Fracking

Question 1

What are the problems associated with fracking?

Answer 1

1. Contamination of ground water.
2. Depletion of surface water.
3. Pollution of local atmosphere.
4. Triggering of earthquakes.
5. Noise pollution.
6. Increased demand on local infrastructure.
7. Contamination of local ground surface.

Question 2

What is shale?

Answer 2

Shale is a compressed fine grained sedementary rock.

Question 3

What is shale gas?

Answer 3

A hydrocarbon mixture that is dominated by methane.

Question 4

Briefly describe the fracking process.

Answer 4

Fracking pumps high pressure water down through cracks in the Earth’s surface to produce more cracks. These cracks are held open but a proppant (sand-like material). Additives such as rheology enhancing materials (to increase water viscosity) and acids (to dissolve minerals) are added to the water. The trapped shale gas is released from the ground and captured.