Leong 1 Nathan Leong Mr. Hoague AP Lit and Comp, Period 1 1 March 2016 Don’t Frac !ith m" Future For #ome, #ome, it i# a dream come come true. For other#, other#, it i# an an en$ironmenta% en$ironmenta% nightma nightmare. re. &ince the di#co$er" o' the ne! dri%%ing techni(ue, h"drau%ic 'racturing or 'racing, it i# po##i)%e to e*tract natura% ga# 'rom pre$iou#%" unreacha)%e #ha%e depo#it# more than a mi%e underground. +hi# ha# %ed to a modern da" go%d ru#h a%% o$er the nited &tate# a# ga# companie# ru#h to tap into #ome o' the %arge#t #ha%e depo#it# in the !or%d. A# a re#u%t o' 'racing, mi%%ion# o' -o)# ha$e )een created and ga# price# ha$e )een at record %o!#. Ho!e$er, man" peop%e p eop%e 'ee% that 'racing #hou%d )e )anned )ecau#e o' it# potentia% 'or en$ironmenta% de#truction de#truction and di#a#ter. di#a#ter. +he u#e o' h"drau%ic 'racturing a# a dri%%ing techni(ue mu#t )e )anned )ecau#e o' the danger# it po#e# to the en$ironment en$ironment.. t i# a dangerou# dangerou# and unregu%ated unregu%ated dri%%ing dri%%ing techni(ue !ith potentia%%" potentia%%" di#a#trou di#a#trou## en$ironmenta% con#e(uence# that are detrimenta% to the o$era%% hea%th o' man" American# and the earth. +he princip%e idea# o' 'racing ha$e not changed #ince 1/6 !hen Lieutenant Co%one% d!ard A. o)ert# patented the idea o' an 3e*p%oding torpedo.4 t !a# an iron #he%% paced !ith gunpo!der and tipped !ith a )%a#ting cap that !ou%d e*p%ode at a de#ignated depth and 'racture the roc 'ormation# around the )a#e o' the !e%% to #timu%ate the re%ea#e o' oi% or ga# trapped !ithin #ha%e 'ormation#. Hi# in#piration can during the )%ood" )att%e o' Frederic#)urg, Frederic#)urg, 5irginia 5irginia in 1/62, 1/62, !hen !hen Lieuten Lieutenant ant Co%one Co%one%% o)ert# o)ert# #a! the re#u%t re#u%t## o' Con'ed Con'edera erate te arti%% arti%%er" er" #he%% #he%%## p%unging into the narro! cana% that o)#tructed the )att%e'ie%d 3Fracing7 A Loo 8ac49. Hi#
Leong 2 ne! techni(ue !a# introduced in +itu#$i%%e, Penn#"%$ania, and (uic%" #pread throughout a%% o' the nited &tate# during the 1/00# and 1:00#. +hen, on March 1;, 1:<:, a team o' Ha%%i)urton and &tano%ind petro%eum production e*pert# at a !e%% 12 mi%e# a!a" 'rom Duncan, =%ahoma per'ormed the 'ir#t commercia% app%ication o' h"drau%ic 'racturing 3&hooter# > A 3Fracing4 Hi#tor"49. +hi# ne! techni(ue o' 'racturing a !e%% to increa#e ga# output )ecame a common practice among ga# companie#. A%though 'racing ha# re$o%utioni?ed the oi% indu#tr" and he%ped increa#e oi% production in the nited &tate#, it mu#t )e )anned )e'ore irrepara)%e damage i# done to the earth. A%though the h"drau%ic 'racturing proce## i# much #a'er than u#ing e*p%o#i$e#, it re(uire# a #u)#tantia% amount o' !ater. According to the .&. n$ironmenta% Protection Agenc" PA9, 3'racturing operation# in a #ing%e !e%% can re(uire three to #e$en mi%%ion ga%%on# o' !ater, @0 percent o' !hich i# unreco$era)%e 'rom the !e%%... and that 'racing the @,000 acti$e !e%%# in the nited &tate# in 2010 u#ed ;0 to 1<0 )i%%ion ga%%on# o' !ater, an amount rough%" e(ui$a%ent to that u#ed )" a cit" !ith a popu%ation o' @ mi%%ion4 H"der9. +he amount o' !ater needed to 'racture a #ing%e !e%% i# a)#urd and on%" ;0 percent o' that !ater i# reco$era)%e. n addition, appro*imate%" 2 mi%%ion ga%%on# o' !ater that are %e't in the ground are 'u%% o' carcinogenic and radioacti$e chemica%#. Current%", there i# no !a" to comp%ete%" drain the re#t o' the !ater or in#ure that the underground a(ui'er# that man" peop%e re%" on 'or !ater !i%% not )e contaminated. A%#o, there i# the pro)%em o' 'iguring out ho! to di#po#e o' or #tore the !a#te!ater. Mi%%ion# o' ga%%on# o' !ater come )ac to the #ur'ace during and a'ter the 'racturing proce## and the !ater can )e treated, )ut 3in +e*a# it i# mo#t o'ten rein-ected into the ground. Mi%%ion# more ga%%on# o' produced’ !ater '%o! out %ater during ga# production. +hi# '%o!, too, i# o'ten tainted !ith radioacti$it" and poi#on# 'rom the #ha%e. ='ten #tored in pit#, that !a#te can %ea or o$er'%o!
Leong @ !hi%e a!aiting rein-ection4 C%a"ton9. +he !a#te!ater that i# u#ed in a !e%% i# unu#a)%e )ecau#e o' the high to*icit" o' the !ater, !hich i# detrimenta% to the en$ironment and to American# that %i$e near 'racing #ite#. +he need 'or a #u)#tantia% amount o' !ater 'or 'racing put# tremendou# #train on communitie# that are %ocated in the droughtB#tricen part# o' the nited &tate#. 8ecau#e 'racing re(uire# #o much !ater, #ma%%er communitie# !ith %imited !ater in'ra#tructure# are )eing hit hard. n +e*a#, a num)er o' #ma%% communitie# in +e*a# oi% and ga# countr" ha$e a%read" run out o' !ater or are in danger o' running out o' !ater in da"#, pu#hed to the )rin )" a com)ination o' drought and high demand 'or !ater 'or 'racing. A%#o, in Co%orado the !ater demand 'or 'racing in the #tate !a# e*pected to dou)%e to 6 )i%%ion ga%%on# !hich i# t!ice a# much a# the entire cit" o' 8ou%der u#e# in a "ear o%den)erg9. +he high demand 'or !ater throughout the nation #hou%d )e rea#on enough to )an the u#e o' h"drau%ic 'racturing. &ma%% communitie#, citie#, and 'arm# are )eing depri$ed o' preciou# !ater )ecau#e #ome ga# companie# !ant to mae a pro'it 'rom their oi% !e%%# and that need# to #top. Fracing mu#t )e )anned )ecau#e the amount o' !ater re(uired to 'racture a !e%% i# too much and the re#u%ting ga# i# not !orth the en$ironmenta% damage that 'racing i# cau#ing. +hroughout hi#tor", ga# companie# ha$e e*perimented !ith hundred# o' di''erent chemica%# and other additi$e# that !i%% enhance the h"drau%ic 'racturing proce## and mae it a# e''icient a# po##i)%e. A%though chemica%# on%" mae up a 'raction o' the '%uid in-ected into the !e%%, 3the o$era%% $o%ume# are #o highEup to mi%%ion# o' ga%%on# per !e%%Ethat a #ing%e !e%% o'ten re(uire# thou#and# o' ga%%on# o' chemica%#. +ho#e chemica%# #ometime# inc%ude 'ormic acid, !hich can cau#e )%indne## trimeth"% ammonium ch%oride, !hich can damage the idne"# and )rain, and )en?ene, !hich i# a no!n carcinogen.4 &ong9. A'ter the 'racing proce##, !ater that '%o!# )ac up the !e%% mu#t )e di#po#ed o'. &ome ga# companie# tr" to treat it, !hi%e other#
Leong < are accu#ed o' dumping ha?ardou# 'racing '%uid into ri$er# or #tream# that are near the dri%%ing #ite. hi%e much o' the !ater come# )ac out, #ome o' the chemica%# are %e't )ehind in the !e%% and can #eep into the #urrounding roc and potentia%%" contaminating near)" !ater #ource#. Anthon" ngra''ea, D!ight C. 8aum pro'e##or o' engineering at Corne%% ni$er#it", #tated that, 360 percent o' oi% and ga# !e%%# 'ai%ed !ithin 2/ "ear#. +he#e 'ai%ure# can %ead to the contamination o' the a(ui'er# that !e need to eep c%ean 'or drining !ater4 Ingraffea9. Man" American# !i%% )e ro))ed o' their primar" #ource o' c%ean, drina)%e !ater i' an" oi% !e%%# %ea 'racing '%uid into underground a(ui'er#. A%though the !a#te!ater ma" )e treated, 'racturing '%uid contain# man" chemica%# that are not ea#i%" remo$ed )" #tandard !ater treatment #"#tem# and the !ater cou%d #ti%% )e contaminated a'ter the proce## i# 'ini#hed. A# a re#u%t, ha?ardou# !ater cou%d )e di#charged into %oca% ri$er# and #tream# and po%%ute the !ater #"#tem. n#tead o' taing c%ean, u#a)%e !ater and contaminating it !ith to*ic chemica%#, the )e#t cour#e o' action !ou%d )e to )an the practice o' 'racturing !e%%# and e%iminate the po##i)i%it" o' !ater contamination. 8e#ide# ha$ing to !orr" a)out po%%ution in their !ater, man" American# mu#t dea% !ith air and #ound po%%ution i' the" %i$e near an acti$e dri%%ing #ite. According to &tephen iccardi o' Pennn$ironment, there are 166 #choo%#, 16 da" care#, 21 nur#ing home# and #i* ho#pita%# !ithin one mi%e o' permitted uncon$entiona% natura%Bga# dri%%ing, or 'racing, !e%% #ite#. ithin a t!oBmi%e radiu#, the num)er o' #choo%# and da" care# reache# near%" 00 each4 Murra"9. +he dri%%ing proce## can tae a %ong time and !i%% cau#e a %ot o' noi#e. An"thing 'rom con#truction acti$it" to truc tra''ic can cau#e e*ce##i$e amount# o' noi#e. +hi# t"pe o' po%%ution i# o'ten o$er%ooed and can negati$e%" a''ect the peop%e !ithin communitie# near !oring #ite#. +he %oud noi#e cou%d re#u%t in hearing %o## or mere anno"ance o' the popu%ation. 8e#ide# noi#e
Leong po%%ution, 'racing a%#o re#u%t# in air po%%ution. %o)a% !arming i# cau#ed )" the re%ea#e o' too man" greenhou#e ga#e# that trap the earth’# heat. Methane i# one o' the mo#t potent greenhou#e ga#e# and can %ea during and a'ter 'racing. Mea#urement# taen )" the Nationa% =ceanic and Atmo#pheric Admini#tration 3at ga# and oi% 'ie%d# in Ca%i'ornia, Co%orado and tah 'ound %eaage rate# o' 2.@ percent to 1; percent o' annua% production. +hi# i# the ga# that i# re%ea#ed into the atmo#phere un)urned a# part o' the h"drau%ic 'racturing proce##, and a%#o 'rom pipe%ine#, compre##or# and proce##ing unit#4 ngra''ea9. +he rea#on 'or the#e %ea# i# not on%" the !e%% it#e%', )ut poor con#truction o' other e(uipment that i# nece##ar" 'or the 'racing proce##. =ther chemica%# %ie )en?ene, a no!n carcinogen, can, 3irritate e"e# and cau#e headache#, #ore throat# or di''icu%t" )reathing4 Po%#on and '#tathiou9. An" ga#e# that %ea 'rom a !e%% ha$e the potentia% to cau#e ma-or pro)%em# 'or )oth the en$ironment and the peop%e %i$ing near dri%%ing #ite#. A%though the n$ironmenta% Protection Agenc" ha# propo#ed a ne! regu%ation that !ou%d re(uire dri%%er# to u#e ga# capturing techno%ogie#, there i# no !a" to mae #ure that there i# no ga# %eaing 'rom a !e%%. &o, 'racing mu#t )e )anned to pre$ent the re%ea#e o' more dangerou# chemica%# into the atmo#phere. A# ga# companie# compete to #ee !ho can produce the mo#t ga#, concern# 'or the !e%% )eing o' American# and the en$ironment are o'ten ca#t a#ide. A# e*periment# are done to 'ind the mo#t e''icient mi*ture, ga# companie# !i%% ha$e their o!n opinion# and !i%% )e u#ing di''erent mi*ture#. +he 8ureau o' Land Management 8LM9 o$er#ee# pu)%ic %and and ha# regu%ation# that re(uire the di#c%o#ure o' a%% h"drau%ic 'racing chemica%# u#ed in oi% and natura% ga# !e%%# dri%%ed on 'edera% propert". Ho!e$er, man" ga# companie# ha$e e*p%oited a '%a! in the regu%ation# that #tate, 3the 8LM !ou%d a%%o! companie# to e*empt certain chemica%# or mi*ture# o' compound# that are con#idered trade #ecret#4 &ong9. +hi# mae# it hard 'or go$ernment
Leong 6 agencie# %ie the n$ironmenta% Protection Agenc" to en'orce the ru%e# #et out )" the &a'e Drining ater Act o' 1:;<.
Du#t" Hor!itt, #enior coun#e% at the n$ironmenta% oring
roup, a nonpro'it that ad$ocate# 'or pu)%ic hea%th #a"#, 3the trade #ecret e*emption# cou%d potentia%%" mae the ru%e# meaning%e## i' app%ied )road%". ' "ou no! !hatG# )eing in-ected, "ouGd no! !hat to monitor and trac4 &ong9. +he %oopho%e in the 8LM’# regu%ation# a%%o! ga# companie# to eep certain chemica%# #ecret i' the" thin that re$ea%ing tho#e chemica%# !i%% harm their )u#ine##. &cienti#t# ha$e a hard time detecting potentia%%" dangerou# chemica%# in 'racing '%uid !hen the" no! !hat the" are %ooing 'or and !i%% ha$e an e$en harder time tr"ing to identi'" chemica%# i' the" do not no! !hat the" are %ooing 'or. a# companie# are taing ad$antage o' the 8ureau o' Land Management’# thought'u%ne## and are u#ing the %oopho%e to po##i)%" damage the earth e$en more. +he on%" !a" to #top 'urther damage to the earth, the practice o' 'racturing oi% and ga# !e%%# mu#t )e #topped. ithout 'racing, the 8LM !i%% not ha$e to !orr" a)out not no!ing !hat chemica%# are )eing in-ected into the ground and American citi?en# !i%% not ha$e to !orr" a)out chemica%# 'rom the 'racing '%uid #eeping into their !ater #upp%". hi%e 'racing can cau#e po%%ution and pre#ent man" un#ett%ing i##ue#, it ma" a%#o re#u%t in pro)%em# that !i%% roc our !or%d. nited &tate# eo%ogica% &er$ice &&9 geoph"#ici#t i%%iam %%#!orth 'ound in hi# #tud" that, 3the #pie in earth(uae# #ince 2001 near oi% and ga# e*traction operation# i# a%mo#t certain%" manBmade4’ Hor!itt and Formu?i#9.
A'ter the
'racturing proce## i# o$er, an" !a#te!ater i# in-ected )ac into di#po#a% !e%%# in the ground. nited &tate# eo%ogica% &er$ice #cienti#t# ha$e 'ound that 3in-ection# can induce #ei#micit" )" changing pre##ure and adding %u)rication a%ong 'au%t#4 Hor!itt and Formu?i#9.
+hi# i#
e#pecia%%" a%arming in earth(uae prone #tate# %ie Ca%i'ornia and =%ahoma. ncrea#ed #ei#mic
Leong ; acti$it" a%ong the &an Andrea# Fau%t cou%d re#u%t in de$a#tating earth(uae# that !i%% cau#e )i%%ion# o' do%%ar# in damage. Ho!e$er, in =%ahoma, the con#e(uence# are a%read" )eing 'e%t. According to coatch, 3=%ahoma !ent 'rom t!o earth(uae# a "ear )e'ore 200: to t!o a da". +hi# "ear, rough%" ;00 earth(uae# o' magnitude @ or higher ha$e #haen the #tate, compared to 20 in 200:4 Cho!9. +hi# increa#e in the amount o' earth(uae# i# di#tur)ing )ecau#e it i# not #omething u#ua%. n order to pre$ent more 're(uent earth(uae#, it i# imperati$e that 'racing )e )anned. ithout the addition pre##ure and %u)rication on 'au%t %ine#, it ma" )e po##i)%e to pre$ent #uch natura% di#a#ter# 'rom )ecoming an e$er"da" occurrence. Chi%dren are taught to re#pect each other and ha$e compa##ion, )ut man" peop%e are not caring 'or the arth and are on%" concerned !ith their o!n #e%'Bintere#t#. An ancient ndian pro$er) #tate#, 3=n%" !hen the %a#t tree ha# died and the %a#t ri$er ha# )een poi#oned and the %a#t 'i#h )een caught !i%% !e rea%i?e that !e cannot eat mone".4 n the ga# indu#tr", the arth i# o'ten neg%ected #o that peop%e can mae more mone". Ho!e$er, to protect the p%anet and 'uture generation#, humanit" mu#t change the !a"# it produce# energ". ather than 'racturing !e%%# to o)tain acce## to more 'o##i% 'ue%#, #cienti#t# #hou%d )e 'ocu#ed on 'inding more e''icient rene!a)%e energie#. A%though it i# ea#ier to continue on the current de#tructi$e path and change nothing, pre#er$ing the en$ironment and protecting the !e%% )eing o' peop%e on thi# p%anet i# more important than paper )artering item# that !e ca%% mone". &o, the ga# indu#tr" mu#t #top the u#e o' h"drau%ic 'racturing, and %e##en the impact o' it# de$a#tating #ide e''ect# on the earth in order to #u#tain %i'e on thi# p%anet 'or man" "ear# to come. $er"one on earth mu#t act together to )an the u#e o' 'racing and pu#h 'or the re#earch o' rene!a)%e energie# to he%p en#ure a 'uture 'or thi# p%anet.
Leong / or# Cited Cho!, Lorraine. 3t# =''icia%7 =%ahoma *perience# More arth(uae# +han An"!here %#e in the or%d.4 Energy, Fracking, Fracking Wastewater . coatch, 16 No$em)er 201. e). 2/ Fe)ruar" 2016. C%a"ton, Mar. 3American i$er# Mu#t 8e Protected 'rom Fracing and =ther +hreat#.4 Pollution. d. De)ra A. Mi%%er. Detroit7 reenha$en Pre##, 2012. Current Contro$er#ie#. pt. 'rom 3Contro$er#ia% Path to Po##i)%e %ut o' Natura% a#.4 Christian Science Monitor . 200/. Opposing Viewpoints in Context . e). 2@ Fe). 2016. 3Fracing7 A Loo 8ac.4 ASME.org. American &ociet" o' Mechanica% ngineer#. Decem)er 2012. e). 20 Fe)ruar" 2016. o%den)erg, &u?anne. 3Fracing i# dep%eting !ater #upp%ie# in AmericaG# drie#t area#.4 Fracking . +he uardian. Fe)ruar" 201<. e). 2@ Fe)ruar" 2016. Hor!itt, Du#t", and A%e* Formu?i#. 3Fracing Cau#e# &ei#mic n#ta)i%it" and arth(uae#.4 Fracking . d. +amara +homp#on. Detroit7 reenha$en Pre##, 201@. At ##ue. pt. 'rom 3&&7 ecent arth(uae# A%mo#t Certain%" Manmade’Eeport mp%icate# =i% and Natura% a# Dri%%ing.4 2012. Opposing Viewpoints in Context . e). 1; Fe). 2016. H"der, Io#eph P. 3H"drau%ic 'racturing.4 he !ale Encyclope"ia o# Science. d. J. Lee Lerner and 8renda i%moth Lerner. th ed. Farmington Hi%%#, M7 a%e, 201<. Stu"ent $esources in Context . e). / Fe). 2016. Ingraffea, Anthony. “Fracking Is Not Safe.” Natural Gas. Ed. Dedria Bryfonski. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press, 2015. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from “Dangers of Hydraulic Fracturing in Shale.” Casper Star Tribune (27 Oct. 2013). Opposing Viewpoints in Context . Web. 28 Feb. 2016.
Leong : Murra", A#h%e". 3Pennn$iroment report 'ind# hundred# o' 'racing operation# near Penn#"%$ania #choo%#, da"Bcare center#.4 Pitt#)urg Cit" Paper. Pitt#)urg Cit" Paper, 2/ =cto)er 201. e). 2/ Fe)ruar" 2016. Po%#on, Iim, and Iim '#tathiou. 3Fracing Po%%ute# the Air !ith Ha?ardou# Chemica%#.4 Fracking . d. +amara +homp#on. Detroit7 reenha$en Pre##, 201@. At ##ue. pt. 'rom 3Fracing e%%#’ Air mi##ion# Po#e Hea%th i##, &tud" Find#.4 2012. Opposing Viewpoints in Context . e). 2: Fe). 2016. 3&hooter# > A 3Fracing4 Hi#tor".4 Petroleu% echnology. American =i% and a# Hi#torica% &ociet", n.d. e). 21 Fe)ruar" 2016. &ong, Li#a. 3+he Chemica%# #ed 'or Fracing &hou%d 8e Fu%%" Di#c%o#ed.4 Fracking . d. +amara +homp#on. Detroit7 reenha$en Pre##, 201@. At ##ue. pt. 'rom 3&ecrec" Loopho%e
Cou%d
&ti%%
eaen
8LMG#
+ougher
Fracing
eg#.4
http&''insi"ecli%atenews.org'news'()*()(*+'l%-#racking-che%icals-"isclosurehy"raulic-#racturing-proprietary-natural-gas-"rilling . 2012. Opposing Viewpoints in Context . e). 22 Fe). 2016.
