FRAC !

Gallery: Man & FaunaPosted March 2, 2013712 views4 comments

Fracking (hydraulic fracturing) is a process used to extract natural gas from geologic shale deposits. The process is under intense scrutiny by environmentalist for what it may be doing to our fresh water deposits. On a CBC radio program last week I heard an independent scientist explain that in Alberta there is no requirement for fracking companies to reveal the identity of what they are pumping into the fracture zones, thought that was rather frightening!!!

This photo was taken in the small town in Alberta's foothills where I live. There are over a hundred large Kenworth "Frac" trucks in this photo in a single company's storage yard. There are many companies involved in fracking, I think you can do the math.

D4, 70-200VR II

Comments

4 comments

Comment posted by Bill Reichert on March 3, 2013 at 8:59 PM

In the U.S. it is the same situation. Companies are not required to divulge what chemicals are used in their proprietary fracking solutions. They don't even have to tell the government. 60 Minutes had a segment oen this about a year ago.
Very interesting and .........very disconcerting, eh?
Bill Reichert
Nr Chicago

Registered on April 8, 2007, 0 Posts, 14 Comments

Comment posted by Carl Battreall on March 5, 2013 at 12:45 PM

I like the long pano on this. Good job at depicting a subject that is hot right now. I hear alot about fracking but see very few photos.

Registered on August 29, 2007, 24 Posts, 222 Comments

Comment posted by Nancy de Flon on March 10, 2013 at 10:36 AM

Carl took the words right out of my mouth. Several residents near where my son has a house in the Catskills have anti-fracking signs and I thank you for posting this photo and explaining more about it. Pro-fracking people say it's good for the economy, that farmers etc. are doing better in places that allow fracking, but there has to be a better way of improving the economy than this--not something that destroys the environment.

Registered on June 28, 2010, 61 Posts, 284 Comments

Comment posted by Roger Kirchen on May 21, 2013 at 9:13 AM

That pano treatment really illustrates the issue here. In addition to the nameless chemicals (proprietary), there are also large volumes of surface water that are injected.

Natural gas is often described as generating lower CO2 emissions than oil or coal for the same amount of energy produced (which is correct). I have even seen natural gas described in papers as "no emissions, pollution free" (which is not correct).

One fact that is "never" mentioned in the media is that methane has a much higher climate forcing effect than CO2 on an equal mass basis, i.e. it is a much more powerful GHG than CO2. Why is the climate forcing effect of methane important given that we burn it and it then turns into CO2 (and water)?

The GHG effect of methane becomes an issue if natural gas were to escape into the atmosphere on its journey from production (incl. fracking) to combustion. Does methane escape? Yes. How much? There are various numbers out there.

I assume that the overall GHG footprint of natural gas will see increased attention in the future.

Registered on March 6, 2011, 95 Posts, 847 Comments