Effects of Hydraulic Fracturing :: Energy

Advanced technology created the possibility to extract a natural gas beneath the earth which has never been possible before. Oil industries are once again booming deploying hydraulic fracturing method to access the natural gas lies beneath the earth, specifically the Marcellus Formation which contains limestone beds that is black shale or black rock due to presence of iron pyrite and siderites. Marcellus shale formation lie under New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Ohio and other parts of the US states according to Parks & Recreation Journal (Dolesh 57). Its vast richness of natural gas is no doubt that it will help America’s energy demand but using hydraulic fracturing to bring that energy to the surface is disturbing the already troubled environment. Although my opponents claim that hydrocracking create jobs and reduce oil imports but it also poses environmental disaster that outweighs its profits which could be irreversible. Environmental disaster such as pollu tion increase, water contamination and risk to the public health in inevitable if gas companies are allowed to continue for drilling America’s soil. As energy demand is increasing throughout the world, America is not least, its demand for energy is increasing and energy supply dependability is at risk. The calls for cleaner energy is at its momentum with production of natural gas using hydrocracking method are deployed vast major cities across America. According to Analysis environment journal released on May 2011 has stated that new Environmental Protection Agency have â€Å"found that greenhouse gas emissions from fracturing are almost 9,000 times higher than previously calculated† this is no surprising because there are no federal regulation on hydraulic fracturing techniques (Nelson 24). Fracking products account 25% in oil industries which will increase in the near future as we are turning to other sources of alternative energy. According to EPA on â€Å"recent research into the complete life cycle of natural gas emissions raises questions about its relative cleanliness† which means as we see the increase of extracting natural gas as means of hydrocracking the pollution will drastically increase. The main component of natural gas is methane â€Å"which leaks from fractured wells or is otherwise released during natural gas drilling, transportation and power-plant accord to CQ Researcher (McGlynn 1054). It’s clear and not concise that emission of methane escaped to the earth’s atmosphere will increase as drilling of hydraulic fracture increases which will create havoc to our already ailing environment. Our existence depends on the accessibility of clean water which our life depends on.