October/November 2013 Special Echo Insert: To Frack or Not to Frack Reserve Record 5 Vanessa Pesec Interview: What is Fracking?: An Introduction to the Subject Does Anyone Win? by Danny Croasdaile ’17 and Kyle Buseck ’16 recent times because it has brought a profitable Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as way to drill for the new discoveries of large shale by Jackson Fan ’14 and Alec Wilson ’16 fracking, is an onshore process used to extract formations in America. On September 28, Mr. Peterson’s ECHO module on natural gas. Most of the natural gas that is being Because of these new opportunities, the sub- fracking interviewed Vanessa Pesec, the president of Net- developed in the United States is found in depos- ject “to frack or not to frack” has become a hot work for Oil and Gas Accountability and Protection its known as “shales,” which lie thousands of feet topic in the United States. There are two schools (NEOGAP). below the earth’s surface. To access this natural of thought on this issue; there is the pro-fracking Fracking is currently in its novice years compared to oil. gas, companies use one of two drilling processes: side and the anti-fracking side. Pro-fracking sup- It might not be safe for the environment to drill for oil, traditional and horizontal. Both requires a mix porters argue that fracking will create a cleaner, yet it is much better than fracking. It takes one to seven of water, sand and chemicals to break up these cheaper and more abundant energy source from million gallons of water to exploit a single fracking well. shale formations and allow the natural gas to rise the plentiful domestic natural gas supplies. In In certain places like Dish, Texas, or Dimock, Pennsyl- to the surface. our ECHO-module, To Frack or Not to Frack, vania, there are wells every mile. This water used in the There are distinct differences between tradi- the class watched a couple of pro-fracking vid- fracking wells is not safe to drink; in fact, it is radioactive. tional and horizontal drilling. Hydraulic fractur- eos like Truthland and Fracknation. However, This water cannot be reused even after filtration because it ing done with traditional drilling, also known as as we learned from one of our class presenters would take too much work and money, though they can conventional drilling, began in 1947. It involves Vanessa Pesec, a grassroots activist for NEOGAP, reuse it to frack other wells. drilling vertically and collecting the natural gas there are still many environmental and health Water is not the only problem. Another major issue below the drilling spot. concerns that arise from fracking, which must is the overwhelming number of trucks it takes to bring Developed in the last decade, horizontal hy- be taken into consideration. Many anti-fracking and take equipment and water to and from the wells. For draulic fracking entails the same initial process advocates, such as the ones in the documentaries every well that is put up and taken down, hundreds of as traditional drilling. However, once the well is Gasland I and II, stated that fracking poses ma- heavy-industry trucks must pass. Trucks are used to deliv- drilled to the desired depth, the operators then jor health risks via groundwater contamination. er equipment and take it down, to deliver chemical water, turn the drill pipe ninety degrees. This process Some anti-fracking supporters believe that more to remove chemical water and to take away the natural allows the drill pipe to extend for miles horizon- stringent laws and regulations could make frack- gas. tally underground; it can also allow for multiple ing a safer industry, while others promote an Ohio is a main target for used drilling water. The state wells from a single drill pad. Horizontal hydrau- outright ban. Overall, fracking is a controversial contains two hundred and eleven injection wells which lic fracking has been the game changer in the issue. Each side has valid points, but ultimately, are places where radioactive water is pumped back into industry by proving to be much more efficient whichever way this issue sways will have a tre- the ground. Essentially, fracking wastewater from other and economical than its predecessor, traditional mendous impact on our country. states is brought into Ohio just to be stored in the injec- drilling. It has also become extremely relevant in tion wells. Pesec believes that the sacrifice of all the water wasted during the process of fracking is not worth for the amount A Three Movie Fracking Marathon of natural gas we gain. She notes that the fluid used in fracking is toxic, containing chemicals like Barium and by Leo Holland ’17 and Noah Kontur ’17 fort to convince people that fracking is good for Strontium. Thus, the water polluted becomes highly toxic Horizontal hydraulic fracturing, also known as America. Some of the imagery in Truthland in- and threatens people’s living condition in fracking-inten- fracking, has pervaded the media in recent years. cludes beautiful rolling hills and families living sive regions. To some people, fracking is a story in the mak- together in harmony, images and ideas in sharp In terms of the wealth fracking has brought rural com- ing, a tale of economic growth and energy inde- contrast with the frightening and depressing im- munities, Pesec points out that fracking does not bring pendence. To others, it is a veritable swear-word, ages found in Gasland. The movie clearly empha- everyone as much as expected: only people with more a destructive process that tears down ecosystems sizes a specific demographic; that is, the movie land will make more money, and land owners and royal- and pollutes not only the environment, but the targets the average American citizen, the people ties “don’t get the amount they deserved from companies ideals of our democracy. Where does the truth re- who are most affected by fracking. Overall, such as Chesapeake.” She also suggests that it is important ally lie? Gasland, Truthland and Fracknation are Truthland serves the purpose of opposing the ar- to remember that the issue with fracking, regardless of separate films that have done their best to answer guments found in Gasland, and the imagery used how much wealth it brings, is that everyone suffers from this question. in the film helps support its themes: domestic water and air pollution. Gasland is a dark, bleak documentary. It has comfort and family life. stirred up much controversy with its dissonant Fracknation is a pro-fracking movie from the Photo by Amy Sussman/Corbis soundtrack of banjo music and bold accusa- industry’s perspective. Throughout the film, tions, but the producers seem to have no issues Gasland is accused of being inaccurate and dis- with its bias. Gasland is an anti-fracking docu- honest. In order to counter the themes and ideas mentary and proud of it. The cover of the DVD of Gasland, the movie focuses on the economic depicts a man playing the banjo with a gasmask advantages of fracking. For instance, Fracknation on, standing in the plains in between two hori- claims that the opportunity of energy indepen- zontal hydraulic fracturing pads. It is a startling dence by natural gas far outways the environ- image that sets the tone for the entire movie. mental hazards. It also points out the importance The camera work is shaky and blurry, creating a of fracking worldwide and the positive effects it dark and even surreal atmosphere. The director, could have on developing countries.The film lacks Josh Fox, is the star of the film. He walks around powerful and memorable imagery, but it still in- filming and interviewing intellectuals, industry cludes the occasional farmland image, suggesting executives and everyday citizens who have been that fracking can coexist with farming and rural affected in a number of different states across the lifestyle. Overall, Fracknation seems to capture country. Overall, though some of the data is sus- the opinions of the industry quite well, showing pect to inaccuracy, it is an eye-opening film. the bright side of fracking: economic prosperity A shale gas drill site as seen in rural Forest Lake, Pennsylvania. The Truthland is the rebuttal to Gasland. In order and energy independence. fracking site is in close proximity to this family's home. to counter Gasland, it focuses on domestic com- 6 Reserve Record Special Echo Insert: To Frack Or Not To Frack? October/November 2013 Go Global! Industry Site Review Fracking in Major Countries by Stephanie Sun ’16 and Nina Kahl ’15 by Lynn Yang ’16 According to thinkaboutit.org (a pro-fracking 1. Russia: The development of horizontal hydraulic frac- website that gives an overview on the benefits turing forced Russia to recalibrate its energy-export strate- of fracking), energyindepth.org (a pro-frack- gies to preserve the high price it receives for gas exports. ing advocacy group) and foodandwaterwatch. Despite the fact that Russia holds the largest amount of org (an anti-fracking organization whose mis- shale, much of its shale is not technically recoverable. Rus- sion is to make sure the food and water people sia is pressuring many Eastern European states to forgo have are safe), the impact of horizontal hy- their fracking plan. Critics suggest that the protests op- draulic fracturing, also known as fracking, as well. There is also a statistic by AEA Technol- posing hydraulic fracturing, which later led to a ban on is discussed and disputed on three main ac- ogy mentioned on energyindepth.org that states fracking, were financed by Russia. counts: sustainability, power and economy.