Why is fracking done

Fracking is a proven drilling technology used for extracting oil, natural gas, geothermal energy, or water from deep underground. Fracking has been safely used in the United States since More than 1. Put simply, hydraulic fracturing is the process of injecting liquid and materials at high pressure to create small fractures within tight shale formations to stimulate the production and safely extract energy from an underground well after the drilling has ended and the rig and derrick are removed from the site.

The process takes about three to five days, on average, to complete from start to finish. Fracking is a uniquely American success story that has provided immense benefits around the nation. From to , annual U. A study , commissioned by the U. Chamber of Commerce, projected fracking will create a total of 3. In fact, there is ample evidence that increased natural gas use — made possible by fracking — has improved public health by dramatically improving air quality in recent years.

This is not to say there are no risks, but the full body of research on this issue shows that those risks are manageable. Several state departments of environmental protection have also installed air monitors at well sites and found that emissions during oil and natural gas development do not exceed public health thresholds.

Visit EIDHealth. No fewer than two dozen scientific studies have concluded that fracking does not pose a major threat to groundwater. Most notably, a landmark U. As plants and primitive animals died off, some of the methane gas created from the organic matter got buried with the sediments and seeped into sandy rock layers next to the shale rock, forming pockets of natural gas. Some of that gas has remained locked in the shale layer, making it hard to bring up to the surface with traditional drilling.

To access that gas, fracking has been used. Once a location has been selected for drilling, some from 4 to 6 acres of surface area will be leveled and cleared for drilling. The work site includes space for drilling equipment, a pit for drilling waste and an area for the massive amount of water to be used. There may be some natural fractures present in the shale to access the gas into the wellbore but more than likely the wellbore will be subdivided into several sections, each 3, feet to 5, feet.

There can be as many as 10 separate sections in the wellbore. Beginning at the toe, or the end, of the wellbore, the casing in the sections is punctured when high pulse electrical charges are sent through a wire in the wellbore. Then the liquid is pumped in from above ground under high pressure —thousands of pounds per square inch — to crack the shale and create fractures. The liquid is mostly water mixed with sand, but there are dozens and sometimes hundreds of chemicals in the mixture.

Some chemicals are used to help dissolve rocks and sediments while others are used for eliminating bacteria in the water. Chemicals are also used to control temperature and reduce friction in the wellbore.

Usually the ratio is 98 percent to The pumping of the liquid into the wellbore can happen many times in order to access the gas. Up to 10 million gallons of liquid can be pumped into a well during the time it takes to remove the gas from the shale. The fractures created are small, maybe only a fraction of an inch wide. The sand is what holds them open.

Campaigners say fracking is distracting energy firms and governments from investing in renewable sources of energy, and encouraging continued reliance on fossil fuels. The government believes shale gas has the potential to provide the UK with "greater energy security, growth and jobs" and says it "could be an important part of our transition to a low carbon future".

Prime Minister Theresa May told the Yorkshire Post shale gas extraction was important "because of the impact it can have on our future energy security". Her predecessor David Cameron was also a supporter of fracking, saying it could support tens of thousands of UK jobs and reduce bills.

Downing Street has said shale gas planning applications in England are to be fast-tracked to crack down on councils that delay decisions. However, Labour has called for fracking to be "banned, not promoted" , describing shale gas as a "dirty fossil fuel". In January , MPs overwhelmingly rejected an outright ban on fracking but did pledge an "outright ban" on fracking in national parks. Critics, including Labour and Greenpeace, accused the government of a U-turn.

Ex-Labour MP is first fracking commissioner. Fracking given go-ahead by government. Fracking 'likely cause' of quakes. This video can not be played To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser. What is fracking? Is fracking taking place in the UK? Has test drilling been completed? Join Donate. Where We Work. About Us. Equity and Inclusion. Knowledge Library. Article The truth about fracking and the environment.