Hydraulic Fracturing: Balancing Economic Benefits with Environmental Concerns

The hydraulic fracturing (fracking) panel recommends that fracking can be performed in the Northern Territory (NT), but with measures to protect natural resources, including land, water, and habitats of aboriginal people. The government must take steps to prevent contamination of water sources. Modern practices and equipment should be used to minimize environmental impact. The site should be located away from human habitats, and conservation areas or national parks are preferred over residential areas. The panel prohibits fracking in arid regions that may affect water resources. The process should be carried out during the months of May-October to prevent water contamination.

PROJECT

Table of Contents
1. Introduction.................................................................................................................................1
2. Potential for the use of Hydraulic Fracturing...........................................................................1
3. Impacts of hydraulic fracturing on existing farming operations, ground water quality, and
other activities in the area...................................................................................................................3
4. Water and Underground contamination....................................................................................5
5. The imposition of the moratorium of the Hydraulic Fracturing..............................................6
6. Conclusion....................................................................................................................................8
References............................................................................................................................................8
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1. Introduction
Hydraulic fracturing is the process that includes recovering or collecting the natural gas
from the deep formations of the shale. It creates some fissures or fractures in the rocks in
order to permit the gases to penetrate into the rocks. This is not like drilling. Once the drilling
is done in the rocks, the gases are sent through the holes. Previously, Northern Ireland has
worked on this process of hydraulic fracturing. In this assignement, it is investigated about
the potential of the hyrdaulic fracturing, impacts of the hydraulic fracturing and also analysed
whether it is good for the environment.
2. Potential for the use of Hydraulic Fracturing
In the year of 2016, on 3rd december the Government of Northern Territory declared a
scientific inquiry into the process of Hydraulic Fracturing in the extraction of onshore
deposits of hydrocarbon resources. In the year of 2016, on 14th september the Government of
Northern Territory declared a moratorium on Hydraulic fracturing in the extraction of
onshore deposits of the hydrocarbon that are present in the reservoirs including to use the
fracturing for extraction, manufacturing and Diagnostic Fracture Injection Testing (DFITs).
Hydraulic fracturing is a type of method that increases the permeability of the gas and oil
formations and this technique improves the quantity of the product that is being extracted. It
typically involves the process of inserting the fluid which is prepared using water, proppant
and some additives of chemical under heavy pressure into the deep regions to broaden the
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already existing fractures or to innovate the new fractures within the formation of the target
rock (Lave & Lutz, 2014). It is performed in different heightd or stages in the deep regions
like well. It is used to improve the manufacturing of the well. Northern territory areas are
highly populated areas so the use of hydraulic fracturing increases the production of the
hydrocarbon resources. If the hydraulic fracturing is not practiced then it is not possible
economically to improve most of the deposits of the hydrocarbon that is present over the
NLC region. It extracts the groundwater, fragments the habitat, increases the traffic in the
vehicles and other impacts of potential use. There are some potential impacts with the
extracts of Coal Seam gas. Before going for extraction of the Coal Seam gas, it is important
to measure the geological factors. This may be the investigation for the potential use of the
hydraulic fracturing in NT. From 1969, nearly in 700 wells Hydraulic Fracturing has been
performed in the cooper without any issues. Onshore developments of the gas are structured
to mitigate the impact on the use of groud and land. A site that is about 2 hectares is needed
for the development of well and stimulation. In an analysis it is found that the onshore areas
of the Northern Territory is holding about 2 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, which is enough
for the country for about 20 decades. The interim report of the Scientific inquiry has pointed
out the risks involved in Hydraulic fracturing and also the potential benefits to economy of
the country. The report clearly says that the land and water resources management would be
quiet critical for NT. The present system of onshore development of gas is not sufficient and
it is required to improve the system strongly. The people who are Aboriginal should be
protected and informed prior. Energy companies that are situated in the NT tells that the
hydraulic fracturing is the safe practice in the country. Gas companies that are located in the
Northern Territory also claims that the hydraulic fracturing in NT is a sustainable one and
they assure that it will help to improve the economical status of the company. A report in the
year of 2014 had outspoken about the potential issues based on the health can occur beacuse
of the hydraulic fracturing (Lave & Lutz, 2014).
Hawke's Report on Hydraulic Fracturing
Hawke provides the report on performing the hydraulic fracturing in the Northern Territory.
The Government of Northern Territory takes the report of Hawke and it considers 6 key
recommendations of Hawke. The important thing that the Government had noted in the report
is that, Hawke had told that Hydraulic fracturing can be performed safely and sustainably in
the Northern Territory. The report also gives a clear view that the industries are required to
licensed properly to perform the fracking process. It is important to analyse the surface's
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stress and fault distribution. It is found that the hydraulic fracturing can be done safely and in
a sustainable manner ("Hawke Report released | AEOL", 2017). By analysis it is found that
during 1970, nearly in 30 wells Hydraulic fracturing has been done. The cooper basin that is
situated in the northeastern paart of south Australia and southwestern part of the Queensland
was one of the Australia's premier oil and gas regions for over 50 years.
Background of the Hydraulic Fracturing
The Northern Territory contains the significant supply of the conventional gas. The
improvement of the unconventional supply of gas in NT can create incentive for this types of
links, this provides a risk for the energy security in NT. The unconventional gas supply is not
required for the markets in the North. But it is required for eastern markets. The economic
perspective is also one of the important background for hydraulic fracturing. Government
thought that the budget spent on other social infrastructure like hospital, schools will be high
rather than spending the budget on mining will be less. Apart from the mining process and
economic benefits of the extraction of the gas, the businesses that are taken place locally felt
that this process reduces the finance capital, social and natural capital ("NT hydraulic
fracturing inquiry background and issues paper released for consultation - Knowledge -
Clayton Utz", 2017) . A report in the year 2011 which was prepared by Santos by Allen
Consulting Group determined that the development of the Coal Seam gas in the Northern
Territory would create more employment opportunities to the people and also a report in the
year of 2012 had proved that the new projects on oil and gas would provide 103,000 full-time
job opprtunities. Considering the economy of the country, it is determined that approximately
$1 billion of the Northern territory Government revenues would be earned by developing the
onshore gas for next 2 decades. This makes an increase of about $22.4 billion in the gross
product of the state Government ("Darwin fracking inquiry hears from key stakeholders",
2017).
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The above diagram shows the various types of accumulations of the petrol and the source of
development.
3. Impacts of hydraulic fracturing on existing farming operations, ground
water quality, and other activities in the area
Hydraulic Fracturing Background today, hydraulic fracturing function can be
discovered across the United States and all over the world. As the required for fossil fuel and
energy rises with the population of human being, oil companies maintain to search for new
ways and areas to offer the desired energy resource while creating an expressive profit. Floyd
Farris of Stanolind Oil and Gas Company first proposed hydraulic fracturing in pressure
treatment and well achieved study conducted in the 1940’s. This research led to the first
hydrofrac of an oil together. Stanolind Oil and Gas Corporation execute the first hydraulic
fracturing function in Kansas in 1947 and after two years, Halliburton Oil of Well Cementing
Company secured the patent with the privileged license to operate hydraulic fracturing on oil
wells. Since then, the process has broaden across the nation to regain natural gas and
petroleum to be taken and utilized abroad and domestically. Over the period of about sixty-
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five years, nearly one million oil wells and natural gas have been recycled in hydraulic
fracturing to restore the solution for production. With the growth of the recovery and
exploration of oil and natural gas has introduce the construction of jobs, growth in energy
production, and also growth in economic. Hydraulic fracturing is not a drilling operation per
se; rather it is the action of producing or repair fractures in rock evolution deep underground
to provoke the process of natural gas through a pipeline and up a well. In order to protect
contamination of the water level in which an oil well is drilled through, a steel canal invoke
to as exterior casing is lowered into the well preceding the depth of the water level. The well
broaden below the surface at a depth of 6,000 -10,000 feet before spanning the kick-off point
where it begin to heading horizontally and proceeds into the layer of shale rock. The
horizontal portion of the well lies within the formation of shale that is to be damaged. A
propagate gun is reduced into the horizontal part of the well where it makes holes in the pipe
which is form of steel and the damaging solution collection of sand, water, and a mixture of
chemicals is stimulated into the well at a high pressure to make fractures within the formation
of shale rock. With that, the fossil fuels available in the shale layer are free to stream through
the well and appropriate to the surface where they can be stored for production. The below
figure shows an illustration of an operation of typical hydraulic fracturing (Evans, 2012).
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The combination of the cracking fluid concoction varies among production industries
operating the hydraulic fracturing operation but is usually the similar in condition of the
water percentages, chemical compounds, and sand used. Generally, the solution is mixture of
9.5% sand, 90% freshwater and 0.5% other chemical substances. The surface and ground
water stimulated underground should not contain impurities, such as salt, synthetic and
natural contaminants, to preserve interference with the effective of the chemical supplement
in the damaged fluid. The environmental and human health risks depends with these chemical
substance are an active force behind those ambitious for more strict organized regulation of
hydraulic fracturing functions.
4. Water and Underground contamination
By hydraulic fracturing practices wells are being utilized as more and more for oil
production, public attention continues to increase. If a landlord of a nearby hydraulic
fracturing functions becomes notices a change in his/her water supply after the action has
initiate, of course he/she will consider the water depletion or contamination of the water
supply was provoked by the remote oil production. This may or may not be the issue, but
unless the individual obtains a appropriate water sample taken earlier to the begin of
production or the resulting sample of water has elements of specific mixture known to be
utilized by the oil production industry responsible for the remote operation as supplements in
the damaging fluid, it is very complicated to create the connection. When attempt to link
groundwater contamination to hydraulic fracturing one may consider the purpose to be the
construction of fractures within formations of rock in deep underground. However, the
possible for groundwater contamination is merely to be induce from cracks in concrete
sheath, man-made damages linking to natural damages or old wells within the formation of
rock, or wastewater leakage at disposal spot. The danger of these problems occurring is the
leakage of methane or chemical supplements discovered in cracking fluid into private /public
groundwater resources producing them insecure for humans to drink from or use (Simon,
2014).
The list of dispatched chemicals offered by the Gas Conservation and Wyoming Oil
Commission is mixture of twenty-seven other chemical substances known to cause nervous
system, sensory organ, kidney, mutagenic, carcinogenic, endocrine, and health hazards when
intake in addition to those also produced by di-ammonium peroxidisulphate. Recently, the
EPA is organizing research in multiple states to calculate whether or not these noxious
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element have already contaminated with groundwater resources in certain regions. As
discussed, cracking fluid is build-up of approximately 9.5% sand, 90% water and 0.5%
chemical supplements. When that quantity of aqueous having chemicals known to carriage
risks to human and environmental health is insert underground or disposed of neighbours
home or even open zone, the public is sure to have exception.
Potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on agriculture includes in contamination
explosions of soils, flares, spills, and gas leakage pipes are all represents to have bad effects
on agricultural soils. One research displays that flaring on gas adversely damage soil fertility;
and also causing the soil to become acidic and minimizing contents in soil such as total
organic carbon, phosphate, nitrate. Another study represents that methane from pipeline flows
altered the oxygen and bacterial mixture of the soil, and changed a plant’s strength to fix
nitrogen, to successfully conclude conversion of cellulose, and to prevent enough level of
hydration. Next impact is in radioactivity which is naturally acquiring radioactive materials
has shared to widely distributed contamination of gas and oil production areas.
Contamination may be very high in some cases. Additionally, some shale contains high in
Radium226. Radon, Uranium, and other radioactive failing products may be present in soils,
the air and even also in drinking water at natural gas sites (Evans, 2012).
5. The imposition of the moratorium of the Hydraulic Fracturing
The imposition of the Hydraulic Fracturing may be a good idea for the extraction of the
natural gas which may be used as a fuel for the future generation. But it is not advisable to
spoil the present environment for the future generation. The economic status of the Northern
territory can be improved by the use of Hydraulic Fracturing. But it is not advisable that it
also affects the health of the human beings. The water and land is terribly polluted because of
the adoption of the hydraulic fracturing. The potential for the use of hydraulic fracturing in
the early years might be possible because of the strength of the land and pure water, air that
was in the early years. But as of now, it cannot be assured that the land resources and water
resources are not strong enough to perform the hydraulic fracturing. The air has already been
in pollution, so it is recommended to pollute the air again and again. The report of the
scientific inquiry also tells that the aboriginal people's habitat has been affected because of
the hydraulic fracturing. So the panel says that the hydraulic fracturing can be performed but
it should not affect the natural resources of the earth like land, water and habitat of the
aboriginal people. So the Government has to take measure to protect the natural resources.
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Modern practices and recent trends has to be followed to prevent the natural resources.
Modern equipment’s has to be used to prevent the water from the contamination (Schätzer &
Fries, 2016). They says that the site should be away from the habitat of the human. The panel
recommends not to make the site for hydraulic fracturing in the residential land rather than it
can be performed in the conservation areas or in some national parks. The arid regions of the
northern territory is restricted to perform hydraulic fracturing because it may affect the water
resources. The panel strictly prohibit the water contamination. The innovative techniques and
modern construction has to be carried out for reducing the risk of the water contamination.
The panel also recommends to perform the fracturing during the month of May-October so
that the water contamination can be well prevented. Hydraulic fracturing is an immoderate
use as the water is obtained and deflected for use. The large quantity of used water comes
back as noxious impure water to be saved in disposal wells and ponds rather than to be
purified and recycled for future needs. When calculating the impact the action has on water
table levels, therefore it must be treated cumulatively over the period of time in which the
movement appear in each region. Gas and oil corporations can take profit of recycling water
for future need for hydraulic fracturing and other purposes to save money and time in the way
of water acquisition and minimize negative impacts the large amount of freshwater extract
may have to and groundwater levels and riparian habitats. On other hand, hydraulic fracturing
on agriculture is not a good idea. potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on agriculture
includes in contamination explosions of soils, flares, spills, and gas leakage pipes are all
represents to have bad effects on agricultural soils. One research displays that flaring on gas
adversely damage soil fertility and also causing the soil to become acidic and minimizing
contents in soil such as total organic carbon, phosphate, nitrate. So, by this hydraulic
fracturing is treated as bad idea. In the field of radioactivity which is naturally acquiring
radioactive substance has shared to widely distributed contamination of gas and oil
production areas so contamination may be very high in some cases. Additionally, some shale
contains high in Radium226. Radon, Uranium, and other radioactive failing products may be
present in soils, the air and even also in drinking water at natural gas sites. The mixture of
chemical substances known to cause kidney disease, nervous system, sensory organ,
mutagenic, carcinogenic, endocrine, and health hazards when additional intake to those also
produced by di-ammonium peroxidisulphate. By hydraulic fracturing practices wells are
being utilized as more and more for oil production. The groundwater contamination is induce
from cracks in man-made damages associate with old wells within the formation of rock, or
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wastewater leakage at disposal spot. The danger of these issues occurring is the leakage of
methane or other chemical supplements identified in cracking solution into public
groundwater resources producing them insecure for humans to drink from or use.
Aside from the environment hazards, protestor of anti-fracking are frustrated at the
possibility that these hydraulic fracturing activities can contaminate drinking water and may
cause health hazards as well to the people of the society. Including the accidental leaking of
the chemicals to water pipes and drainage underground in case the drilling machines hits or
breaks these pipes. There have already been reports that home of some communities are
becoming sick due to the activation of drilling actions. Moreover, there have been survey
from landlords that there are evidence of chemicals present in their water pipes. And it is
unhealthy for workers, there are over 600 carcinogenic chemicals utilized in the composition
of the hydraulic fracturing solution and this may harm the health of the workers those who
employed in the fracking sites.
6. Conclusion
The overall analysis describes about the potential for the use of hydraulic fracturing in NT
and the impacts of fracking in the ground water. It is concluded that there are few economical
benefits for the country by performing the hydraulic fracturing. But to prevent the natural
resources, modern practices and recent technologies has to be adopted. The benefits are less
as compared to the impacts that affect the environment.
References
Darwin fracking inquiry hears from key stakeholders. (2017). ABC News.
Evans, B. (2012). Northern Territory Emergency Response: Criticism, support and
redesign. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 20(3), 103-107. doi:10.1111/j.1440-
1584.2012.01265.x
Hawke Report released | AEOL. (2017). Aeol.com.au.
Lave, R., & Lutz, B. (2014). Hydraulic Fracturing: A Critical Physical Geography
Review. Geography Compass, 8(10), 739-754. doi:10.1111/gec3.12162
NT hydraulic fracturing inquiry background and issues paper released for consultation -
Knowledge - Clayton Utz. (2017). Claytonutz.com.
Schätzer, M., & Fries, T. (2016). Hydraulic fracturing with a simplified fluid model and
XFEM. PAMM, 16(1), 167-168. doi:10.1002/pamm.201610072
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Simon, J. (2014). Editor's Perspective-An Update on the Hydraulic Fracturing Groundwater
Contamination Debate. Remediation Journal, 24(2), 1-9. doi:10.1002/rem.21390
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