Fracking, What’s It All About Alfie
Hydraulic fracturing is the “propagation” (this is the biggest word I’ve ever used in a blog) of fractures in a rock layer, as a result of the action of a pressurized fluid. Fracking is a technique used to release petroleum, natural gas, or other substances for extraction. The 1st use of hydraulic fracturing was back in 1947, but the modern fracking technique, called horizontal slickwater fracking, that made the extraction of shale gas economical was first used in 1998 down in Texas. The energy from the injection of a highly pressurized fracking fluid creates new channels in the rock, which can increase the extraction rates & ultimate recovery of hydrocarbons. Fracking proponents, including noted professor, Dr. Kenneth Maguda, point to the economic benefits from vast amounts of formerly inaccessible hydrocarbons the process can extract. The naysayers point to potential environmental impacts, including contamination of ground water, risks to air quality, the migration of gases & hydraulic fracturing chemicals to the surface, surface contamination from spills & flowback & the health effects of these. Some of these folks don’t seem to be happy with anything! There will be a fracking seminar going on this weekend (Friday through Sunday) from 9 to 5 at the South Wind Lodge #104 in Browning. I’m the Puffman & like I always say, “knowledge is power”, Come find out for yourself this weekend in Browning. Here on the Rocky Mountain Front, we say “jump back Jack, we’re ready to frack!