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Hydraulic Fracturing ( Fracking )

Hydraulic Fracturing ( Fracking ). Elizabeth Salois. What is Fracking ?. Fracking  hydraulic fracturing Process of extracting natural gas from shale rock layers from deep within the earth

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Hydraulic Fracturing ( Fracking )

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  1. Hydraulic Fracturing (Fracking) Elizabeth Salois

  2. What is Fracking? • Fracking hydraulic fracturing • Process of extracting natural gas from shale rock layers from deep within the earth • There are now two types of drilling, horizontal and traditional verticalinjects fluids into shale area • After this 1 month process, the well is closed with cement to “ensure groundwater protection”

  3. What chemicals are used in the process? • The gas companies use a number of different chemicals in order to frack(estimated at 750 kinds) including: • Methanol • Isopropyl alcohol • 2-butoxyethanol • Ethylene glycol • Benzene or lead • Etc.

  4. What are the effects of some of these chemicals? • Methanol • produced in catalytic industrial process directly from carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen • Simplest alcohol and is a flammable liquid • Can be used as antifreeze, solvent, fuel, etc. • Isopropyl alcohol • Can dissolve ethyl cellulose, oils, gums, and natural resins • Also colorless and flammable • Can be separated from water solutions by adding salts such as sodium chloride, sodium sulfate, etc. • Benzene • Natural constituent of crude oil and is a basic petrochemical (found in coal tar and petroleum) • Has a high octane number • Natural carcinogen • Small amounts are used to make: rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, explosives, and pesticides

  5. Why do companies do this? • Oil companies use hydraulic fracturing in order to: • Increase/restore fluids such as petroleum, water, natural gas from reservoirs • Enables production of natural gas and oil from rock formations below earth’s surface • Provides natural gas within US borders • Other uses • Stimulate groundwater wells • Dispose of waste by injection into deep rock formations • For heat extraction to produce electricity

  6. Places affected by fracking • Main areas: • Texas • Pennsylvania • West Virginia • Michigan • Roughly half of North Dakota • As well as a number of perspective areas like New York

  7. Should we be concerned? • Massachusetts has also become an area of question when it comes to drilling gas shales have been found around Western Massachusetts • Part of Massachusetts contains a formation known as the Harford Basin which is 34 miles long and 15 varies from 3-15 miles wide surrounds Springfield • Pioneer Valley Green-Rainbow Party has shown concern for future drilling and wants to make sure it meets regulations and is safe. • Geologists say that the Basin is not in the right state to be extracting gas from but may become so in the near future.

  8. Fracking Across the US • http://earthjustice.org/features/campaigns/fracking-across-the-united-states

  9. Hopewell Township, PA • One of the biggest victims of fracking • March 31, 2010 100-by-800 foot impoundment filled with wastewater from fracturing exploded near Hopewell • Residents smelled strong gas odors which then set nearby equipment on fire • Between Dec.5-6, 2009, a pit containing 750,000 gallons of fresh water mixed with wastewater overflowed into a small tributary • May 2009pipe with wastewater leaked about 5,000 gallons into Cross Creek Lake • August 2010EPA fined Atlas Resources $97,350 for December spill of 2009, which the company failed to report

  10. What are the environmental effects of fracking? • Stress on surface and ground water supplies from withdrawing large amounts of water • Contamination of underground sources of drinking water due to faulty well construction • Adverse impacts from discharges into surface waters from disposal into underground injection wells • Air pollution from the release of volatile organic chemicals • Possible earthquakes

  11. What are the health effects of hydraulic fracturing? • Respiratory problems • Neurological problems • Skin rashes • Digestive issues • Linked to breast cancer

  12. “Fracking Hell: The Untold Story” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEB_Wwe-uBM

  13. How do we regulate hydraulic fracturing? • Much of the regulation is mandated state-by-state • However, there are federal regulations in place: • EPA requires manufacturers and processors of the additives to disclose the chemicals they are using • If the company doesn’t disclose information about the chemicals they are using, they have to provide a reason why. • Must ensure proper disposal of waste and correct cementing and closing of the wells/drilling sites

  14. “Victims of Fracking” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKpv_LaSQVY

  15. “Gasland” • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZe1AeH0Qz8

  16. Works Cited: • http://earthjustice.org/features/campaigns/down-to-earth-the-dark-side-of-the-fracking-boom • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZe1AeH0Qz8 • http://8020vision.com/2011/04/17/congress-releases-report-on-toxic-chemicals-used-in-fracking/ • http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/27/us/27gas.html?_r=3&pagewanted=1&hpw& • http://www.policymic.com/articles/6465/fracking-exposed-shocking-new-report-links-drilling-with-breast-cancer-and-women-s-violence • http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2012/12/12/group-explores-possibility-fracking-massachusetts-federal-study-hints-limited-shale-gas-deposits/ueDJlzRbDH42pPnLcP3KMO/story.html

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