Fracking Fluids: Whats in Them?
One of the biggest questions that surrounds fracking, and its environmental impacts is this simple one; Whats in the fluids? While many companies complain that people are overreacting, and tout the fact that their mixtures are between 90 and 95 percent water, its the list of hundreds of chemicals that can make up that 5 to 10 percent mixture for any given company. The problem; due to the growing number of companies, and industries getting into the field, many of these companies have registered their respected fracking fluids as trade secrets, therefore prohibiting the concerned citizens of the public from know whats in them, and knowing what chemicals are being put in the grounds near, and around their homes. Below is an article from the Pitssburgh Post Gazette, illustrating the problem in detail.
As we can see from the article, so far regulating these companies, and what is in the fluids has been left on the shoulders of indvidual states. Texas is a big state based on oil but the amount of fluids being put in the ground is so ridiculous that Texas created a state law. "Texas, where companies will have to disclose their fracturing fluids' ingredients under a new state law, led the way among states with 16.7 million gallons of diesel-containing fluid, more than half the total, according to the Democratic lawmakers." (Kollipara, Puneet, Fracking fluid disclosure) If 16.7 million gallons of diesel is half the amount being put in the ground in Texas alone, than these companies are obviously not being one hundred percent truthful about their percentages in their fluids.
As we can see from the article, so far regulating these companies, and what is in the fluids has been left on the shoulders of indvidual states. Texas is a big state based on oil but the amount of fluids being put in the ground is so ridiculous that Texas created a state law. "Texas, where companies will have to disclose their fracturing fluids' ingredients under a new state law, led the way among states with 16.7 million gallons of diesel-containing fluid, more than half the total, according to the Democratic lawmakers." (Kollipara, Puneet, Fracking fluid disclosure) If 16.7 million gallons of diesel is half the amount being put in the ground in Texas alone, than these companies are obviously not being one hundred percent truthful about their percentages in their fluids.
Fracking fluid disclosure pushed October 27, 2011 12:00 am
By Puneet Kollipara / Hearst Newspapers WASHINGTON --
Three House Democrats are pressing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require oil and gas companies to disclose the fluids they use to hydraulically fracture wells.
Reps. Henry Waxman of California, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Diana DeGette of Colorado earlier this year released an analysis showing that 12 oil and gas companies had used 32.2 million gallons of fracturing fluid containing diesel fuel between 2005 and 2009.
Fracking involves injecting mixtures of water, sand and chemicals at high pressure deep underground to break up shale-rock formations and make it easier to extract oil and natural gas.
The lawmakers wrote the EPA this week that they are revising that number upward by 500,000 gallons because two companies had accidentally provided lawmakers incorrect data. The errors "demonstrate the difficulty in obtaining accurate information about the contents of hydraulic fracturing fluids and reinforce the need for mandatory and uniform national disclosure of this information to EPA," the lawmakers wrote.
Oil and gas companies have long maintained that the process doesn't threaten groundwater, but some Democrats and environmentalists say it has caused several instances of drinking-water contamination with toxic chemicals such as benzene, a known carcinogen.
The EPA is conducting its own study on the safety of hydraulic fracturing. The agency recently announced that it would set standards for the disposal of fracturing wastewater.
Texas, where companies will have to disclose their fracturing fluids' ingredients under a new state law, led the way among states with 16.7 million gallons of diesel-containing fluid, more than half the total, according to the Democratic lawmakers.
Louisiana adopted its own disclosure-requirement rule this month.
Ms. DeGette is lead sponsor of a bill to require companies to disclose the fluids they use for fracturing. The bill, introduced in March, hasn't been brought up for consideration in the Republican-controlled House.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar earlier this month said his department was drafting a disclosure-requirement rule for fracturing on public lands. An Energy Department advisory board is also working to finalize a report from August with recommendations on fracturing safety.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/us/fracking-fluid-disclosure-pushed-320991/#ixzz2Dk0nuOjG
Kollipara, Puneet. "Fracking Fluid Disclosure Pushed." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Hearst Newspapers, 27 Oct. 2011. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/us/fracking-fluid-disclosure-pushed-32099
By Puneet Kollipara / Hearst Newspapers WASHINGTON --
Three House Democrats are pressing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to require oil and gas companies to disclose the fluids they use to hydraulically fracture wells.
Reps. Henry Waxman of California, Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Diana DeGette of Colorado earlier this year released an analysis showing that 12 oil and gas companies had used 32.2 million gallons of fracturing fluid containing diesel fuel between 2005 and 2009.
Fracking involves injecting mixtures of water, sand and chemicals at high pressure deep underground to break up shale-rock formations and make it easier to extract oil and natural gas.
The lawmakers wrote the EPA this week that they are revising that number upward by 500,000 gallons because two companies had accidentally provided lawmakers incorrect data. The errors "demonstrate the difficulty in obtaining accurate information about the contents of hydraulic fracturing fluids and reinforce the need for mandatory and uniform national disclosure of this information to EPA," the lawmakers wrote.
Oil and gas companies have long maintained that the process doesn't threaten groundwater, but some Democrats and environmentalists say it has caused several instances of drinking-water contamination with toxic chemicals such as benzene, a known carcinogen.
The EPA is conducting its own study on the safety of hydraulic fracturing. The agency recently announced that it would set standards for the disposal of fracturing wastewater.
Texas, where companies will have to disclose their fracturing fluids' ingredients under a new state law, led the way among states with 16.7 million gallons of diesel-containing fluid, more than half the total, according to the Democratic lawmakers.
Louisiana adopted its own disclosure-requirement rule this month.
Ms. DeGette is lead sponsor of a bill to require companies to disclose the fluids they use for fracturing. The bill, introduced in March, hasn't been brought up for consideration in the Republican-controlled House.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar earlier this month said his department was drafting a disclosure-requirement rule for fracturing on public lands. An Energy Department advisory board is also working to finalize a report from August with recommendations on fracturing safety.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/us/fracking-fluid-disclosure-pushed-320991/#ixzz2Dk0nuOjG
Kollipara, Puneet. "Fracking Fluid Disclosure Pushed." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Hearst Newspapers, 27 Oct. 2011. Web. 29 Nov. 2012. <http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/news/us/fracking-fluid-disclosure-pushed-32099
My Word count: 265
Genre/Source Word Count :100
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Total Word Page Count: 365
Genre/Source Word Count :100
Image Source http://coloradoindependent.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/Picture-8.png
Total Word Page Count: 365
Disclaimer:
Parts of this website are fiction and were made for a class. Please email my instructor with questions. scheney[at]collin[dot]edu.]
Parts of this website are fiction and were made for a class. Please email my instructor with questions. scheney[at]collin[dot]edu.]