Benefits Of Hydraulic Fracturing Outweigh Risks - 2041 Words

Benefits of Hydraulic Fracturing Outweigh Risks Hydraulic fracturing, or more commonly known as ‘fracking’ is a technique designed by engineers to open fissures deep within shale to extract oil and natural gas. The practice involves using large amounts of high-pressured water along with proppants, usually sand, and a small amount of a chemical solution. The diagram below pictures the process of hydraulic fracturing. In the last few years, hydraulic fracturing has become a popular topic of debate centering on whether the increase in amount of fossil fuels is worth the cost of possible environmental damage. Fracking is not simply a way of providing more fossil fuels, but should also be seen as a viable solution to the nation’s foreign oil†¦show more content†¦Although there has been a rise in the unemployment rate, many Americans still struggle with finding a job. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Data, the unemployment rate in 2013 was still at 7 .3 percent. That translates to 3.2 million unemployed workers. â€Å"How Fracking Has Helped the U.S. Economy† clarifies the potential for employment with the rise of the fracking industry. â€Å"A statement from the White House Council of Economic Advisors last year summed it up nicely: ‘Every barrel of oil or cubic foot of gas that we produce at home instead of importing abroad means more jobs, faster growth, and a lower trade deficit.’† Rather than exporting business outside the nation’s borders, hydraulic fracturing in the United States has supplied an ample opportunity for the American public. In â€Å"Fracking, the Environment, and Health†, an article found in the American Journal of Nursing, authors Dr. McDermott-Levy, Dr. Sattler, and Ms. Kaktins reported â€Å"Fracking operations have grown exponentially since the mid-1900s, when technologic advances and increases in price of natural gas made this technique economically viable. Fracking is currently taking place inShow MoreRelatedTypes Of Wells Can Be Used For Drill Holes Deep Into The Earth1566 Words   |  7 Pagesposition. In the United States, there are three types of oil and gas wells; horizontal, directional, and vertical. All three types of wells can be fracked. Horizontal drilling is normally used to drill holes deep into the earth, for the hydraulic fracturing process. Fracturing or â€Å"fracking† uses a high pressure water mixture that is injected deep into the ground through pipes to create fractures that release the oil and natural gas from the shale deposits. The gases are directed into wells that have beenRead MoreHydraulic Fracturing And Its Effects1500 Words   |  6 Pageswould only happen in a country that was not very developed. However, situations like this one are plausible in America, partially due to hydraulic fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing is a process which began in the late 1940’s as an experiment and has since expanded into a global method to efficiently extract natural gases. It has led to various economic benefits, including job creation and has lessened the economic dependence of the United States on foreign countries for oil consumption. Despite thisRead MoreAlternative Energy Sources1852 Words   |  7 Pageswhether the pros outweigh the cons. This energy source is natural gas. The main reason for the heavy debate of natural gas is not because of the energy source, but rather the mining process of the energy source through the process of hydraulic fracturing. In this report the following topics will be discussed to get a better understanding of natural gas and the hydraulic fracturing process. An overview of natural gas will be discussed. A detail description of the hydraulic fracturing process will beRead MoreFracking : Fracking And Fracking1524 Words   |  7 Pages Hydraulic Fracturing Research Paper Hydraulic Fracturing (also commonly known as fracking) is a process used to extract natural gasses deep within the earth. This is done by drilling vertically into the ground until the desired depth; then drilling horizontally; and pumping millions of gallons of water, sand, and other chemicals into the drill at a high pressure to create fissures through which the gas can escape. Currently, hydraulic fracturing is extensively used in the United States in orderRead MoreFracking And The Environment : Fracking983 Words   |  4 PagesTayler Hedgecock Dr. Allen Composition 2 MWF 11 AM Fracking and the Environment Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is not an environmentally sound method of acquiring cleaner, cheaper energy. Fracking is a practice that is being used in order to collect natural gas from deep within the earth’s layers of shale rock. Fracking is the process in which water, sand, and chemicals are forced with immense pressure, approximately ten to fifteen thousand pounds per square inch, into the shale rockRead MoreThe Effects Of Hydraulic Fracturing On The United States1518 Words   |  7 Pagesissues on the political standpoint of the situation. This is where hydraulic fracturing comes in to play. Hydraulic Fracturing is a horizontal drilling process by the energy industry that has presented the means to solve both problems. This technology has provided the U.S. access to 100 years’ worth of energy. Natural gas has been located within the country’s borders and thousands of feet below the surface. Hydraulic Fracturing, also known as â€Å"fracking†, is used to access or enlarge productivityRead MoreIs Hydraulic Fracturing Environmentally Safe?1414 Words   |  6 PagesIs Hydraulic Fracturing Environmentally Safe? The United States has become one of the largest producers of natural gas and most of the production is from shale plays. Solar, wind, biomass waste and geothermal and hydroelectric energy have long been recognized as renewable and sustainable energy resources; however, they only comprise 9% of our energy consumption; this is in comparison to the growing production of natural gas which accounts for 40% of industrial and 74% of residential energy consumptionRead MoreFracking : Too Many Fracking Problems1631 Words   |  7 Pagesout of fossil fuels. But it may end because burning these wonderful fuels puts the planet farther down a path we don t want to head down†. Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a petroleum mining method to reach remote gas under water that is located in the crust of the earth. Fracking uses a blend of water, sand, and chemicals. Hydraulic Fracturing, â€Å"has contributed to a resurgence of oil production in the USA and a dramatic increase in natural g as production† (Hassett). It is speculated to growRead MoreHydraulic Fracturing: The Future of America’s Energy Essay1285 Words   |  6 PagesHydraulic Fracturing, also known as fracking, is not a novel concept. The hope of being able to access fossil fuels trapped inside layers of shale deep beneath the Earth’s surface was achieved by the process of fracking, developed in 1903 (energyindepth.com). Over the last century, hydraulic fracturing has become an efficient and environmentally friendly way to access the natural gas needed to meet the United States’ high demands. With the condition of the environment rapidly deteriorating, theRead MoreA Brief Note On Environmental Injustice And Fracking1341 Words   |  6 Pagesdetermine whether or not hydraulic fracturing should be pursued in the state’s shale beds, a topic that causes much polarized debate. Hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as â€Å"fracking,† uses water, sand, and chemical s to release natural gas from as far as 10,000 feet below the Earth’s surface. Supporters of fracking claim that natural gas is an ideal â€Å"bridge fuel† as the energy industry moves from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and argue that the practice benefits the environment and the