As America reaches unprecedented levels of energy self-sufficiency, there is growing movement to ensure that natural gas sites are as environmentally friendly as possible. With that in mind, more energy companies are spending time and money to innovate products that both aid in creating an eco-friendly environment, and save money too.

Halliburton, one of the largest oilfield services companies in the world, created new fracking machines that use gravity and electricity generated via solar panels to fracture rocks and harness previously untapped energy. These contraptions, named SandCastle, were born out of the company’s $2.04 billion budget for research and development in 2011, a 32 percent increase from two years before. SandCastles’ produce significantly less noise than traditional fracking methods, which often uses diesel engines. Moreover, in the first nine months of 2012, the devices saved 950,000 gallons of diesel, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 20 million pounds.

Other energy companies have been following the trend, and increasing their research budgets in an effort to determine how to make fracking techniques even more eco-friendly. The top four oil service companies spent $2 billion on R&D last year, according to Businessweek. Ecologix, a manufacturer of waste water equipment, and General Electric have created products to recycle wastewater from fracking via a separation technique, and water cleaning boiler system, respectively. Other companies are experimenting with various chemicals to reduce any additives that may be used during fracking.

Source: Businessweek

Top officials at the EPA find the fracking study optimistic about the future. The nationwide project examined natural gas hydraulic fracturing and potential drinking water impacts. According to the Huffington Post, the study will help scientists and the public identify the key issue to focus on.

Glenn Paulson, the EPA’s science advisor, said that a progress report on the study should be released before the end of the year, and the final report released in 2014. Paulson said the study of fracking and drinking water “is one of the most aggressive public outreach programs in EPA history.”

“I think the drinking water study is going to be useful to local governments, and state governments, too,” Paulson said. He added that “a lot of people have their minds made up” about fracking, even though many aspects of research are still in the early stages.

The EPA says in the project overview that natural gas “plays a key role in our nation’s clean energy future” but that serious concerns have been raised about potential impacts to the environment and human health.

Dan Alfaro, a spokesman for Energy in Depth, believes the EPA study will show that gas drilling and fracking are safe.

“There have been numerous studies and a multitude of research on oil and natural gas extraction methods,” Alfaro said. The EPA study “will confirm once again previous findings that current industry practices used in development are safe, responsible and effective means of extracting and producing our natural energy resources.”

Bernard Goldstein, retired professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, said that three years ago researcher had very little data. Today, there is an abundance of research. Goldstein even praised Shell Oil Co., for explaining the steps it takes to protect the environment and public health.

“I thought the industry presentation by Shell was superb,” Goldstein said, adding that Paulson, of the EPA, is “the right kind of person” to make sure that health is included in the research being done on gas drilling.

Source:

According to a recent IHS study, domestic production of oil and natural gas could produce 3 million jobs by 2020. Currently, the production of oil and natural gas supports more than 1.7 million U.S. jobs. The study, “America’s New Energy Future: The Unconventional Oil and Gas Revolution and the Economy,” highlights job creation and economic benefits.

The study states, nearly $5.1 trillion in capital expenditures ($2.1 trillion in the oil sector, $3 trillion in the gas sector) will take place between 2012 and 2035 across the entire upstream unconventional oil and gas activity sectors. The study also states, employment in the entire upstream unconventional oil and gas sector on a direct, indirect, and induced basis will support nearly 1.8 million jobs in 2012, 2.5 million jobs in 2015, 3 million jobs in 2020, and nearly 3.5 million jobs in 2035.

Not only will increased production of unconventional oil and gas boost job creation, but the quality of jobs increases too. The jobs created as a result of increased production of unconventional oil and natural gas tends to be higher in quality and high in wages earned. Workers associated with unconventional oil and gas industry are paid an average of $35.15 per hours, which is above the national average $23.07 and more than wages pain in manufacturing, wholesale trade and education.

In 2012, unconventional oil and gas activities will generate more than $61 billion in federal and state government revenues and is predicted to increase to $91 billion in 2015 and $111 billion in 2020. In 2035, government revenues are predicted to increase to more than $125 billion. Unconventional energy activity will also contribute billions of dollars to GDP. In 2012 Unconventional energy activity will contribute $237 billion and increase to $475 billion annually in 2035.

Daniel Yergin with the Wall Street Journal wrote about the benefits associated with the safe development natural gas. The number of jobs could rise to three million by 2020. The energy revolution will add an estimated $62 billion to federal and state revenues this year. … The growth of shale gas will save the U.S. from spending $100 billion a year on imported LNG, which was the likely prospect five years ago.\

Source: Source:

Fracking supporters recently staged a rally in Albany, N.Y. Hundreds of people gather to at the Corning Preserve on the Hudson River and then marched to a park near the Capitol. Once the crowd reached the Capitol, elected officials and labor leaders gave speeches. Fracking, slang for “hydraulic fracturing,” is a method of extracting natural gas deep beneath the ground. The current moratorium on fracking influenced the rally.

Fracking technology frees gas from shale reserves located up to 7,000+ feet underground. Fracking supporters believe fracking would provide economic benefits for upstate New York. Anti-fracking activists, on the other hand, cite environmental concerns, including water contamination. However, fracking regulators have reviewed and will continue to review the issues, and at this point, there are no links between fracking and water contamination.

Fracking is the process of extracting natural gas from the ground. Extracting natural gas provides many benefits like boosting the economy, as well as, helping our nation reach a cleaner energy future. Unlike using traditional fossil fuels, using natural gas alternative can decrease the amount of harmful emissions that enter the atmospheres. More manufacturing companies use natural gas under the current Administration’s Clean Air Act, which placed a cap on the amount of emissions a manufacturing company can release.

Source:

The fracking controversy has lighten-up dramatically in Pennsylvania over the last few years. At last year’s conference, natural gas drillers were “greeted by a crowd of protesters,” according to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette. Today, the Marcellus Shale Coalition gets a warm welcome from Gov. Tom Corbett.

This doesn’t mean the fight is over. Anti-fracking activists gathered together to hold signs and declare that fracking continues polluted the air and waterways. However, the crowd was much lower this year compared to last year. Anti-fracking activists continue to decrease; however, their presence continues to increase the need for tightened fracking regulations. Corbett and other speakers acknowledged the heighten importance of fracking safety.

“We are advancing, even in the face of unreasoning opposition,” Corbett told the ballroom crowd of industry representatives. “Our opponents agree that we can land a rover on Mars, but they can’t bring themselves to think that we can safely drill a mile into our own soil.”

Corbett continues, “In addition to the tens of thousands of jobs, I’m here to say thank you, thank you to the industry that has added another $200 million to the common good.”

Corbett addressed the benefits of natural gas, reinforcing job creation. He said, in the future we’ll be filling up our cars with natural gas from a turnpike fueling station. Natural gas will be extremely affordable because of the domestic capabilities to extract shale gas.

“Five, 10 years ago, if I told you that the U.S. was considering a petrochemical investment, an ethylene cracker, I would have been laughed off the stage,” said Martha Gilchrist Moore, a senior director with the American Chemistry Council.

While fracking improvements and possibilities remain strong, the fracking controversy holds on too. Some activists still believe we’re not getting the “whole story.” David Masur, executive director of the group PennEnvironment said, “If you’re going to be out there touting it as clean-burning, you’re not telling the whole story.”

Source:

Obama believes hydraulic fracturing can be done safely and supports natural gas development. Obama said in a phone interview from Toledo that he encourages advances in fracking technology, but prioritizes the health and safety of the public. Obama said the federal government is going to provide research to ensure safety in the fracking process and the individuals involved.

“I am a big promoter of natural gas as a way for us to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources but also to create jobs.”

“So the role the federal government at this point is to make sure that we are providing the research dollars and the monitoring so that we don’t see the health and safety of people in these areas put at risk, but the technology has improved greatly and the natural gas boom that we’re seeing around the country is something that I want to encourage.”

The advances in fracking will help the United State become less dependent on foreign energy sources. Fracking will continue to become the leading method of natural gas extraction for drilling companies across the nation. Regulations will help provide confidence in the public that fracking will not harm those near drilling site or working on-site. Obama agrees that natural gas is what our country needs.

Source:

The Des Moines Register suggests oil prices are increasing despite increased domestic oil production. However, the two are not necessarily related. The increase price of oil is due to worldwide forces said John Felmy, Chief economist of the American Petroleum Institute.

“Crude oil prices are two-thirds of the price of gasoline, and if you convert crude from barrels to gallons, the price of oil is up 37 cents per gallon in the last month,” said Felmy.

Felmy continued to explain that parts of the world are seeing increases in demand for motor gasoline, especially in China. Other contributing factors include upset in the Middle East, particular for European Brent Crude oil.

The U.S. Department of Energy suggests that ethanol is also a contributing factor to increased prices. In fact, ethanol prices have risen 60 cents per gallon in the last month, following increase price of corn.

The Energy Department said last week that “if that 60-cent increase were all passed through to consumers, it would raise retail E10 gasoline prices by 6 cents per gallon, but there is little evidence this has occurred.”

Hydraulic fracturing in the United States is more than just a method of extracting natural gas from the ground, it’s an opportunity to gain independence from foreign oil sources. As you can see and probably already know, the price of oil can increase at any given moment for reasons the lie beyond our control.

Why is hydraulic fracturing controversial, if we’ve been “fracking” for years? What makes fracking a subject to public scrutiny now, but not 50 years ago. Manufacturing facilities and a number of industrial vehicles already use natural gas under the Administration’s Clean Air Act, which demands new facilities to cut carbon emissions. Natural gas reduces carbon emissions and is a positive step forward to cleaner energy future.

Source:

Many experts believe alternative energy like the sun and wind will never to capable of supporting our energy need like natural gas or traditional fuels can. However, accessing traditional energy requires drilling and mining operations, which is usually accompanied by concerns about its long term effects on our health and the environment.

Fracking, slang from hydraulic fracturing, is another method of extracting oil and gas, specifically, used to extract natural gas from shale rock formations. The United States sits on one of the largest shale rock formations in the world. Marcellus shale sits underneath, Pennsylvania, New York, West Virginia, Maryland, and Ohio. Experts believe the Marcellus shale can provide natural gas to consumers for hundreds of years.

When it comes to fracking questions such as, should we be concerned about fracking polluting our water systems or causing earthquakes, are asked. To answer those concerns, consider Canada. Canada has been using fracking techniques for the last 35 years, estimating thousands of wells have used fracking techniques. In that time, there is no record of these activities except on occasion, due to poor operational execution.

Fracking is good for the economy not only because it provides an opportunity to energy independence, but also because it can increase land value and provide jobs. In order to understand the economic impact of fracking, take the Bakken area of North Dakota – The economy is booming, the unemployment rate is the lowest among all U.S. states, and the state budget has a surplus. North Dakota has more money to give to school and social services.

One fracking supporter said she considers herself an environmentalist and supports fracking for the following reasons:

• It can lead to our nation becoming energy independent
• It will provide an enormous boost to our state and local economies
• It has already driven down natural gas prices to the point where utilities are replacing dirty coal-fired power plants with cleaner natural gas-burning plans and increasingly vehicles are burning natural gas instead of dirtier gasoline
• It will provide many well-paying jobs to geologists, well drillers, office workers, truck drivers, construction workers, and many more.

Source:

Geologists report five new truths about fracking. Fracking is short for hydraulic fracturing, which is the process of extracting natural gas from shale rock formations. The fracking process has been a controversial issue for years; however, geologists say some facts are not up for debates.

Fracking involves pumping a large amount of water, sand and fracking fluid deep beneath the earth’s surface to extract natural gas from the fissures it creates. The sand holds the fissures and the natural gas is released into the well. Geologist from University of Illinois, Dr. Steven Marshak, reported five facts on fracking:

1. Fracking fluid – Fracking fluid is made up chemicals. According to Marshak, probably chemicals like diesel fuel, antifreeze, soap, anything to make the fluid slipperier. “These things are not things you want to be dumping into drinking water.”

2. Pumped deep enough, it shouldn’t affect drinking sources – “The layer of black shale is down in the subsurface several thousand feet. If you can drill down to that level, the hydrofracturing cracks do not extend more than 1000 feet or so; the ends of the cracks are still going to be several thousand feet below the surface [where wells and aquifers sit].”

3. Natural processes cause natural gas to leak to the surface – “The image of turning on a water faucet and having natural gas leak out, in general those are situations where they have sunk their well into sandstone that has already filled with gas; that gas is naturally accumulating.”

4. Fracking process dos and don’ts – “There are some real problems. If the shale horizon is too close to surface…it probably shouldn’t be hydrofracked so you avoid contaminating water. You also need to make sure you’re inspecting well sites, that you don’t have middle of night dumping of excess fluid into streams, that retention pits are properly sealed.” Marshak said, the process could cause “measurable, but small earthquakes.”

5. The risks are not much different than shoreline drilling – “It’s worth looking more closely at it. My sense is, you end up with two sides that are pretty far apart and not really listening to each other. The public is overreacting to certain things, but there are other things the industry is underplaying.”

Source:

Drilling companies develop innovative technologies for the fracking processes everyday. Two of the most recent industry initiatives include advances the fracking waste water treatments process and developing a new way to make oil sands cleaner and greener.

1. H2-Forward is a innovative solution to reduce the demand for fresh water in hydraulic fracturing. In order to accomplish this, the H2-Forward solution is a process to allow drillers to reuse fracking fluids.

Halliburton: “The service includes new technologies such as CleanWave service that is used to process fracturing flowback and produced water, resulting in a clean brine fully suitable for well site operations including drilling, fracturing and completion fluids. … The system, which can treat 20 bbl/minute, uses an electrical process that destabilizes and coagulates suspended colloidal matter in water. Easy scalability enables quickly treating large volumes of water in reserve and flowback pits and, depending on the operation, treating flowback and produced water in real-time during a fracturing operation. The CleanWave system removes up to 99% of total suspended solids, heavy metals, hydrocarbon and bacteria.”

2. Epiphany Solar Water Systems’ has developed a new way to make oil sands cleaner and greener. The Pennsylvania-bases company uses solar power to clear fracking water. This innovated purification system is promising to the fracking industry. In fact, Consol Energy recently announced investing $500,000 in Epiphany.

Epiphany: “Dirty water passes into the distillation unit and instantly vaporizes due to the intense heat focused on the distillation unit. During the vaporization process, any dissolved solids … separate, and living organisms (bacteria) are killed due the intense heat. The water vapor (now void or any impurities) continues to pass through the distillation unit. As the steam reaches colder stages it begins to condense back down into distilled water. From the output of the distillation unit then comes freshly distillated water, safe for consumption.”

Source: