Hydraulic Fracking
Ella
January 2nd , 2014
Hydraulic Fracking in the United States Petroleum, natural gas, oil…do we really need them? These products power so many things today that humankind “depends” on. Machines in factories, automobiles, and an abundance of other electronics are fueled by the result of hydraulic fracking. Hydraulic fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is used among companies that drill underground for oil and natural gas. The drillers inject millions of gallons of water, sand, salts and chemicals—some being very toxic to humans—into rock formations at extremely high pressure. This fractures the rock and extracts the fuel from underground, giving the companies what they need without harming themselves in any way. Hydraulic fracking is undoubtedly one of the most controversial topics that environmentalists discuss. Researchers are uncovering what companies have hidden, just how dangerous is this process? Three factors that are being looked into are: how does this oil extracting technique affect people around the drills, what are the positives and the negatives of the fracking, and what is being done by people and companies to stop hydraulic fracking or make is safer. The fracking process is used to speed up and increase the drilling of natural gas. These drills are located all over the United States as well as in many other developed countries. Many companies refuse to report what chemicals are used and produced by hydraulic fracking. Some of the common ones used are nitrilotriacetic acid, hydrofluoric acid, benzene, and sulfuric acid. Each of these toxic chemicals when breathed or even ingested through contaminated groundwater sources near the drills can cause irreversible damage on the humans and animals in the area. Because the fracking goes on underground, there is always the risk that the chemical waste pollutes the groundwater. There was a court case recently in Pennsylvania where the drills poisoned and ruined water wells in the city of Allentown. The
January 2nd , 2014
Hydraulic Fracking in the United States Petroleum, natural gas, oil…do we really need them? These products power so many things today that humankind “depends” on. Machines in factories, automobiles, and an abundance of other electronics are fueled by the result of hydraulic fracking. Hydraulic fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is used among companies that drill underground for oil and natural gas. The drillers inject millions of gallons of water, sand, salts and chemicals—some being very toxic to humans—into rock formations at extremely high pressure. This fractures the rock and extracts the fuel from underground, giving the companies what they need without harming themselves in any way. Hydraulic fracking is undoubtedly one of the most controversial topics that environmentalists discuss. Researchers are uncovering what companies have hidden, just how dangerous is this process? Three factors that are being looked into are: how does this oil extracting technique affect people around the drills, what are the positives and the negatives of the fracking, and what is being done by people and companies to stop hydraulic fracking or make is safer. The fracking process is used to speed up and increase the drilling of natural gas. These drills are located all over the United States as well as in many other developed countries. Many companies refuse to report what chemicals are used and produced by hydraulic fracking. Some of the common ones used are nitrilotriacetic acid, hydrofluoric acid, benzene, and sulfuric acid. Each of these toxic chemicals when breathed or even ingested through contaminated groundwater sources near the drills can cause irreversible damage on the humans and animals in the area. Because the fracking goes on underground, there is always the risk that the chemical waste pollutes the groundwater. There was a court case recently in Pennsylvania where the drills poisoned and ruined water wells in the city of Allentown. The