Fracking and Water Contamination

Fracking and Water Contamination Name: University: Course Title: Professor: Date Due: Fracking and Water Contamination Introduction Fracking is the process of natural gas mining in which streams of water and certain chemicals are pumped at high pressures into the underground rocks containing the natural gas and petroleum to force the gas to the surface, from where it can be collected. This process is also known as hydraulic fracturing drilling, (Mooney, 2011). The process had previously been exempted from the list of water pollution causes. However, recent studies have shown a link, though minor, of not only water pollution but also air pollution to the process. Ground and air monitoring equipment have collected data to show this. Ground water that initially tested negative for the synthetic chemicals related to fracking has now indicated presence of the same after more and more tests were recommended after the initial results were negative, (Mooney, 2011). The Fracking process The process of fracking begins with preparation of fracking fluid in which various chemicals are mixed with water. Then, a well is vertically drilled from the surface into the ground, and then horizontally to the point that access to the target rock containing the gas is possible. A steel pipe is then inserted into the well. The pipe must have pores on some part that will access the deeper level containing natural gas to allow the fracking fluid to flow out of the pipe to react within the target zones, (Schmidt, 2011). The pores form the route through which the gas will flow into the well and up to the surface as well as the flow of the fracking fluid back to the surface. The volume of the fracking fluid ejected through the pores exceeds the volume of the same that penetrates to the target zones. As a result, there is accumulation of the fluid and this raises the pressure to a point that forces the rocks in the target z...