Hydraulic fracturing is the processes of mining shale and similar types of rock formation to release oil and natural gas. Although it is used for the benefit of humans the side effects are detrimental for it contaminates the ground water around it. Marcellus Shale in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio is one of the biggest sedimentary rock formations in the eastern United Sates which is ideal for fracturing. Shale is formed from organic material and mud which usually traps in natural gas, which is then turned into electricity. In the recent years it has come to the attention of the general public that the drinking water for the people of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Ohio who live in drilling cities have been subjected to contaminated water.[1]
As shown in the figure above we see fissures. Fissures are cracks in the ground that can occur in fracking due to the high pressure of the fracking fluid being pumped into the bedrock. Which in lies the problem, if no fissures ever occurred then great we have a source of energy with low draw back. However, what the fissures do is cause a pathway for the chemicals to escape which eventually contaminates underground aquifers. What gets pumped into the pipes isn’t quite clear all that’s known is that it’s a mixture of sand, water, and other various chemicals. The sand and water are safe the unknown chemicals could be anything at all, and according to some studies done on nearby towns on the water, it’s also detrimental. The chemicals are made of a myriad of different substances some even reaching up to hundreds. [2][3]
With the increasing cases of people near fracturing sites becoming ill within the past years scientist have started to study the water reservoirs. Their goal is finding whether watersheds near fracturing sites are being contaminated. The University of Missouri conducted their own research by testing the fracturing fluid. They’ve concluded that 11 out of hundreds of chemicals have been known to cause cancer and several other illnesses. With the discovery of the dangerous chemicals more research was done within the vicinity of the fracturing sites. The main chemicals being searched for in the drinking water are methane, ethane, and propane. Water samples were taken starting from the gas well to the nearest water reservoir. The levels of methane and ethane recorded were compared to the EPA standards to deem if it was safe. As shown in Figure 3. [3]
If no measures are taken to uphold the oil companies to what they pump into the water then all we can be certain of is the inevitable death of many due to contaminated water. It’s great that through fracking we can get energy for the cheap, but when do we ask ourselves is it worth the well-being of the environment and our fellow man?
Sources:
1“Hydraulic Fracking for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracking Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources in the United States (Final Report).” EPA, Environmental Protec tion Agency, 15 Nov. 2017, cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/hfstudy/recordisplay.cfm?deid=332990.
2 Fleur, Nicholas St. “Fracking Chemicals Detected in Pennsylvania Drinking Water.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 4 May 2015, www.nytimes.com/2015/05/05/science/earth/ fracturing-chemicals-detected-in-pennsylvania-drinking-water.html.
3 Jackson, R.B. (2013) Fracking’s Potential Impact on Water Quality. Retrieved from https:// osu.pb.unizin.org/sciencebites/chapter/fracking-potential-impact-on-water-quality/
Sources for Figures (respectively):
Image by <a href=”https://pixabay.com/users/jwigley-895310/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=699657″>jwigley</a> from <a href=”https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=image&utm_content=699657″>Pixabay</a>
https://freephotos.cc/cracks#2004166