1. With information from Jacob Friedman
What the Frack?

2. What is Fracking? Hydraulic Fracturing AKA Hydrofracking
High-pressure water mixed with chemicals and sand are injected into wells to extract natural gas
Creates fractures in rocks that allow oil and natural gas to escape and flow out of the well.
Horizontal drilling allows
16 acres*
Make cracks in shale rock to free gas
Gas flows to surface
70% of water returns as waste
*16 acre radius is an estimate. Gas flows to the surface across a large area. This is made possible by horizontal drilling. Previously, vertical drilling was conducted underground in a much smaller area.

3. Advantages of Fracking
Obtain oil and natural gas in places where conventional practices were ineffective or cost-prohibitive
Lower energy dependency
Creates jobs
Stimulate local economies
$2000 per US household
1.7 million jobs
Rural areas get wealth
Help out of recession*
*Only a theory, not substantiated by facts

4. Advantages of Fracking
Lower transportation costs/fossil fuel use
Natural gas
Efficient fossil fuel: 90%**
Low CO2 emission
Less global climate change
110 years of energy in USA
2 lifetimes?
**Number may be slightly biased- found on American Gas Association website

5. Disadvantages of Fracking
Environmental impact
Definite
Indefinite
Social impact
Corporate negligence
Further environmental impact

6. Disadvantages of Fracking
Dangerous Chemicals used and could enter the water table
Toxic, radioactive, and caustic liquid waste by-products pose storage, treatment and disposal problems.
No regulations or safeguards
Contaminated water
Air pollution
Destroy streams
Negative mpact on flora & fauna

7. Environmental Impact Land used for clearing, well pad, and storage pit
2-4 billion gallons of water
15-16,000 gallons chemicals
Carcinogens, toxins, poisons (undisclosed)
Radioactive elements filtered & accumulated from wastewater

8. Environmental Impact Dispute over methane migration
Hundreds of feet below all aquifers
Studies find correlation between microbial methane in aquifers & distance to well
No disclosure & bias = lack of reliable studies
Faulty cementing more likely
*correlation, not causation

9. Social Impact Landowners w/o mineral rights must allow fracking access
Both parties must accommodate
Force pooling: 16 acres away
Industrialism of rural areas
Increase in heavy truck crashes in rural areas
Linked to increased STDs*
Landowners don’t know about fracking violations
*Correlation, not causation

10. Corporate Negligence Wastewater filtered in licensed treatment plants
Common practice: wastewater evaporation pits
Not reinforced or guarded
Toxic materials can spill/release harmful chemicals
Faulty cement casing
Cracks can lead to aquifers
Not considered (by def) part of fracking

11. Government Interference
2004 EPA study  Bush exempts fracking from Safe Water Drinking Act
No disclosure for fracking chemicals
Good for business
Lack of mineral rights = accommodate fracking companies
Force pooling
Fracking exploration in NC by Oct 2014

12. AMERICA
In the words of George Washington:
“GOD BLESS THE USA!”