The Environmental and Economic Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing in NT

This report delves into the multifaceted impacts of hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, focusing on its application in the Northern Territory (NT) of Australia. It examines the process of hydraulic fracturing, its role in extracting onshore hydrocarbon resources, and the associated environmental and health concerns. The report discusses the potential for water contamination, air pollution, and the impact on existing farming operations and groundwater quality. It also considers the economic benefits of fracking, the importance of well integrity, and the need for effective water management strategies. Furthermore, it highlights the social license for gas industries, the framework for community expectations, and the potential for noise emissions to cause environmental, safety and commercial risks. The report presents the findings of various studies that have assessed the environmental and health effects of hydraulic fracturing, including its effects on human and animal health, groundwater contamination, and the release of harmful chemicals, alongside the economic benefits. The report stresses the need for proactive measures to mitigate the negative effects and ensure sustainable development in the region.

Running head: ECOLOGY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Ecology and Sustainability
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Hydraulic fracturing in the NT
Potential for the use of hydraulic fracturing in the extraction of onshore deposits of
hydrocarbon resources in the NT
The hydraulic fracturing or the fraccing is a form of technique that are used for the
increase the permeability of the oil and the formation of the gas in order to maximize the amount
of the products that are extracted. It involves the pumping of the fluids that are the mixtures that
are comprised that are mainly of the water and proppant into oil and the gas formations at a
higher pressure (Divko 2015). However, in the recent past there is a significant concerns
regarding the potential form of the environment and the impacts of the health that are being
associated with the activities of the hydraulic fracturing.
The hydraulic fracturing is the creation and the enhancement of the fracture of the rocks
that are been used as a gas or the fluid for injecting the high level of the pressure. This
phenomenon increases the ability of the water and the gas to flow through the coal seam that can
be useful for the enhancement of the removal of the extraction of the water from the coal seam
gas. The hydraulic fracturing are performed where there are natural permeability of the coal
seam that sometimes become insufficient to allow the commercial form of recovery of the coal
seam gas to increase the rates of production (Ingelson and Hunter 2014).
The extraction of the coal seam gases does not always involve the hydraulic form of the
fracturing. It has been observed that out of the 1844 coal seam gases that have been drilled in
Australia, over the period of fifteen months in the year 2012 and 2013. In this period it has, been
observed that, 6% were subjected to the hydraulic fracturing. Moreover, Queensland has a good

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proportion that can be helpful in increasing about 10 to 40 percent of the expansion of the
industry.
However, while following the production during the drilling of the well are found to be
the extensive form of the assessment that are being carried out for the requirements of the
optimisation for the process of hydraulic fracturing. The process of hydraulic fracturing involves
the isolation of the target of coal seams through correcting the well construction and the
perforations of the well that are casing at the specific form of interval where the target coal
seems that have been located. For instance, it has been observed that when the coal seems are
limited in form of their thickness, the hydraulic fracturing are then used for connecting the
separate form of the seams for the targeted horizons that has the thickness of about two to five
centimetres.
The integrity of the wells is of paramount importance for the sustainable development for
the onshore oil and the gas industry of the Northern Territory. It has been seen that good form of
the integrity adding up with the rigorous form of procedures that are well controlled ensures that
the products that are extracted from the target formation are contained within the well that have
been recovered from the surface (Maloney 2015). The failure of the well integrity can cause
contamination of the aquifer, emissions that are fugitive in nature and the rise in the level of the
gas that are present in the natural bores for water. Therefore, the careful form of the
consideration of the design, operations and the constructions of the wells is very much needed
for the long-term integrity.
It has been seen that most of the oil and gas extraction on the onshore requires a huge
volumes of the water that are to be managed (Ingelson and Hunter 2014). The several other form

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of the natural gas such as coal seams, shells and conventional have the different form of the
water profiles and the requirements. One of the important factors for the convention and
hydraulic form of drilling is water. For extracting the natural gas from the formation of the deep
shale in the horizontal form of the wells that are up to 20 megalitres per fracture events that can
be required.
Nonetheless, the amount of the water that is required for the extraction varies greatly
between the formations of the geography. However, there are general forms of the principles that
are been applicable for all the forms of the natural gas that was extracted from onshore. The
coexistence of the industry of gas industry with the industry of the agriculture that are highly
dependent on the availability of water for their livelihood makes the efficient management of
water management throughout the projects of oil and gas project life cycles have the paramount
form of importance. Considering the municipal form of the gas supply that are essential for the
towns and communities of the Northern Territory are important for the activities concerning to
the oil and the gas (Grinets and Kaznacheev 2014). The water management strategies took place
with the early consultation with the local form of communities and the regulators that are been
very much consistent with the requirements under the Act of Water. Therefore, it was established
that the industry of Oil and Gas and the Government should work cooperatively towards the
development of the framework of the database for the testing of the baseline and for the ongoing
form of the monitoring from the aquifers of water.
The Government however, do not support the drilling actions in the towns and the
increasing number of the safeguards in the place is to ensure the activities of gas and oil that can
co exist with the other uses of the land. The blocks that are reserved are in the places after the

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consultation with the major towns and the communities that will be sought out through the
reformation process for accessing the reserved form of the boundaries.
The unmanaged form of the noise emissions from the various projects of oil and gas may
be important for presenting health, environment, safety and commercial forms of risks.
The main source of the emissions that includes the general construction of the noise that
operation of the drilling the rigs, flaring, venting and the operations of the equipments. The
potential form of the nuisance are to be caused by the emissions that are been associated with the
extraction that are to be exacerbated by the lower form of the background noise levels that are
very much predominant on the rural and the remote areas as well as the they need to operate it by
overnight . It is very important that these issues that are being addressed in a very proactive way
that can instil the confidence in the community and for maintaining the values of the
environment (Furlow and Hays 2011).
Figure 1: Source - (Worldoil.com, 2017)
For maintaining and enhancing the social license, and to operate the critical form of the
ongoing success of the Northern Territory, the gas industries are built onshore. The Government

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of the Northern Territory have implemented the robust form of framework for ensuring the meets
of the industry that have to meet the expectation of the community and performs it at an
acceptable level. However, it is very important that all the operators have understood the
importance for ensuring the social form of the license that is to be maintained and to be worked
accordingly.
Impact of hydraulic fracturing on existing farming operations, ground water quality, and
other activities in the NT
Unlike any other techniques, the procedure of hydraulic fracturing related to extraction of
natural gas comes with a multitude of potential impacts that have been put under the scanner of
scientific evaluations and in-depth investigations to identify the benefits as well as risks. The
environmental implications of hydraulic fracturing in shale gas reservoirs have been explored in
study. The groundwater and surface water risks because of the rampant use of hydraulic
fracturing have been a matter of great concern to the environmentalists and others associated
with the process that in turn is dependent on the availability of water and its subsequent disposal.
However, the growing earning of revenue and expansion of the oil and gas industry in the
concerned region associated with the increased use of hydraulic fracturing has been indicated in
the context of US where it is operational (Arthur et al. 2008). The potential for environmental
harm has been further scanned in the light of the psychological functioning of the fracking
communities who are directly impacted by the process. Study has revealed that there is increased
likelihood for such communities to encounter debilitating mental health symptoms related to
anxiety, worry and depression surrounding health, safety, lifestyle, financial security in addition
to exposure to neurotoxins and alteration of the physical landscape. Therefore considering the

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psychological ramifications of this vulnerable population more rigorous and suitable targeted
interventions strategies need to be put into force so that the mental health status may be
significantly improved (Hirsch et al. 2017).
Another interesting study explored the long-term impacts of unconventional drilling
operations that included hydraulic fracturing on both human as well as animal health. Apart from
the humans, investigations regarding the case studies included that of food animals, wildlife and
companion animals. The results depicted that for humans and animals shifting from areas
undergoing major drilling and fracturing operations or dwelling in areas where these operations
are diminished, decrease in health impacts was noted. However, no change in health impacts
were noted in case of families that thrived in places where these activities either remained same
or increased over time. The longitudinal data confirmed that for families and companion families
the distribution of symptoms did not undergo alterations. However, observations related to food
animals suggested that there was an increase in respirator and growth problems besides
decreasing the reproductive problems. Thus, the necessity of evaluation of the epidemiological
data on a longitudinal basis was emphasised to detect the potential environmental impacts of
such operations (Bamberger and Oswald 2015). The economic benefits associated with hydraulic
fracturing have been well established, but the health and environmental implications associated
with such operations has been a matter of investigation to researchers. Natural gas emission due
to fracturing is associated with health hazards because of air pollution. Volatile organic
compounds such as that of benzene and ethyl-benzene by- products of the process are considered
as potent carcinogens that lead to adverse neurologic and respiratory effects. Hydrogen sulphide,
another component of natural gas is a potent neurotoxin and respiratory distress causing agent
that threatens the health of the nearby residents and workers associated with the operation of

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fracturing. Elevated levels of formaldehyde nearby fracking sites are alarming considering the
adverse health consequences due to such exposures. Contamination of water is more likely as the
chemicals that are utilized in fracturing might permeate in both ground as well as surface water.
The increased health hazards thus accentuates the risk of cancer due to chemical exposure.
Exacerbation of climate change might also occur due to increased release of methane in the
atmosphere, while disruption at the level of tectonic plates might culminate in increased
occurrence of earthquakes in the operational belt. Thus, these data is suggestive of causing both
health harms and environmental degradation associated with fracturing technique due to
exposure to various chemicals (Carpenter 2016).
The detrimental effects adjoining the hydraulic fracturing operations are evident by virtue
of various studies that have been undertaken to detect the health related consequences of such
actions. The dramatic increase in the extraction of natural gas following adoption of hydraulic
fracturing technology is achieved at the cost of certain adverse outcomes. Research conducted in
regions overlying the Marcellus and Utica shale formations of northeastern Pennsylvania and
upstate New York in the corresponding aquifers demonstrated the presence of methane
contamination of drinking water that in turn is attributed to shale gas extraction. In contrast to the
deep water brines or fracturing fluids, the shallow groundwater at non-active sites depicted
greater biogenic or mixed biogenic/ thermogenic source of methane thereby necessitating the
need for implementation of stringent regulation, stewardship alongside prudent data collection to
allow for a sustainable future related to shale gas extraction (Osborn et al. 2011). In the recent
years, the economic viability of shale gas extraction has received major impetus due to
utilization of novel techniques such as hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. The high use
of water setting apart the possibility of causing water pollution poses environmental risks. The

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likelihood of water contamination from natural gas extraction in case of the Marcellus shale was
evaluated through probability bound analysis. Epistemic uncertainty besides the potential risk for
water contamination was noted in relation hydraulic fracturing associated wastewater disposal as
opposed to other possible pathways of contamination such as transportation spill, drilling site
discharge, well casing leaks and disposal of wastewater. Therefore, prompt and prudent actions
are to be taken on the part of the concerned industrial authority to mitigate the risks linked with
contaminated water leak. Further, in order to curb the epistemic uncertainty, strengthening of the
industrial as well as municipal wastewater treatment facilities must be streamlined for the sake of
removal of contaminants due to used hydraulic fracturing fluids (Rozell and Reaven 2012).
Water pollution due to contamination is a burning reality of today. The multiple components
having the potential of contaminating drinking water because of hydraulic fracture fluids and
wastewater generated from unconventional natural gas and oil production. The study findings
suggested that out of the identified 157 chemicals, 67 may be referred for a federal water quality
standard or guideline owing to their linkage with reproductive or developmental toxicity. Known
or suspected toxicity was detected in case of these hydraulic fracturing-related candidate
analytes. Under such circumstances, consideration of data relevant to the potency,
physicochemical properties as well as environmental concentrations has been suggested in order
to carry out assessments concerning drinking water exposure or for reproductive and
developmental health studies (Elliott et al. 2017). Thus, the hazardous effects of hydraulic
fracturing impacting the water quality are well documented and established across literature
findings and analysis.
In order to understand the effects associated with the components that are generated
because of hydraulic fracturing (HF) technique, it is crucial to analyze and characterize their

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discrete properties. HF fluids were classified based on their physical and chemical characteristics
depending on the publicly available chemical databases. Although most of the chemical additives
found in case of HF fluid were non-toxic, three of them have been found to fall in the category 2
oral toxins as per the standards laid out in the ‘Globally Harmonized System of Classification
and Labeling of Chemicals’. However, information related to toxicity was not available for the
thirty of the HF chemicals that were assessed. Thus, narrowing of the knowledge gaps
surrounding these chemicals have been emphasized to allow for the correct remediation of the
hazards if detected through appropriate assessments (Stringfellow et al. 2015). In support of the
chemical characterization of the HF fluids, the findings of another study may be referred to that
stated, in comparison to those used in gas fields. It has been found that a proportional amount
and mass of solvents other than surface active agents were used in the process. Toxicity with
respect to emission of certain chemicals have been retrieved, but certainly more needs to be done
in terms of acquiring pertinent data related to mammalian toxicity, aquatic toxicity and
environmental impact assessment to pursue the risk analysis of those chemicals (Stringfellow et
al. 2017).
Figure 2: Source - (Ntnews.com.au, 2017)

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Argument in favor of imposition of the moratorium of hydraulic fracturing was a good idea
Empirical evidences have highlighted on assessing and expanding the knowledge base
relevant to the hydraulic fracturing wastewater management practices that encompass wastewater
handling inclusive of storage and transport, treatment and disposal practices during development
of unconventional shale. A common observation regarding these practices is that lacunae in
knowledge exist that have not generated adequate legislations to carry out the optimal
management practices paving the way for a sustainable future where the risks associated with
following this technique is effectively eliminated. Efforts must be taken in order to ensure that
the cumulative effects of the technique are reviewed for assessment (Notte et al. 2017). The
variations in terms of water use in case of hydraulic fracturing during extraction of
unconventional oil and gas vis-à-vis conventional oil has been attributed to geological
differences. Thus increase in water use during hydraulic fracturing technique due to expansion in
oil production in the specific areas but not for the reverse reason (Scanlon, Reedy and Nicot
2014). Another study has explored the multi-scale problem associated with hydraulic fracturing
technique. The findings have highlighted that a mechanistic description in alliance to integration
of the multiple scales for the sake of accurately predicting the productions apart from subsequent
optimization of hydrocarbon extraction from unconventional reservoir source. Discussions have
also been made in favor of utilizing CO2 as potential alternative source of working fluid that may
be effectively usurped in case of fracturing and re-stimulating activities (Hyman et al. 2016).
Therefore the growing volumes of evidence are proof enough to question the usability of
hydraulic fracturing for the mere benefit related to economic viability of extracting natural gas as
alternative sources of energy. The downside of adopting this technology is many that mostly
involve adverse environmental and health related impacts. The health hazards and negative

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environmental impacts in terms of affecting both the human as well as animal life has been noted
in empirical studies. The impacts that are essentially negative have resulted in halting the
technique usage in Northern territory of Australia followed by imposition of a moratorium on
hydraulic fracturing (Frackinginquiry.nt.gov.au, 2017). The measure is quite justified as health
should be prioritized over anything else in order to safeguard the lives of the residents and
workers who stay or remain in close association with such projects meant for extracting natural
gas. The health issues must not be ignored under any circumstances and pollution mitigation
strategies must be necessarily implemented and the risk assessment and analysis must be strictly
conducted to ensure that no compromise has been made with the health and associated impacts.
Short-term and long-term consequences of this technique must be closely examined so that
optimal benefits from hydraulic fracturing may be obtained albeit the adverse effects. A closer
look at the energy policy and economic development in the NT has thus been opined on part of
the scientific inquiry committee panel members to allay any apprehensions regarding the harmful
effects in health or environment due to adoption of hydraulic fracturing technique (Moore 2014).
Therefore the imposition of moratorium of hydraulic fracturing is completely justified as
knowledge deficits exist in terms of their potential impacts.