HYDRAULIC FRACTURING - Essay Example

Despite the economic advantages associated with this mining process, there have a wide outcry from environmentalists due to the pollution associated with the process. This dispute has even led to legal issues between mining companies, communities and environmentalists. The pollution situation has even caught the attention of various governments and lawmakers. For instance, the president of the United States issued an executive order with regard to hydraulic fracturing in the year 2012, on April 13.

Hydraulic Fracturing Working Definition for Hydraulic Fracturing Hydraulic fracturing (also known as fracking) is the process of extracting gas and oil from underground rocks by introducing pressure into the fractures within the rocks (“ProPublica,” n.d.). The pressure in this process is introduced by pumping a mixture of sand, water as well as chemicals into the well. The pressure makes cracks within rocks to propagate and interconnect increasing the flow of either gas or oil. The sand used in this mixture keeps the cracks widened.

The chemicals used in the process of fracking differ from one well to another depending on the geographical location. However, one of the main reasons for using chemicals is to improve the flow properties of water and hence increases the transmission of pressure. Some of the chemicals used in this process include Hydrochloric acid, which acts as a solvent for chemicals and introduces cracks within rocks as well (“Frac Focus,” 2013). Another chemical is Glutaraldehyde, whose importance is to extract bacteria from water.

These bacteria usually produce corrosive elements. The list of these chemicals is quite long and the two mentioned chemicals are just examples. Places Where Fracturing Occurs Louisana, east of Texas and Arkansas have a common underground rock formation called Haynesville Shale. This shale enhances gas fracturing within these states (“geology.com”, n.d.). In the Mississippi State, there is an organic bed rock referred to as Fayetteville Shale (geology.com). In Europe, oil and gas fracturing have not been in use due to the government bans on such processes.

However, in December 2012, these bans were lifted in Britain. This announcement was made by Ed Davey who is the Energy Secretary in the country (“Natural Gas Europe,” 2012). The ban that was lifted had been in existence since the year 2011. Prior to the introduction of the ban, a company called Cuadrilla Resources conducted gas fracturing within Lancashire. However, when earthquakes occurred within this area, the ban was introduced. In other places within South America, hydraulic fracturing has not yet been exploited.

However, it is believed that countries such as Brazil could enhance their economy by undertaking in this mining process Economic Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing Hydraulic fracturing enhances economic growth in various ways. One, having Shale gas and oil makes a country to be more energy independent (“Presidents Economic Report for 2012”, pg 256 2012). Consequently, such a country will reduce the amount of expenditure incurred in importing oil. Similarly, when mining happens in a country, thousands of jobs are created for the local people.

Governments also invest in such projects to ensure that they develop technologies used in such processes. For example, The United States had a research and development program during the 1980s and early 1990s. Consequently, the technology of directional drilling was developed