Facts About “Fracking” (Hydraulic Fracturing Process)
What is “fracking”??
• Fracking is used to extract natural gas buried in rock formations by injecting a fluid into the ground composed of sand, water and chemicals, some of which are toxic like benzene and toluene.• This process is done by the gas and oil industry across the nation in order to efficiently obtain oil while making a profit.
So what about it?
• “Fracking” contains many chemicals that are harmful to humans and wildlife, and are linked to causing cancer.• BUT, the gas and oil industry is the ONLY industry that is not regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act.
• According to the EPA, 70 to 40 billion gallons of water are used to fracture 35,000 wells in the US each year. But, it takes around 200 truck trips to transport only a million gallons of water.
• Hydraulic fracturing is depleting fresh water supplies, impacting the habitat that lives there and jeopardizing air quality, just to name a few.
Pass the FRAC Act
• The gas and oil industry will regulate the fracturing process more efficiently- disclose their chemical ingredients but NOT their specific formula for “fracking”• Drilling by the gas and oil industry won’t be stopped, just better regulated
• The gas and oil industry will abide by the Safe Drinking Act, just like everyone else does
Sources:
Ruthanne,
ReplyDeleteI have never heard of "fracking" before. I don't understand why people are doing this, only to make more money from oil? There has to be a way that is better for the environment and still able to obtain oil. It is crazy that 40-70 billion gallons of water are used to fracture wells. Very interesting!
Hi Ruthanne!
ReplyDeleteI never heard of "fracking" however,I find it very disturbing that our nation is continuously allowing our environment to be affected by chemicals in just about every aspect. There is definitely something that needs to be done to lower the spread of chemicals used in our nation especially when it comes to water and food!
Hey Ruthanne!
ReplyDeleteI’m glad that you’re posting on fracking, because before now, I was clueless on it. With out your explanations that what they inject, such as benzyene tolune, is bad I would’ve never had a clue that it should change. 40 to 70 billion gallons of water is quite a bit of h20, especially when our earth is on a major water shortage.
Drinking water is more essential that natural gas and should be put first in importance. It sounds like the Safe Drinking Water Act will serve a mighty fine purpose to put restrictions and safety acts on this practice of extracting natural gas.
Watch this youtube video. It shows people holding a lighter close to their water tap in their kitchen. Due to fracking, their water explodes and lights on fire! Not good.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNAbMXnfXWY&feature=fvst