What is fracking in simple words?

What is fracking in simple words?

“Fracking” is short for “hydraulic fracturing” — it’s a process by which water, sand, and chemicals are injected underground at very high pressures to crack open rock layers and release the oil or gas trapped inside.

What is fracking and why is it controversial?

Fracking is a heated topic between residents and fracking companies. Drilling down into rock formations and blasting out the oil and gas remains a controversial extraction method, no matter how many technological advances or safety features are added.

What does hydraulic fracking do?

Hydraulic fracturing produces fractures in the rock formation that stimulate the flow of natural gas or oil, increasing the volumes that can be recovered. Wells may be drilled vertically hundreds to thousands of feet below the land surface and may include horizontal or directional sections extending thousands of feet.

What is fracking in government terms?

Hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, is a method of oil and natural gas extraction. Fracking involves injecting fluid into subterranean rock formations at high pressure to produce a fracture network that allows crude oil and natural gas inside dense rocks to be extracted at the surface. HIGHLIGHTS.

Why do we need fracking?

Fracking is essential for the production of natural gas and oil from shale formations, and with advances in fracking technology, it is becoming easier and more accessible to access natural gas.

Is fracking a good or bad thing?

Fracking is a hotly debated environmental and political issue. Advocates insist it is a safe and economical source of clean energy; critics, however, claim fracking can destroy drinking water supplies, pollute the air, contribute to the greenhouse gases that cause global warming, and trigger earthquakes.

Is hydraulic fracking safe?

Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” is revolutionizing oil and gas drilling across the country. However, without rigorous safety regulations, it can poison groundwater, pollute surface water, impair wild landscapes, and threaten wildlife.

Does fracking produce oil or gas?

Fracking has been safely used in the United States since 1947. More than 1.7 million U.S. wells have been completed using the fracking process, producing more than seven billion barrels of oil and 600 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.