Who is Involved? | Hydraulic Fracturing in the Lehigh Valley. The three main groups involved with fracking are the industry, the public and the government. Understanding how these sectors interact helps understand why people are involved in the fracking debate. Despite the fact that each of these sectors may have differing goals regarding the development of hydraulic fracturing in Pennsylvania, a sustainable solution may be achieved if all three sectors cooperate. Picture Credit: Author The Industry The first goal of the industry is to economically extract natural gas to meet the energy demand of our nation. However the in order to minimize the negative externalities involved in extracting natural gas the government must develop effective regulations. As shown in the diagram, the industry involves lobbyists, companies and technical experts. While the influence of the industry is felt throughout the Lehigh Valley in regards to the development of regulation, the industry itself is not located in the Valley.
The Public The Government. How Hydraulic Fracturing Works | Energy From Shale. Skip to main content How Hydraulic Fracturing Works In a hydraulic fracturing job, "fracturing fluids" or "pumping fluids" consisting primarily of water and sand are injected under high pressure into the producing formation, creating fissures that allow resources to move freely from rock pores where it is trapped. Typically, steel pipe known as surface casing is cemented into place at the uppermost portion of a well for the explicit purpose of protecting the groundwater.
The depth of the surface casing is generally determined based on groundwater protection, among other factors. As the well is drilled deeper, additional casing is installed to isolate the formation(s) from which oil or natural gas is to be produced, which further protects groundwater from the producing formations in the well. While 99.5 percent of the fluids used consist of water and sand, some chemicals are added to improve the flow.
Search form ShareThis Copy and Paste. Hydraulic Fracturing - How It Works | FracFocus Chemical Disclosure Registry. Hydraulic Fracturing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed a suite of regulatory requirements designed to reduce air emissions from the oil and natural gas industry. EPA has proposed new standards for several processes associated with oil and gas production that have not previously been subject to federal regulation. Read More » Hydraulic fracturing is an essential well completion technology for the development of unconventional resources, such as natural gas that is trapped in shale rock formations. These best practices are developed by industry experts in a variety of areas of technology and operations Induced seismicity is the phenomenon of human activities, such as large engineering projects, causing energy release in the earth.
Shale energy is the answer. The economic impacts of developing shale gas resources are revolutionary. Hydraulic fracturing is a technology used in the United States to help produce more than 7 billion barrels of oil and 600 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Race Is On to Clean Up Hydraulic Fracturing. Natural Gas Extraction - Hydraulic Fracturing | Hydraulic Fracturing and Shale Gas Extraction. EPA Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources EPA is conducting a study to better understand any potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water and ground water. The scope of the research includes the full lifespan of water in hydraulic fracturing.
You can learn more about the study at epa.gov/hfstudy. Natural gas plays a key role in our nation's clean energy future. The U.S. has vast reserves of natural gas that are commercially viable as a result of advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies enabling greater access to gas in shale formations. EPA is working with states and other key stakeholders to help ensure that natural gas extraction does not come at the expense of public health and the environment. On this page: Improving our Scientific Understanding of Hydraulic Fracturing Top of Page Providing Regulatory Clarity and Protections against Known Risks. What Is Hydraulic Fracturing? Fracking Gone Wrong: Finding a Better Way. Fracking Across the United States "Fraccidents"—troubling reports of poisoned drinking water, polluted air, mysterious animal deaths, industrial disasters and explosions—have occurred across the country, part of the country's fracking-enabled oil and gas drilling rush.
Explore the fraccidents and learn how you can get involved in your local fight, from California to New York, Pennsylvania to Colorado. View Fraccidents Map » Fracking Industry Secrecy Those most impacted by fracking are forced by oil and gas companies to sacrifice their right to speak out in order to escape from harm. Fracking Damage Casesand Industry Secrecy One way the oil and gas industry keeps its secrets is by requiring people who settle damage lawsuits to sign non-disclosure agreements. View Chart » Video:Kids Speak Up On Fracking A group of 5th graders share what they learned from a class project on groundwater and fracking. Watch Video » Related Litigation Photo Essay: Going to Extremes in the Golden State View Photo Essay » Energy From Shale: Shale Gas Drilling Methods & Extraction Process | Energy From Shale.