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‘Fracking’ sparks concern and controversy across globe
photo by Owen Crowley (Flickr CC)
Hydraulic fracturing is the controversial practice of extracting natural gas from shale rock by drilling, planting explosives and then pumping vast amounts of water and chemicals into the rock to open up gas deposits.
Commonly referred to as ‘fracking’, domestic hydraulic fracturing is being touted by governments and fossil fuel corporations in several countries as being cheaper, safer and more climate-friendly than oil or coal extraction, as well as less dependent on the instability of international markets and political situations than other fossil fuels.
But fracking is not without its environmental or human health concerns.
From BBC News:
Much of the water used in fracking is collected from the well and processed, but there are concerns that potentially carcinogenic chemicals can sometimes escape and find their way into drinking water sources. Some American householders also claim that shale gas leaking into their drinking supply causes tap water to ignite.
Though CO2 emissions from natural gas are lower than from coal and oil, opponents worry that the development of renewable energy technology and infrastructure is suffering in favor of fracking.
There have been protests in Blackpool, England against fracking and opposition from local residents regarding proposed fracking sites in Western Australia. Unease over the safety of the practice has also bolstered opposition in Canada, where exploration and eventual drilling are planned for exploiting the shale gas deposits in the province of New Brunswick.
For more on how increased regulation of the technique and the findings of a report on hydraulic fracturing by the United States Secretary of Energy Advisory Board could affect the practice in Canada, see this article in New Brunswick’s Telegraph-Journal.
Also check out this article in the San Francisco Chronicle (available free online by Tuesday) on how the U.S. state of California is debating fracking.
Tags: Canada, concerns, fracking, gas, hydraulic fracturing, New Brunswick, water
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Thanks for your comment, LondonCalling. What you’re describing sounds infinitely better than the water wastage and toxic pollution that has been attributed to most fracking. Natural gas is the at least the lesser evil in the fossil fuel game, so the less environmentally damaging it gets the better. At the risk of sounding cynical, they are not going to stop it any time soon, anyway.
What concerned me more was water contamination and what happened with US public park land being opened to fracking under the Bush administration (as opposed to theatrical displays of burning tap water). That was totally undemocratic and symptomatic of a government that basically said FU to the EPA for 8 years.
Shale gas fracking is a major concern. But calling for the outright ban on fracking is not sensible. What is sensible is to ensure that law-makers enforce regulations (key word enforce) that commit to best practices. When those best practices are implemented along with the latest technologies the fracking process is safe. Companies like Canadian-based GasFrac Energy Services uses non-toxic solutions and recycles it 100%. The whole process also improves well production. Now this company is one of a few, but the point is that all drillers need to use non-toxic solutions, and recycle. Technology can provide a solution that is acceptable to everyone involved.