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Catie Burns

Mrs. Fusca
Ela Period 2
February 13th, 2015
Research Paper: Hydraulic Fracturing
No fracking way! Throughout many protests against hydraulic fracturing, posters with similar
sayings are displayed showing the high amount of disapproval for this system of oil drilling. Hydraulic
Fracturing, also known as fracking, is the process of drilling into the ground and injecting liquid at high
pressure, which will fracture the sediment releasing the natural gas locked inside. These chemical liquids used
pose a threat to the environment above and underground. Not to mention the huge risk of the potential
pollution in the fresh water supply. There has even been earthquakes solely related to the process of hydraulic
fracturing. ( Gale Cengage Product Failure ) Hydraulic fracturing does more harm than good because of the
threats to the environment, pollution of water, and physical damages caused to habitats.
Hydraulic fracturing is known to have many threats against our environment. Throughout the actual
process of fracking, chemicals that are used underground have a very high threat to the rocks and minerals
there. Also, the chance of these waste fluids being spilt onto the surface of our Earth is high. The reason these
chemical fluids are an issue is because once they are used in the process they become a toxic waste. After it
becomes a toxic waste it must be disposed of, however a way that is used is to just put it back underground.
(Articles | Barnett Shale Energy Education Council ) Just taking these toxic fluids and putting them back
underground does not solve the issue. They need t o be properly disposed of so that they will not affect the
habitats of animals and not put any one in harm.
A counterclaim to the hydraulic fracturing thesis would be that the United Stated economy thrives as a
result of this oil drilling. Between the years 2000 and 2010 over 500,000 new new gas wells were put into 32
states. (Articles | Barnett Shale Energy Education Council ) These new wells have created jobs for hundreds,
even thousands of people. Not only have they created jobs, but they have increased the amount of money the
United States makes on natural gas every year. We also dont need to import gas from other countries in the
Eastern Hemisphere as much as we did before. This means that the United States is saving money from having

the natural gas sources on their own territories.(Gale Cengage Product Failure) Although this seems like an
economic solution for our natural gas supply, it really is not. Eventually the United States will run out of these
natural gas sources, and all the jobs it created will be gone. Is is estimated that this source of natural gas should
last for about 100 years, but what happens when those 100 years are up? People will lose their jobs and we will
be back to importing from the Eastern Hemisphere once again. Not only will this affect the economy in a
negative way, but now the physical effects of fracking will still be a problem.
Not only will hydraulic fracturing cause threats to the habitats of the environment, but to our human
populations fresh water supply. Since fracking has started and theyve come to realize the remaining fluid is a
toxic waste, no long term plan had been made to deal with the millions of gallons of poisonous water from
these wells.The sewages and water treatments plants existing are not equipped to deal with these kinds of toxic
fluids, consequently these fluids will just end back in our fresh water rivers polluting them. Industry sources
say that because fracking takes place thousands of feet beneath groundwater aquifers, and because they build
steel and cement casings around their wells, the likelihood of contamination of drinking water sources due to
fracking is rare. Nevertheless, in many communities, landowners who have leased the drilling rights to their
property complain that gas drilling has turned their well water brown and undrinkable. (Articles | Barnett
Shale Energy Education Council ) With evidence like this, it can not be a valid argument that hydraulic
fracking doesnt cause water pollution.
Another counterclaim that is made in support of fracking is that if we have the natural gas available
then why shouldnt we take advantage of it. Yes, it would help the industries of the United States to boom, but
why put the environment at risk? If the way of getting natural gas to the United States is working then there is
really no need to change it. However, if the change is necessary there are other ways to drill for these natural
resources that are just as effective with less harm to our Earth. Horizontal drilling is a way that we can drill for
these resources that causes less surface damage. Also, because of the way horizontal drilling works there
doesnt need to be as many wells made. Horizontal drilling is done by vertically drilling a well that turns
horizontal within the rocks which allows the flow of oil and other resources to be more exposed. The longer
the wells, the faster oil and natural gas can be collected. ( Gale Cengage Product Failure) Since this way if
drilling has less damage to the environment, then hydraulic fracturing isnt necessary.

Not only does hydraulic fracturing pollute water and threaten the environment, but destroys habitats of
innocent animals. The constructions of these drilling sites ruin the very grounds they are drilled on. They have
to clear the area destroying what is already there. On top of that, the pollution and toxic liquids that get in the
water and on the ground could potentially put animals in harm of being poisoned. The pollution that humans
put into our atmosphere from cars, factory buildings, etc. already cause enough damage. Why should we add to
it with this harmful way of drilling? To help save our Earth from pollution which could lead to climate change,
we should use safer and more environmentally friendly ways of extracting these natural resources. The debate
over climate change is even larger than the debate of fracking versus no fracking, but it has valid points that
relate to this issue. Climate change can be found in every state of the United States, and scientists believe that
fracking is a part of the cause. (Climate Change ProCon.org )
Conclusively, hydraulic fracturing is a big debate issue throughout the United States. Although it can
help the economy of the country, the risks that are take to do so are too high. The United States does have a
good supply of natural gas underground and it seems appropriate to use these sources. On the other hand,
scientists have come up with newer and safer ways to take advantage of these natural resources. We only get
to have one Earth. Hydraulic fracturing and its destruction of the environment and pollution of freshwater
systems does not seem worth it. Ultimately, unless scientists can come up with a way that makes hydraulic
fracturing safe, it will do more harm than good and should not be used.
Works Cited
"Articles | Barnett Shale Energy Education Council." Articles | Barnett Shale Energy Education
Council. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
"Climate Change ProCon.org." N.p., Web. <http://climatechange.procon.org/>.
"Fracking." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Detroit: Gale, 2014. Opposing Viewpoints
in Context. Web. 9 Jan. 2015.
""Fracking" Vs. "Hydraulic Fracturing:" A Review of Search Terms." Issues in Science &
Technology Librarianship. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2015.
"MINING: EPA Tackles Fracking." National Center for Biotechnology Information. N.p., n.d.
Web. 15 Jan. 2015.

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