What is Fracking
Fracking is a way that oil and gas companies rape the ground for natural resources. Learn the basics of what is fracking.
If you live in the city you probably have not heard of the term fracking, it is something many rural landowners fear.
I live in oil and gas country, Alberta, Canada. Because I live on an acreage there are always concerns when the oil and gas men come around. Some people welcome the oil and gas men, if they get a rig on their property they get paid. Others shun the oil and gas men, although most have no power over what the oil and gas men do as most landowners only hold the rights to what is on top of the land, and oil companies own rights to what is beneath the soil.
The reason some landowners are not welcoming of the oil and gas men, and fracking, is because of environmental concerns and risks to the water supply.
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One method of getting the oil and natural gas from underground is called Hydraulic fracturing. Most people in my area call this Fracking. It is also called fracing, or hydrofracing.
As I understand it fracking is fracturing underground rock by injecting some sort of fluid mixed with small particles, in my area this is typically water mixed with a small amount of sand at about a ration of 99 parts water, 1 part sand.
The worries are that fractures in the rock as the result of fracking can cause environmental damage. Of greatest concern is the underground water supply. Where I live we use well water, as do most rural people. A lake near me is 100% spring fed, it has no streams running into it, so any damage done to the underground water supply would put this lake at risk.
If oil or natural gas gets into the water supply everyone who is dependent on that water is at risk. Livestock may suffer from health problems, as would humans. Plants in the area may suffer. Cancer rates may increase, and unexplained illness is not uncommon.
It is difficult to fight the oil and gas companies, who will claim such problems are not their doing, but generally speaking fracking is not 100% as safe as people are lead to believe, any area of doubt is doubt enough in my concern.
The problem is that until our society as a whole learns to live without natural gas, or oil, fracking will continue in an effort to get more oil and natural gas out of the ground.
A new term for me Brenda, thank you for boosting my vocabulary.
But there are was to get our oil and gas without this fracking. In the US, the man who found a way to run cars on water alone, died mysteriously. I don’t understand it all….You used a good word. We rape the earth in so many ways.
Wow – this is a very interesting article – a real eye opener!
Thanks for the info, fracking also can damage and pollute wetlands in additon to contaminating drinking water.
I remember in Pennsylvania in the 70s we were offered money for the oil and gas rights on some land. they said it would be worth it to start drilling when oil reached 50 a gallon. So now it’s a hundred a barrel and still no drilling.
thanks for interesting information. it was something new for me
Fracking needs to stop. Yes, the people who’s land gets “fracked” get paid, but the consequences this could have on our environment are far more important than monetary compensation.
Totally agree with this. Fracking has to be stopped.
Thank you for explaining fracking in more detail. I hear about it a lot since I live next to the White River in Arkansas. Several local environmental groups are trying to stop fracking along the banks of this river.
Keep up the good work,
Cindy