Hydraulic FracturingTom Carr, Lauren Dynes, and Pete Strader

Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

U.S. Energy Information Administration, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

2012. “Memorandum of Agreement among the U.S. Departments of Energy and Interior and U.S. EPA about Collaboration on Unconventional Oil and Gas Research.” EPA.Gov. PDF. Page 2.

Current Role of Government• Environmental Protection Agency• Effectiveness and impact of current technologies.

• Department of Energy• Improvements that future technological improvements may yield.

• U.S. Geological Survey (DOI)• Groundwater monitoring.• Determine water availability, use, and flow.

2012. “Memorandum of Agreement among the U.S. Departments of Energy and Interior and U.S. EPA about Collaboration on Unconventional Oil and Gas Research.” EPA.Gov. PDF. Page 3.

2014. “The Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle.” Environmental Protection Agency. EPA.Gov.

Stage 1: Water Acquisition• Water withdrawn from: • Groundwater• Surface Water• Recycled wastewater from previous fracking activity.

• Potential Impacts on Drinking Water• Change in quantity available to drink.• Change in the quality of drinking water.

2014. “The Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle.” Environmental Protection Agency. EPA.Gov.

Stage 2: Chemical Mixing• At the well site, water is combined with:• Chemical additives (24 pages!)• Proppant (granular; sand)

• Effect on Drinking Water• Release to surface and ground water through spills and leaks

2014. “The Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle.” Environmental Protection Agency. EPA.Gov.

2011. “Plan to Study the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources.” EPA.Gov. PDF.

Stage 3: Well Injection• How does it work?• Pressured fluid injected into well, creating cracks that allow

oil/gas to escape through well to be collected.

• Impact on Drinking Water: • Release fracking fluids (inadequate well construction/operation)• Release of fluids into aquifers from man-made (existing wells) or

natural (existing faults) features• Fracking mobilizes other natural substances (metals or

radioactive materials) that flow into aquifers

2014. “The Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle.” Environmental Protection Agency. EPA.Gov.

Stage 4: Wastewater• Pressure is released: fracking fluid, water, and natural gas

flow back through the well.• Combination of fluids stored on site in tanks.

• Potential Impacts on Drinking Water: • Release from spills or leaks.

2014. “The Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle.” Environmental Protection Agency. EPA.Gov.

Stage 5: Treatment/Disposal• Wastewater is Managed via: • Disposal by underground injection• Treated and disposed into surface water• Recycle for future fracking use

• Potential Impacts on Drinking Water: • Contaminants from surface water discharge, inadequate

treatment• Byproducts formed from reaction of fracking contaminants with

disinfectants at water treatment facility.

2014. “The Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle.” Environmental Protection Agency. EPA.Gov.

Dangers of Fracking

• Fracking uses a toxic chemical – “Fracking Fluid”• 40,000 gallons of chemicals used per

fracturing.• Contains formaldehyde, acetic acids,

citric acids and boric acids + hundreds of other contaminants• Companies have begun using diesel fuel• Illegal

http://www.cleanwateraction.org/page/fracking-dangers

Dangers of Fracking – Cont.

• Removes millions of gallons of fresh water from the water cycle.• Wells use 2-5 million gallons of local fresh water• Permanently contaminated by toxic chemicals

• Half of this water returns to the surface• Then stored and injected underground to oil & gas

waste wells.• Other half?• Remains underground?• Back to water supply?• Not Biodegradable!

http://www.cleanwateraction.org/page/fracking-dangers

Dangers of Fracking – Cont.

• Fracking causes a range of environmental problems• Reported surface, ground, and drinking water

contamination• Pennsylvania – over 1,400 environmental violations • Pollution • Truck traffic, chemical contamination around

storage tanks, habitat fragmentation, and damage from drilling to environmentally sensitive areas.

http://www.cleanwateraction.org/page/fracking-dangers

Dangers of Fracking – Cont.

• During the shale rock procedure, methane gas and toxic chemicals spread from the system• Into nearby groundwater – contaminated• Methane concentrations are 17x higher in drinking

water near fracturing sites. • Contaminated wells used for drinking water• Over 1,000 cases of water contamination • Cases of sensory, respiratory, and neurological

damage

http://www.cleanwateraction.org/page/fracking-dangers

Fracking in the News• 2011 : National Academy of Sciences draws a direct

correlation to well contamination in the Marcellus and Utica shale drilling areas in Pennsylvania and southern New York State

• “Our results show evidence for methane contamination of shallow drinking water systems in at least three areas of the region and suggest important environmental risks accompanying shale gas exploration worldwide,”

http://www.propublica.org/article/scientific-study-links-flammable-drinking-water-to-fracking

Fracking in the News – Cont.• 2014 : Ohio has found evidence connecting hydraulic

fracturing to a series of earthquakes in the Poland Township area near drill sites.

• According to the Hilcorp drilling company: “If the monitors detect a "seismic event" larger than a magnitude of 1.0, the fracturing would have to pause.”

• State seismologists determined that the epicenter of the 3.0 magnitude earthquake in Poland Township was directly under wells being fractured

http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2014/04/ohio_acknowledges_connection_b.html

Fracking in the News – Cont.• 2014: New York courts work to decide if the states five year

moratorium on Fracking applies to local municipalities and their rights on the land. Cities seek to profit from business with drilling company Marcellus Shale, while the state researches further into the effects of drilling. • http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/30/new-york-local-fracking-bans_n_3842031.html

• 2014: Colorado senate race focuses in on fracking issues in the up coming election. Voters in Colorado will be weighing the pros and cons of letting drilling companies develop in their state when candidates Mark Udall (D), Jared Polis (R), and Cory Gardner (R) face off on the environmental issue. • http://blogs.wsj.com/washwire/2014/05/06/colorado-fracking-fight-to-light-up-senate-race/