The effective method used for extracting natural oil and gas from deep shale rock formations is termed hydraulic fracturing or fracking. In this process, operators inject a combination of water, sand, and chemicals into horizontally drilled wells, including fractures in the shale and facilitating the release of natural gas or oil. Fracking is a key component of the larger process called unconventional natural gas development, encompassing activities from well construction to the transportation of gas and oil from the drilling site.
Concerns about Hydraulic fracturing include potential risks to water quality, especially if fracking fluids with harmful chemicals enter drinking water supplies, along with issues related to wastewater disposal and air pollutant emissions. After over two decades of rapid unconventional natural gas extraction, ongoing research is uncovering health effects and costs, particularly in regions like Colorado, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Texas, where extraction occurs close to residential areas. There’s a growing need to assess and quantify these impacts using a standardized metric.
Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing On Water Quality
Concerns loom over the potential migration of chemicals linked to natural gas and hydraulic fracking, seeping through rock crevices into subterranean drinking water reservoirs. Risks of contamination arise from inadequately constructed wells, accidental chemical pills, and insufficient control of flow back; the water that returns post-hydraulic fracking. Recognizing scientific evidence pointing to the impact of hydraulic fracking on drinking water resources under certain conditions, the EPA remains vigilant. Despite uncertainties about the full extent of water contamination, there is research that hints at potential health repercussions associated with fracking. The imperative now is to secure direct evidence to unravel the complete picture.
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Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing On Air Quality
Locations, where drilling operations have occurred, can impact local air quality through various avenues. Processes such as burning off excess natural gas, operating heavy equipment, and transporting materials with diesel trucks can release toxic chemicals into the air, contributing to air pollution.
Review studies conducted in 2019 examined hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) in connection with upstream oil and gas development, including potential fracking. It revealed the detection of HAP compounds linked to various health issues, surpassing health-based standards near development sites. The production phase emerged as a significant source of concentrated and diverse air pollutants over an extended period. Additionally, research indicates that air pollutants from unconventional oil and gas exploration may have adverse effects on the health of older adults, increasing the risk of premature death for those residing near or downwind of such development sites.
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