Hydraulic fracturing,or"fracking",is the process by which sand,water,and chemicals are injected into shale rocks at deep levels underground.This pressurization forces the extraction of oil and natural gas via a well located above the ground.The technology behind fracking is allowing the drilling and removal of fossil fuels that until only a few years ago were completely unavailable.
There are plenty of people attempting to put a stop to fracking in nearly every state where it takes place.But is fracking really a danger and does it pose risks to the environment?Well,let's look at the pollution and wastewater concerns that are advanced by those who are sensitive to the environment.
According to the Commonwealth Foundation of Pennsylvania,there have been no reported cases of groundwater contamination during over a million instances of fracking drilling operations.There have been,however,reports of contamination due to the disposal of wastewater which takes place during drilling operations as well as problems caused by bad well designs.Going forward,we should see improvements in wastewater recycling as well as advances in well casings.In some states where fracking is occurring on a growing scale,some drinking wells were contaminated before any fracking took place.In other cases,like within Pennsylvania,some instances of water pollution could be attributed to mine runoffs where fracking wells were originally blamed.And while fracking requires large amounts of water,irrigation for ornamental landscaping requires much more water.More and more requirements are being enacted to force gas drillers to return wastewater with fewer dissolved minerals and salts.
And then there's the hysteria element where"environmentalists"are involved.Take the Matt Damon movie titled"The Promised Land",set to release very soon.This movie attempts to attack fracking by using a tried and true Hollywood element:those who would exploit a natural resource are villains,while meek innocents who dwell in the locality of the resource in question are bestowed with mythic anti-villain goodness.Such is not the case with"The Promised Land",upon a closer look,however:the film is being financed by Abu Dhabi's state-owned oil company.Why,you ask?Because the biggest fossil fuel promise in decades-the new availability of energy within the good'ol USA due to fracking-is a direct threat to Middle Eastern oil exporters.
Fracking is providing amazing economic and job prospects,lowering utility bills,and bringing welcome revenue to towns and counties that have long needed positive economic prospects.The villains in the fracking world aren't the companies or individuals participating in fracking operations.The villains are"environmentalists"who are using false and misleading propaganda to further their own agendas.Environmentalism is big business(just ask Al Gore,who has made millions off of"being green").When a group tries to convince you that fracking is bad-check their own funding sources.
