The technology and procedures used for oil and gas extraction have come a long way since 1859; from Edwin Drake’s tendency to use brine drilling methods in Pennsylvania, to advanced and intricate methods of extraction such as hydraulic fracturing of subsurface rocks. Although all methods of on and off shore drilling invite some form of speculation and criticism, the escalating use of hydraulic fracturing is quite possibly one of the most controversial methods of extraction to date. It is not unusual for a neophyte to fail to reason why such conflict is spawned from a relatively placid sounding term. In practical world of the petroleum industry, however, there is a plethora of implications and concerns surrounding hydraulic fracturing.
Hydraulic fracturing —putting it briefly— is the method of extraction of hydrocarbon content which involves the use of a highly pressurised fluid. This pressurised fluid is pumped into the host rock containing the desired hydrocarbons. When the pressurise of the liquid overcome that of the overlying crust, the shale rock cracks, letting out the trapped organic content. Due to the marvels of fluid mechanics, the hydrocarbons present in the host rock flow up through the same channel which the fracking fluid passes along down from the rig.
On one side, the technology of hydraulic fracturing is a god send for geographical regions where oil and gas deposits can not be easily and viably be retrieved using conventional extraction methods. In most cases for these regions, the oil and gas content is embedded in the source rock. This type of source rock is typically deeper within the earths crust as compared to conventional oil reserves. Hydraulic fracturing solves the gruelling task of efficiently recovering oil and gas from host rocks; US shale is a typical example of where hydraulic fracturing is being applied. According to the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), over the next year shale gas output is predicted to increase by 1.8 million barrels per day. The shale gas reserves —which prevail mainly in the Permian Basin in southern United states— are expected to produce 6.55 million barrels a day as of February 2018. The statistics pertaining to oil and gas production with the use of hydraulic fracturing are optimistic, to say the least. With the help of such sophisticated and prolific methods, North American oil companies might once again find mass production of oil and gas viable.
However, despite the advantages, there are grave concerns present regarding this technology. These concerns arise primarily from its alleged profound impact to the environment. The debate for and against hydraulic fracturing can become contentious—owing to conflicting interests— but there is no dismissals regarding the fact that it poses a severe hazard to groundwater. Since extensive groundwater contamination poses a peril of great prominence, the backlash would predictably be more acute. As a consequence, in 2012 the governor of Vermont signed a bill to place a ban on the use of hydraulic fracturing, in the state of Vermont. Following Vermont, states and provinces including New York, Quebec, Novia Scotia and New Brunswick have also suspended the practice. Furthermore, according to a study conducted in British Columbia, the use of hydraulic fracturing can also be attributed to the increase in earthquake occurrences. However—according the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)— occurrences of earthquakes because of hydraulic fracturing are “extremely rare”. The EPA further suggests that wastewater disposal poses a greater threat with regard to “induced” earthquakes and subsurface contamination, as they operate for a longer time and pump in more fluid as compared to oil wells using hydraulic fracturing. The question now is that whether the United States and Canada are willing to curb down the use of the technology that might just give them the edge they need to compete with OPEC, or are the repercussions so critical that the cost could be severe and irreparable environmental damage. An attempt to conclude an explicit answer to this notion would seem pretentious. However, a factual aspect to point out is that there is no denying the increasing skepticism regarding the use of hydraulic fracturing in North America.
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