Hydraulic FracturingLacye Vance

Walden University M.P.H. Student May 6, 2012

Presentation Goals

Define Hydraulic Fracturing “fracking”Explain benefits of fracking General overview of resources used in

fracking Health and environmental hazards

associated with fracking

What is Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic Fracturing or frackingUsed in the breakdown of shale rock formation Causes oil and natural gasses to be released

High pressure injection of: WaterChemicals Sand

http://www.earthworksaction.org/issues/detail/hydraulic_fracturing_101

Benefits

Fracking began in the late 1940’s Increases output from shale rock Evolving source of natural gas productionCost efficientLowers energy cost Lessen reliance on oil and coal

Zoback, M. Kitasei, S. & Copithorne, B. (2010). Addressing the environmental risk from shale gas development. World Watch Institute. Briefing paper 1.

Water

Water is the main component used in fracking~ 95% of the solution is water

Fracking one well takes ~ 8 million gallons of liquidMost wells require multiple fracking ~ 80% of fluid is left in the ground

Kirker, K. A. & Burger, R. N. (2011). Just the fracking facts. University of Pittsburg Eleventh Annual Freshman Conference.

Chemicals

Companies are not legally mandated to reveal the chemicals they use during the fracking process Pennsylvania EPA study revealed:

41 chemicals with known health hazard used Including known carcinogens

These health hazards include damage to: Sensory organs (eyes & skin) Respiratory organs (lungs) Nervous system organs (brain)

Finkel, M. L. & Law, A. (2011). The rush to drill for natural gas: A public health cautionary tale. American Journal of Public Health . 101(5), 784-785.

Sand or Solids

“Propping agents”Sand Ceramic beads

Keeps fractures in rock openAllows gas to move from fracture to well Gas is then removed from well

US Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). Science in action: : Building a scientific foundation for sound environmental decisions. Fact Sheet retrieved from www.eps.gov/ord

Water Pollution

“Flow back”Waste water created during fracking

Contains “normally occurring radioactive material”Levels are boosted due to drillingConsidered hazardous

Kirker, K. A. & Burger, R. N. (2011). Just the fracking facts. University of Pittsburg Eleventh Annual Freshman Conference.

Air Pollution

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)Released during process

Carbon Dioxide Methane

“Flaring”Process used to burn off unwanted gas

Kirker, K. A. & Burger, R. N. (2011). Just the fracking facts. University of Pittsburg Eleventh Annual Freshman Conference.

Soil Pollution

Drilling wasteMud containing

Hydrocarbons Radioactive material Heavy metals

Finkel, M. L. & Law, A. (2011). The rush to drill for natural gas: A public health cautionary tale. American Journal of Public Health . 101(5), 784-785.

Increased Earthquake Activity

Fracking increases seismic movement“micro-earthquake”

Generally small with no damageOnly 3% of wells were monitored in 2009

Public concerned about lack of monitoring

Zoback, M. Kitasei, S. & Copithorne, B. (2010). Addressing the environmental risk from shale gas development. World Watch Institute. Briefing paper 1.

Decreased Land Value

Damaged roads Due to heavy equipment

Unsatisfactory appearance Wells Gas facilities

Inability to sell land

Kirker, K. A. & Burger, R. N. (2011). Just the fracking facts. University of Pittsburg Eleventh Annual Freshman Conference.

Conclusion

The use of Natural Gas has:Lowered energy prices Decreased carbon dioxide dischargeDecreased US dependency on oil and coal

The fracking process:Unknown health hazardsUnknown environmental hazards

Zoback, M. Kitasei, S. & Copithorne, B. (2010). Addressing the environmental risk from shale gas development. World Watch Institute. Briefing paper 1.

References• Arthur, J. D., Bohm, B., Coughlin, B. J., & Layne, M. (2008). Hydraulic fracturing

considerations for natural gas wells of the Fayetteville shale. ALL Consulting. 1-19. • Finkel, M. L. & Law, A. (2011). The rush to drill for natural gas: A public health

cautionary tale. American Journal of Public Health . 101(5), 784-785. • Kirker, K. A. & Burger, R. N. (2011). Just the fracking facts. University of Pittsburg

Eleventh Annual Freshman Conference.• US Environmental Protection Agency. (2010). Science in action: : Building a scientific

foundation for sound environmental decisions. Fact Sheet retrieved from www.eps.gov/ord

• Zoback, M. Kitasei, S. & Copithorne, B. (2010). Addressing the environmental risk from shale gas development. World Watch Institute. Briefing paper 1.