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FRACKING HAS BEEN the subject of huge controversy in the US and internationally. It is the subject of a critical documentary, has been banned in France, and campaigners are already warning of the possible environmental consequences if it begins in Ireland. But what exactly is it and why is it such a big deal?
Fracking, short for ‘hydraulic fracturing’, is a method of extracting natural gas from pockets in underground rock. It has been used in the oil industry for decades. However, it is only in the last few years that developments in drill technology have made it viable as a technique for tapping gas reserves dispersed through shale rock strata – such as those in Ireland’s Lough Allen basin.
“Within the last decade or so, something called shale gas has been recognised as being really important,” explains Professor Pat Shannon of the UCD School of Geology. “There’s a very significant amount out there, so everybody is now chasing shale gas. It could make a very significant difference.”
Typically, fracking is used when shale rocks contain gas trapped in numerous small pockets. “It’s where you know that there is oil or gas but it can’t get out because those spaces aren’t connected,” explains Prof Shannon. “Fracking opens new fractures in the rock so you can connect those little bits together” and efficiently collect the gas.
First you drill down thousands of metres to the level of the gas reserves, then sideways along the rock seam. Then you pump in what is known as ‘fracking fluid’ – a mixture of “water, a gelatinous material and something like tiny ball bearings, usually made of plastic”, Prof Shannon says. “Often tens of thousands of gallons. You pump this in under pressure, using jet turbines, and the rock will fracture.”
The chemical gelatinous material and ball bearing-like particles then hold the fracture open, allowing the pressurised water to escape again – along with the gas.
The main problem raised by environmental activists is the disposal of the fracking fluid, which arrives back at the surface in large quantities and contains chemicals which can be harmful. “You pump a lot of water down, and then that water comes back out,” Prof Shannon says. “That is not fresh, so how do you dispose of that?”
The issue is complicated by the fact that the fracturing of the rock itself is unpredictable. “When you fracture a rock, you don’t know which direction the fractures will go in or how many you will get. Fractures may go up into water systems, into freshwater aquifers.”
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For fraks sake. Thought the fraking article was about real fraking as seen on battle star galactica :-)
Its scary that people are thinking that this whole idea is good and fine just so they’ll make some money off it, it is far from 100% safe.
Ok so we got fracking and you pump a sh*t load of water into the ground, you also fracture rocks.
So by fracturing rocks you can affect water supplys, in addition about half of the fracking water returns to the surface.
When the water reaches the surface its not safe as its full of chemicals so what do you do with this water, also what do you do with the fumes off of the water and the gas that have come to the surface,
In the states the water is put into pits, sprayed into the air and the fumes go into the air, this will have an affect on the environment. How will this be any different in Ireland exactly?
Its not just a chance of water being affected, there are many other factors involved here
Lighting water coming out of your tap is not a good thing. Watch gasland a while ago. Scary the damage that it does to the earth.
CSI: Las Vegas Season 11 Episode 8….Fracking related.
Please sign this petition to ban fracking in Ireland. Thank you
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/ban-hydraulic-fracturing-for-natural-gas-in-ireland.html
Are you nuts?
The whole anti-fracking tree hugger keep Leitrim poor but “nice” movement has its head where the sun doesn’t shine and here are just ten reasons why:
1. Hydraulic fracking has been around for 60 years. Developments made around 2008-9 have simply made the process much more commercially viable.
2. Since fracking was introduced in 1949, over 2 million frack treatments have been pumped without a single documented case of treatments polluting a water aquifer.
3. 90 percent of all gas wells drilled in the United States since 1949 have been fracked.
4. The depth of most shale gas deposits drilled is between 6,000 and 10,000 feet—water aquifers exist at an average depth of 500 feet.
5. Claims of ‘migration’ between the shale gas layers and water aquifers due to fracking or for any other reason, are patently absurd as the gas would have to pass through millions of tons of impermeable rock. If the rock was that porous, neither the water nor the gas would have been there in the first place. (As the hard data in fig. 1 from a study of 15,000 frac treatments in the Barnett Shale Field reveals plainly.
6. Fracture design engineers go to great lengths to avoid fracture growth of even 100 feet to prevent losing production.
7. The new eco-horror genre flicks, like Josh Fox’s “Gasland,” create impact by making outrageous claims which include suggesting “569 chemicals” are used in a single “toxic cocktail” frack treatment. The reality is that 99.5 percent of the treatment is water and sand. Much of the remainder is made up of a maximum of 12 or so harmless gelling agents, like Guar gum (used in ice cream making), and chemicals commonly used around the house.
8. Domestic running water faucets being set alight with a match might wow gullible film audiences, but dissolved methane found in well water may well be biogenic (naturally occurring). As the largest component in natural gas, methane is not even regulated as it is not toxic and escapes naturally like soda bubbles.
9. Hydraulic fracking procedures are heavily regulated and not, as often claimed by eco-activists, exempt from drinking water and other key regulatory laws.
10. Concerns about using “excessive water resources” in the process are already being assuaged by new developments, including recycling water. And the U.S. Ground Water Protection Council confirms that drilling with compressed air is becoming increasingly common.
10.
As Montaigne said three hundred years ago, “Nothing is so firmly believed as that which is least well known”.
Its not going to happen! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZe1AeH0Qz8
Luddite!!
Absolutely not…I am all for harvesting natural resources in a SAFE manner, without destroying one of our most beautiful locations and the lives of everyone in the area.
@Oil Foster
Luddite Vs Gullible?
The Truth about Fracking http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW_xJqPjE_I
That is not the truth about fracking…its simply a crack pot report from a man with a BA in Philosophy and Economics and who dropped out of law school. The REAL facts are there for everyone to see in the film Gasland.
http://www.vidxden.com/vzxoetasndz3
sure thing david, you keep thinking those are the “facts”
GLENN – you’re hysterical. Get a hold of yourself, man.
Jeff I do like ICE CREAM-but I dont think I would survive adding “chemicals I find around the house” to my drinking water. Gasland has reports from loads of different people and parts of the u.s. all saying the same thing.-So Jeff if one person you bump into on the street says “Jeff you look like a horse ” you think he’s mad or puttin’ you on , when ten people from different parts of town say the same thing you buy yourself a “nosebag” -or maybe say it’s a “tree hugger” conspiracy.
Actually Frank most Ice creams contain household chemicals & total additives pass 0.5% but lets not worry about facts & figures as you seen as you seem more concerned about if I am or not a horse ? but i do know when I am mistaken I change my mind what do you do ?
Here is the list of chemicals you will be surprised to find in traditional ice creams.
Diethylglycol: A cheap chemical used as an emulsifier instead of eggs; is the same chemical used in antifreeze and paint remover.
Piperonal: Used in place of vanilla. This chemical is used to kill lice.
Aldehyde C-17: Used to flavor cherry ice cream. It’s an inflammable liquid also used in aniline dyes, plastic and rubber.
Ethyl Acetate: Used to give ice cream a pineapple flavor – and as a cleaner for both leather and textiles; its vapors have been known to cause chronic lung, liver and heart damage.
Butyraldehyde: Used in nut flavored ice cream. It’s one of the ingredients in rubber cement.
Amylacetate: Used for its banana flavor. It’s also used as an oil paint solvent.
Benzyl Acetate: Used for its strawberry flavor. It’s a nitrate solvent.”
So much to worry about………. better have a ice cream.
You really are a very scientific ice cream man!
Bottom line "Water contamination is inevitable when it comes to fracking! "
Only profit addicts that don’t care and live in different areas will tell you otherwise!
Just think about all the methane in Leitrim from livestock I bet that does much more damage so frack you baby
What would happen to the livestock if this were allowed to go ahead, would you be happy to eat the meat or drink the milk of an animal who has been drinking a concoction of benzine, formaldehyde and hundreds of other dangerous chemicals?
I’m guessing you like fire more than drinking water?
Pure Hollywood!!
Dollar dollar dollar baby we need the dollar baby frack away
So the government want to charge us for water; which could possibly poison us
They want to charge us flu our homes; which could possibly blow up
I wonder who will profit????
http://www.change.org/petitions/supporting-the-irish-nation-step-down-from-government
*this country needs to be rid of these fools in Government who are making the citizens of Ireland pay for the banks, bondholders and the elected government,s €80 Billion Debt.
-This is not fair and it is not right, people were bullied and lied to vote in the way that was “wanted”.
I’m sick to death of hearing about the sick, the elderly and the people who have already been broken down get stamped on even more. whilst these “leaders” have the audacity to tell us that they can’t take a paycut because it would be too much. They earn over €150,000 a year, yet most of the Irish citizens live averagely on €35,000 a year.
- The Government have their own “expenses” account which they like to use a LOT!. Enda Kenny €25,000: in one night: in one pub.
- that kind of money would sort some people for life.
And that’s not even the tip of the Iceberg!!
http://www.change.org/petitions/supporting-the-irish-nation-step-down-from-government @@EndTheEU
#Forward2012
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