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please first read the article I provide and answer questions in the last paragraph and try to make some discussion and arguments on the topic.
how instructor grade? A very good answer will not only include references to facts but will also discuss one’s opinions or value beliefs in regards to those facts, such as whether you believe a statistics quote is accurate or whether you feel a certain fact tends to be distorted by mainstream thought. An excellent question will be unique, likely very timely, and show an excellent use of words to provoke thought and response.
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The Marcellus Shale is a geologic formation containing natural gas that stretches across much of the Eastern U.S., from New York to Tennessee. It has been a topic of hot debate over the past few years and continues to be a point of contention between landowners, governments, institutions, and private companies, even earning the attention of President Obama in his 2012 State of the Union speech. While geologists have known of the Marcellus Shale for years, early estimates of the amount of natural gas contained within it were fairly low. However, the use of the hydraulic fracturing (hydrofracking) drilling technique has dramatically increased the amount of natural gas that is recoverable (Geology.com). Current estimates suggest that reserves in the Marcellus Shale could meet U.S. energy demand for six years (Buurma, 2012).
Since natural gas is considered a relatively clean source of energy, producing only about half the carbon dioxide of coal (Fischetti, 2010), one might think that environmentalists would support the extraction and use of natural gas whole heartedly. However, the process of hydrofracking has been highly criticized. Natural gas movement through shale formations occurs mostly through cracks in the rock called joints; therefore a well that intersects these joints produces the most natural gas. Traditionally, gas wells were drilled vertically into the rock, but the joints in the Marcellus Shale tend to run vertically, so traditional, vertical wells would intersect very few joints and hence produce little gas. Hydrofracking works by drilling a vertical well down to the shale layer and then drilling horizontally into the shale. The ?fracturing? part of the hydrofracking involves pumping a high-pressure gel down into the well with enough force to fracture the rock and release the natural gas trapped inside (Geology.com).
Several environmental concerns over the hydrofracking process have arisen, especially over the issue of the gel mixture that gets pumped down into the rock. The gel is mostly made of water (an estimated 3 to 9 million gallons per well) but chemicals are added in order to gel the material (New York State Water Resources Institute at Cornell University). One concern is that this gel and its toxic chemicals might travel through the new fractures in the rock, potentially reaching aquifers and polluting the groundwater supply. In addition, when the ?fracking gel is pumped back to the surface it becomes wastewater that may pollute our rivers and streams. Treatment of the wastewater is necessary in order to remove the chemicals and make it safe to release back into the environment (Urbina, 2011).
Because the hydrofracking technology is so new, very little legislation has been passed regarding it. Legislation is needed to protect our environment, but also to protect landowners from being taken advantage of by drilling companies. These energy companies generally lease their drilling rights from private landowners, and especially in these tough economic times, earning some extra income by leasing your land is a tempting offer. However, these landowners often don?t know exactly how much they are signing away (Urbina & Mcginty, 2011).
Do a little research and form your own opinion of hydrofracking. Here are some questions for thought, but please also address any other issues you think of.
– Is the ?clean-ness? of natural gas burning worth the risks of hydrofracking?
– Should regulation of hydrofracking come from states or from the federal government?
– Whose responsibility is it to protect landowner rights?
– Whose responsibility is it to clean up hydrofracking wastewater? What is an appropriate method for this clean up?
– Fresh water is highly valued as a resource in many parts of the world, including in many parts of the U.S., and hydrofracking requires huge amounts of fresh water. Is it worth compromising our water resource for the pursuit of natural gas?
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