Hydraulic Fracturing: Effects on the Environment

Fracking has been used widely in the US, and it is believed to offer great potential for crucial new sources of gas and oil supply. Currently, “hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has been used extensively in the US and Canada since the 1950s and offers the potential for significant new sources of oil and gas supply” (Goodman et al., 2016, para. 1). Several adverse environmental effects related to the operations have aroused controversy and many debates whether it should be sanctioned or not. Thus, it is important to discuss the effects of fracking on the environment, human life, and animals.

Fracking is a mining technique used by large companies to extract natural deposits from underground. The process involves using several chemicals that tend to run into water sources and are finally released into the air. This is a serious threat to the areas neighboring the mining sites. One of the benefits of hydraulic fracturing is the ability to extract natural gas and oil from deposits for more than sixty years (Liew et al., 2020). Based on the technological trends, ultimate and expected innovations in fracking will reduce its environmental effects.

Fracking is conducted by digging deep underground, then using small explosions, and then mixing water, chemicals, and sand so that the rock formations that hold oil and natural gas are broken down. The sand displaces either the oil or gas, and this is pumped back to the wellhead at the surface and separated from the water (Liew et al., 2020). The technique is a mechanical process that makes use of fluid pressure in releasing large quantities of natural gas and petroleum from below the earth. The blasting of the fluid underneath the earth’s surface cracks down the sedimentary rocks such as sandstone, shale, and limestone.

Several gas companies use different types of chemicals, for instance, benzene, lead, citric acid, and salt. More than fifty-five chemicals used in fracking have been identified to cause cancer, and twenty of these intensify the risk of lymphoma and leukemia. Carcinogenic chemicals used in fracking include formaldehyde, naphthalene, and benzene. Several individuals residing around fracking drilling wells may have experienced exposure to the alleged chemicals. Fracking involves the extraction of oil and gas from a rock by breaking a mixture of chemicals, water, and sand into drilled wells.

Supporters of the technique claim that it is safe and there is no possible effect of drinking water since the wells are drilled deeper than the water table then they are lined with cement to combat leakages. Fracking is an important activity to the US since it decreases the state’s dependence on external energy suppliers (Goodman et al., 2016). The mixture of the water used together with chemicals and proppants is used in blasting rock or coal formation.

However, more than ninety percent of the fracking fluids may stay underground and end up harming the environment. Crystalline silica, in addition to proppants and sand used in fracking, seriously affects the environment. The harmful chemicals used in fracking are toxic to both animals and humans. Small amounts of toxic chemicals can pollute several gallons of water and affect several lives by leading to disastrous health conditions.

Chemicals used in fracking fluid play several roles that augment sand and water productivity. This includes reducing water viscosity to enhance faster pumping and stimulating high pressures, increasing natural fractures, thus reducing the growth of bacteria that may affect the metal lining (Fetter, 2017). The fluids used are majorly formed from proppants (ceramics and sand) and 98 to 99.5 % water mixed with 2 to 0.5%chemicals.

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The chemical prevents the growth of bacteria and minimizes friction besides stopping scale deposits in pipes and corrode the well lining. Several companies tend to treat the chemicals they use as confidential, thus making it difficult to know the exact concentration and types of chemicals used. The chemical additives are hazardous to the environment and contaminate sources of drinking water.

Fracking fluids discharged in water sources are the possible causes of pollution in groundwater. Numerous routes of probable harmful water contamination comprise the deterioration of well casings, the instrument’s failure, and the movement of toxic chemicals to shallow aquifers from fractures (Mahmoud et al., 2019). The discharge from the sites is also associated with animal diseases. After fracking ends, part of the pumped fluids goes back to the ground surface as flow backs which contain toxic substances such as lead, arsenic, and mercury.

Tar Sands

Tar sands are basically a dirty fuel, unlike crude oil. From an environmental view, it is evident that spills and leakages from pipelines release diluted bitumen that seriously affects the surrounding environment (Finkel, 2018). People exposed to diluted bitumen may have serious adverse health conditions. To extract bitumen from tar sand and refine it into other products like gasoline is expensive. Tar sands have got adverse impacts on the immediate environment where they are used.

The difference in the percentage of carbon dioxide emission can be attributed to the rigorous process of extraction where more energy is used in the upgrading and refinery of the products of tar sands. On average, a gallon of gasoline that is made of tar sand will emit about 15% carbon dioxide into the air than one made of conventional oil (Finkel, 2018). The problem of carbon dioxide emission is continuous since it pollutes the environment as a result of extracting tar (Parson & Ray, 2018). The projection is so because the in-situ mining is used in the extraction of bitumen lying deeper underground. In-situ mining leads to more emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than surface mining.

The extraction of tar sands causes an imbalance of water supply; for every gallon of gasoline produced from tar sands, about six gallons of freshwater is lost. The amount of water used to extract gasoline from tar sands is about three times more than what is used, while gasoline is to be extracted from conventional crude oil (Finkel, 2018). In the case of surface mining, the water used ends up in ponds and, when consumed, can be harmful to the health of marine life and other organisms. When in-situ mining is used, however, the wastewater is maintained within the wells risking contaminating water that exists underground in case of leakages.

Possible Solutions

To end the environmental concerns caused by the use of tar sands and its products, a number of measures can be put in place. Investments should be escalated to come with projects that will ensure the use of oil is considerably reduced by half. The use of dirty oil resources can be managed to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere (Parson & Ray, 2018). The leading oil and gas companies have the responsibility to ensure that the emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere is reduced considerably. The first approach to end or reduces the harmful emissions is by avoiding dirty oil resources like the tar sands and embrace the use of crude.

Conclusion

Fracking is considered the best idea for extracting oil and natural gas, although it is still being investigated to determine the necessary regulations. A permanent safe tracer is the best way to study the long-lasting effects, current impacts, and end arguments on whether the technique is safe or harmful. The leading oil and gas companies have the responsibility to ensure that the emission of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere is reduced considerably.