As hydraulic fracturing grows in practice across the United States, this unique process for accessing oil and natural gas trapped deep within the earth continues to be largely misunderstood. Those who don’t understand the process may, in fact, falsely believe it cannot be performed safely. The reality is when fracking, as it’s called, is performed responsibly, safety does go along with the proposition.
When fracking operations are handled with safety as the No. 1 priority, these measures are all part of the proposition:
• Well stability will be assured – Fracturing is a process that isn’t meant to be performed during a drilling operation. Rather, a well is constructed and its integrity is confirmed before the fracturing process takes place. This protects the process, people and the environment.
• Fracturing doesn’t take much time – Once a well is constructed and its integrity is confirmed, fracturing only takes place over a period of 5 to 10 days. Once the deposit is reached, a well may have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years.
• The groundwater is protected – The actual fracking process happens thousands of feet below aquifers that supply groundwater. That means when the process is performed properly, potable water is simply not impacted.
• Wells are set to protect groundwater – When sites are explored for fracturing operations, they are chosen and designed in a way that is meant to protect the groundwater. This is a top concern of reputable, responsible oil companies.
There are more than 1 million hydraulically fractured wells in the United States alone. The process has been used since the 1940s with advancements made in recent years to enhance the safety and environmental friendliness of the process. The simple truth is that fracturing is a safe way to access natural resources, but the process must be handled responsibly from the very start to ensure a positive outcome.
When fracking operations are handled with safety as the No. 1 priority, these measures are all part of the proposition:
• Well stability will be assured – Fracturing is a process that isn’t meant to be performed during a drilling operation. Rather, a well is constructed and its integrity is confirmed before the fracturing process takes place. This protects the process, people and the environment.
• Fracturing doesn’t take much time – Once a well is constructed and its integrity is confirmed, fracturing only takes place over a period of 5 to 10 days. Once the deposit is reached, a well may have a lifespan of 20 to 30 years.
• The groundwater is protected – The actual fracking process happens thousands of feet below aquifers that supply groundwater. That means when the process is performed properly, potable water is simply not impacted.
• Wells are set to protect groundwater – When sites are explored for fracturing operations, they are chosen and designed in a way that is meant to protect the groundwater. This is a top concern of reputable, responsible oil companies.
There are more than 1 million hydraulically fractured wells in the United States alone. The process has been used since the 1940s with advancements made in recent years to enhance the safety and environmental friendliness of the process. The simple truth is that fracturing is a safe way to access natural resources, but the process must be handled responsibly from the very start to ensure a positive outcome.
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