DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.
DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.

Final Group Portfolio

 

For the topic that we as a group have chosen for the group presentation, the subject is the engineering consequence of fracking procedures that lead to man made earthquakes in Oklahoma, United States. To fully understand the risks associated with fracking, we must first understand what fracking is. Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, is a method of extracting previously unreachable resources such as pockets of oil or natural gas by creating small gaps in the ground to release these resources. This is mostly achieved through injecting water, sand and chemicals into the ground and forcing open previously existing fissures. This allows energy companies to extract untouched sources of oil and natural gas.

 

 

 

During the process of fracking, a large amount of wastewater is injected into the ground. The majority of these operations do not care to remove the wastewater afterwards. It is also very difficult to precisely control how far the fissures are forced open. This could often lead to water contamination for the local residents. Not only does this drastically decreases drinkable water, but also interrupts irrigation. Due to the high percentage of brine in the wastewater, it could potentially kill the crops if it contaminates the water supply. The disposal of wastewater during fracking operations also injects large quantities of fluid into the ground, this increases the fluid pressure underground and also increases the probability of faults in the Earth’s crust to slip, causing seismic waves. Studies from the United States Geological Survey has shown that the disposal of wastewater is one of the most prominent causes for these man-made earthquakes.

 

 

Fracking has a number of issues when it comes to ethics, because in the engineering code of conduct, it states that engineering services or products should be for the benefit of society. However, fracking seems to bring up a lot of problems for people and the environment. There are pros and cons when it comes to hydraulic fracturing. Despite methane being a potent greenhouse gas, burning it produces carbon dioxide and water, which are less efficient greenhouse gases. Hydraulic fracturing is not the only anthropogenic earthquake inducer. Geothermal energy infrastructure also creates man made earthquake.

 

Overall, if fracking is a danger to human life, why is it still not regulated today? According to The American Prospect, due to the energy policies established by the Bush administration, the federal government has next to no control over the countless fracking operation across the country. In 2004, former president George W. Bush’s EPA released a report on fracking saying fracking poses no risk to water contamination; despite the fact that several scientists from the EPA viewed the result of the report as questionable. During the Obama administration, fracking was supposed to be a bridge for us to transition from being extremely fossil fuel reliant to using more of natural gas. This would decrease the emission and buy us some time while we search for an affordable alternative fuel source. Although many environmentalist criticize the Obama administration stating that natural gas is not a long term solution but rather a lesser evil, this is clearly the cleaner and most accessible alternative to fossil fuel. However, this stage of transition was supposed to be temporary and was not anticipated to continue for this long. While the push from the administration plays a role in regulating fracking operations, but we also have to understand the process of something becoming regulated. First, the EPA sent out specialists to evaluate the process and the risks associated with fracking. This step was very difficult for EPA and yielded unsatisfactory result as the energy industry constantly attempts to hinder or delay the study.

 

References

 

 

DRAFT: This module has unpublished changes.
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