UN Environmental Program
Fracking
Hydraulic Fracturing, or fracking, is a process for extracting natural gas from shale rock
formations and has been used for roughly 65 years. The process involves drilling into the earth
with a continuous stream of “fracking fluid”, composed of various liquids and chemicals, to help
break up the rock and cool down the drill bit. Once the rig hits the water table, normally located
around 300 to 1,000 feet below the surface, a steel tube is inserted into the hole and is
surrounded by concrete, to prevent leakage into the water table. The drilling then continues until
the shale formation is reached. At this point the steel casing is perforated and fracking fluid is
pumped into the pipe at high pressures to help crack the shale formation and release the natural
gas trapped inside. Recently, horizontal drilling has been applied to this process, allowing for
landowners to better position the rigs, so as to avoid farmland or other areas of importance, and
allowing for natural gas companies to extract more natural gas with less rigs.
The process is surrounded in controversy, most of which is focused on the fracking fluid
itself, while others are concerned with the environmental impact of the rigs or the copious
amounts of water required to frack a well, and others still are concerned with the contamination
of drinking water. Additionally, activists are concerned about the composition of the fracking
fluid, whether or not it leaks into the water supply, the disposal of the excess fluid, and some are
concerned with whether or not the air is polluted when the fluid is evaporated. There are multiple
articles on both sides of the argument that prove or disprove these concerns and even a few
documentaries, most notably Josh Fox’s Gasland and Phelim McAleer’s Fracknation, both
supporting and refuting hydraulic fracking.
Questions to Consider:
1. Does your country produce or consume natural gas? If so, how much?
2. How concerned is your country on the environmental impact of its industries and
what steps has your country taken?
Other Sources:
1. http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-14432401
2. http://www.what-is-fracking.com/what-is-hydraulic-fracturing/
3. http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/fracking/