Fracking - The environmental, economic, legal and political aspects of Essay

Fracking - The environmental, economic, legal and political aspects of Fracking - Essay Example The process itself involves drilling, explosions, use of toxic chemicals and pumping millions of gallons of water at crushing pressures. In Pennsylvania alone, it has been reported that companies have planned for over fifty sites to work on. Though fracking has been conducted responsibly, the industry does not have a very good track record because from time to time, gas well blow outs, poisoned of water sources, pollution of soil and air , and compromise on the health of people and animals have been reported. Once a shale formation has fracked, it cannot be unfracked and brought together once again. It is therefore very important for thorough research to be conducted before fracking begins, especially in places where the population is very dense (Prud'homme 70). 2. The Environmental, Economic, Legal and Political Consequences of Unlimited Fracking 2.1 Environmental consequences There are many consequences that come with embracing unlimited hydraulic fracturing or fracking. In the Uni ted States, it was reported that by 2012, approximately one million oil and gas wells had been drilled and fracked. The critics and supporters of the fracking process have been left on a cross road, since none of the groups knows whether it is correct. There are risks that come with the fluids used in the drilling process as well as the effects of the natural gas that is released into the environment (Healy 11). The following are the environmental consequences that come with unlimited fracking: a. Ground water Contaminations This is the most familiar consequence of the fracking process. The potential risk to ground water contamination comes from two sources. According to research conducted in 2012 by the University of Texas, there are several incidents of possible contamination in the United States that show no confirmed evidence of ground water contamination from the subsurface fracking itself, but rather from leakage that stems from fracking related waste water above the ground (H ealy 12). The potential causes of the contamination of water in the fracking process are suspected to be overweight drilling mud that causes drilling fluids to leak from the well bore to acquifers near the surface; this happens because shale contains large quantities of harmful chemical elements and compounds that are dissolved in the fracking fluid, which later returns to the surface during flow back. Solid components entering the flow back fluid from the shale leading to contamination, as well as poorly done well bore casing (Healy 12). Subsurface and surface blow outs have been recorded in the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Colorado in United States. Blow outs in the ground lead to surface spillage and this often results to contamination of water (Healy 15). b. Emissions into the atmosphere This is another aspect that shows the consequences of fracking to the environment. The gas and vapor emitted from the fluid to the atmosphere affects the environment. The methane released du ring the fracking process is said to have a higher greenhouse gas, for example coal. The drillers involved in these operations should thereof ore ensure that the emission of these gases is minimized (Healy 15). There have been reports of homes that have exploded in Colorado and Ohio. Wyoming has had its residents advised to run the electric fans when showering so as to avoid explosions (Perrow 12). In