents into a wellbore to create. Hydraulic fracturing has received a great deal of coverage over the past few years, causing quite a stir across the nation. Today, its one of the most incendiary environmental topics going. Energy information administration forecasts that by 2035 electricity production. Reducing the environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing.
Department of environmental affairs, 2014, environmental impact assessment and management strategy for south africa draft. Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing in the united states has been an issue of public concern, and includes the contamination of ground and surface water, methane emissions, air pollution, migration of gases and hydraulic fracturing chemicals and radionuclides to the surface, the potential mishandling of solid waste, drill cuttings, increased seismicity and associated. In addition to air and water pollution, fracking also increases the potential for oil spills, which can harm the soil and surrounding vegetation. Environmental impact assessments and hydraulic fracturing. This total environmental study paradigm reveals that there are many other environmental aspects and elements that are affected by fracking, the current research of fracking s impacts on the environment is just a start, and besides the study of air and water, scientific research including but not limited to soil erosion and weathering, land. The environmental aspect of hydraulic fracturing is very controversial because there are two very strong opposing sides. Although the united states has been stimulating well production with hydraulic fracturing fracking 1 since the 1940s, highvolume hydraulic fracturing hvhf combined with horizontal drilling is a relatively recent 2, 3 development with potential to adversely impact human health, environment, and water resources, with uncertainty about impacts and gaps in the data on hvhf. The technology of hydraulic fracturing was first demonstrated in the 1950s and has subsequently been used to enhance the permeability of a range of geological resources, including potable water, geothermal heat, and conventional onshore and offshore hydrocarbon resources. Evaluating the environmental impacts of fracking in new zealand. Although the united states has been stimulating well production with hydraulic fracturing fracking 1 since the 1940s, highvolume hydraulic fracturing hvhf combined with horizontal drilling is a relatively recent 2, 3 development with potential to adversely impact human health, environment, and water resources, with uncertainty about impacts and. Technique to assess the environmental aspects and potential impacts. Drinking water contamination fracking brings with it the potential for spills, blowouts and well failures that contaminate groundwater supplies. We examine the waterrelated environmental impacts and the risks for hu man health and. Further, the pumps require a great deal of power to operate.
This play, which covers parts of pennsylvania, new york, west. What are the effects of fracking on the environment. The primary environmental impacts associated with hydraulic fracturing fracking result from the use of toxic chemicals during the fracking process and the subsequent release of additional toxic chemicals and radioactive materials during well production. Content is available under creative commons attributionnoncommercialsharealike. By understanding the fracking procedure and what impacts fracking has on the environment, we can then make better decisions to a greener future. Indeed, after natural gas imports peaked in 2007, the country has seen a boom in domestic production and in construction of natural gas power plants. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a method of gas extraction that involves injecting a brew of toxic, heavy metal lubricants, chemicals and sand deep underground to fracture rock formations that release oil and gas. May 08, 2019 in addition to fracking s global impact, there are harmful effects to those living near extraction sites. But the field lay dormant for years until a series of quakes caused by deep disposal of fracking wastewater in ohio and arkansas helped prompt a revival.
It is important to note that not all of these potential impacts occur at every site and many. The environmental impact of fracking, the drilling technology largely responsible for americas boom in oil and gas production, are hotly contested. Paul fredriksons awardwinning look at the environmental impact of fracking category. Disputes over environmental impact of fracking obscure its. When residents observe a problem, they call the department to report it. Stop fracking and unconventional gas greens policy. Hydraulic fracturing uses enormous quantities of fresh water, which gas companies take from nearby streams, ponds and rivers, or truck in if there is no immediate water source.
May 02, 2016 hydraulic fracturing has received a great deal of coverage over the past few years, causing quite a stir across the nation. Pdf hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, involves the extraction of. Research has determined that human health is affected. Both sides of the argument continue, with proponents arguing for the positive attributes of fracking and critics claiming that the dangers of fracking outweigh the benefits. Analyzing the environmental impacts will give us the needed information and knowledge to help reduce the environmental harm associated with fracking. The contributors also look at the economics of fracking and at its socioeconomic impact on local communities and nations. Environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing in the united states has been an issue of public concern, and includes the contamination of ground and surface water, methane emissions, air pollution, migration of gases and hydraulic fracturing chemicals and radionuclides to the surface, the potential mishandling of solid waste, drill cuttings, increased seismicity and associated effects on human. Newly available shale gas has reduced the cost of electricity and heating and replaced coal, but public fears about the environment threaten to curtail those gains. Scientists have known for decades, for example, that deep, highpressure fluid injection can trigger earthquakes. Fracking is the high pressure injection of millions of litres of chemically treated water deep underground, to force the release of gas. Pdf potential environmental impacts of fracking in the uk. Assessment of the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing. Frackings environmental footprint to transform pennsylvania landscape.
Environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing related to exploration. Frackings environmental footprint to transform pennsylvania. Potential environmental impacts of fracking in the uk article pdf available in geography sheffield, england 1012. Techniques for minimizing environmental impacts of fracking date. The need for large volumes of water over short time periods for hydraulic fracking can cause stress at the coldest, driest, and. The technology of fracking in shale rock particularly in the permian basin in texas has transformed america into the worlds top producer of both oil and natural gas.
Centering on the fracking, a total environmental study paradigm is developed, and a total of 26 fields across anthroposphere, atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere are impacted by and associated with fracking. Washington, dc august 4, 2011 a large coalition of public health, environmental, and good government groups filed a petition pdf today demanding that full health and safety information be made available for all of the chemicals used in oil and gas development, including the controversial process known as hydraulic fracturing, or. A total environmental study paradigm qingmin meng department of geosciences, mississippi state university, ms 39762, usa highlights the environmental impacts of fracking are much broader and deeper than current studies observe. Environmental impacts of fracking related to exploration.
Water and air pollution are the biggest risks to human health from hydraulic fracturing. K, 2006, environmental aspects of producedwater salt releases in onshore and estuarine petroleumproducing areas of the united states a bibliography. The environmental impact of hydraulic fracturing is related to land use and water consumption, air emissions, including methane emissions, brine and fracturing fluid leakage, water contamination, noise pollution, and health. Environmental protection agency epa to study the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water. Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is the process of injecting water, sand, andor chemicals into a well to break up underground bedrock to free up oil or gas reserves. Apr 08, 20 the environmental impact of fracking, the drilling technology largely responsible for americas boom in oil and gas production, are hotly contested. The recommendations do not necessarily carry the full support of all the sectors represented. How fracturing shale for gas affects us and our world finkel ph. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. The environmental and social impacts of natural gas fracking. The public has much concern due to all the hazardous effects from fracking, such as water pollution and. Quantifying the state and national impacts of fracking. Fracking s rapid development 2000 there were 26,000 fracked wells, 7% of the u.
407 35 1638 385 872 784 732 62 1065 988 240 561 1390 289 966 560 1175 1193 962 80 688 1026 1233 768 612 671 1669 234 405 315 199 1453 825 522 634 1301