Natural Gas 1

Thi Do
English 301
Professor Dr. Bruce
April 22, 2014

Natural Gas: Stricter Regulations for Clean Energy
Ever heard of the term Fracking? There are many videos about fracking and how they
are depicteddepicts as bad and unfriendly to the environment such as GaslandGasland. The
environmentalists and media describe the cons of fracking only so that they can convince the
public to ban the fracking process. To do that, they portray all the cynical issues from natural gas
extraction in the media and news. Nevertheless, the benefit from natural gas extraction has given
many new opportunities to the world. Although fracking has many benefits that outweigh the
cons, the need for stricter regulations is needed before continuing.
To start with, what is fracking and why is it necessary? As stated by, Mark Venables
(2013), fracking is another term for hydraulic fracturing (p. 26). So what is hydraulic fracturing?
This is a process of natural gas extraction, another type of fossil fuel (Venables, 2013, p. 26-27).
As also stated by Venables (2013), "A mixture of water, sand and chemicals is then pumped into
the well under high pressure. This generates stresses, opening up existing fractures or creating
new ones to release the trapped gas" (p. 26). This trapped gas being released is natural gas, a
form of fossil fuel. the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states that "Natural gas is a fossil
fuel formed when layers of buried plants and animals are exposed to intense heat and pressure
over thousands of years" (2013). After the water and chemicals are injected into the well, E.P.A.
mentions "natural gas begin to flow back up the well" (2014). The wastewater arewastewaters
"to be stored on-site-typically in tanks or pits-before treatment recycling, or disposal" (E.P.A.,
Formatted: Font: Italic
Formatted: Strikethrough
Natural Gas 2

2014)[Refer to Appendix A]. So what can we do with this natural gas? Well according to E.P.A.,
"natural gas is combusted to generate electricity, enabling this stored energy to be transformed
into usable power" (2013). Why is this fossil fuel important to the world? According to Anne
Harris's (2012) article, she mentions "gas is cleaner than coal, less geopolitical than oil" (p. 57).
The world is in need for cleaner energy and with natural gas extraction, we can steer away from
coal mining. She points out a report from the International Energy Agency of growing gas stating
"demand for natural gas will increase around 2.7 per cent a year for the next five years" (p. 57).
Changing to gas energy will decrease our need for international oil.
However, not everything about natural gas extraction is clean and safe. There are some
risks involved in the method as it can be controlled and reduced when enforced with more
regulations [Refer to Appendix B]. As state by E.P.A., "Air pollution resulting from the release
of methane gas" (2013). Methane gas is released during the process of fracking. According to
The Chemical Engineer (2013) journal, it is stated that "when producers use practices to capture
or control emissions, such as green completions, methane can be dramatically reduced" (p. 6).
When controlled, the reduction in the greenhouse gas, methane, will lessen allowing a safer
fracking process. Experts in the UK, the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng), reports that
"there is a 'very low' risk of any gas or fracking fluids seeping into aquifers due to the fracking
itself" (2013, p. 10). As said the risks are really low although the media will always depict the
negative side and spread it publicity so people can be frightened. The RAEng also mentions that
"thousands of tons of water are injected into gas-bearing rock formations - is not 'completely
risk-free,' but maintain that robust regulation can ensure it is used safely" (2012, p. 10). The risks
and potential issues can be contain and reduce if so by increasing regulations before continuing
fracking.
Natural Gas 3

Additionally, fracking has benefitted the world increasing the economy through means of
opening up jobs for those in need. The increase in demand of natural gas means the increase
demand in job opportunities in the energy extraction occupation. President Obama mentions
"Experts believe this will support more than 600,000 jobs by the end of the decade" (2012). He
states that turning to a cleaner energy resource will produce more jobs for people. (President
Obama, 2012). This will help the economy with the high demands of cleaner energy. More
benefits from natural gas extraction include President Obama mentions more on the benefits of
natural gas extraction such as "power trucks and factories that are cleaner and cheaper, proving
that we don't have to choose between our environment and our economy" mention by President
Obama (2012).
In general, since the fracking began, there has been an increase in the economy and
household income to those around the fracking areas (Efstathiou, 2013). According to Jim
Efstathiou Jr. (2013) article, he mentions that "the energy boom supported 2.1 million jobs,
added almost $75 billion in federal and state revenues, contributed $283 billion to the gross
domestic product and lifted household income by more than $1,200." These numbers shows that
fracking benefits the world in more than just clean energy but allowing new job opportunities for
many people. Raising the production of natural energy will reduce the use of oil. He also states
"lower fuel prices will raise industrial production by 3.5 percent by the end of the decade"
(2013). Businesses will be able to improve and grow because of the energy companies.
Moreover, the offset of fracking surpasses the controversies of the natural gas extraction
method. As mentioned before, the process of natural gas is cleaner than coal and oil. Nick
Grealy's (2013) article mentions about fracking will globally aid the environment as he states
"we can reduce

emissions by more than 50 percent" (p. 24). This cleaner form of energy
Natural Gas 4

will help our climate in the future. Is there sufficient amount of natural gas to be extracted for the
ongoing years? President Obama states "We have a supply of natural gas that can last America
nearly 100 years" (2012). With this much supply why should we stop this alternative energy
extraction?
Pursuing this further, stopping the whole natural gas extraction is an environmentalist
ambition because of the unsafe extraction method not being monitored or regulated enough.
According to Peter Haywood (2012) article, he mentions about an option "to win the trust of a
skeptical public by keeping the risks from hydraulic fracturing well under control through close
monitoring" (p. 43). Doing so will decrease the potential risks and keep the media from pursuing
the negatives of fracking. To make the extraction of natural gas safer, we would need to stricken
the regulations by turning to the federal regulation instead of its already state governed
regulation. The state regulations on fracking are not enough as Dr. Scott A. Elias (2013)
mentions, "the current laws are full of loopholes when it comes to fracking." Why would there be
such gimmick when it comes to natural energy extraction? According to the Environmental
Protection Agency (2014), oil companies are excluded from some government regulation such as
the underground injection control (UIC) of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) and Clean
Water Act. UIC allows hydraulic fracturing to infuse the wastewater underground as a disposal
or store in wastewater pits (E.P.A., 2014).Wastewater stored in pits is bad because it can
evaporate and contaminate around the area since it is not enclosed or covered (E.P.A., 2014).
Fracking has many secrets where they are exempted from reporting chemicals used. Elias stated
"exemptions to US environmental safety regulations mean that fracking well operators are not
obliged to report annual releases of toxic chemicals from their wells" (2013). If you were a local
Natural Gas 5

to these fracking facilities, wouldn't you want to know the chemicals being released or used in
the process of fracking?
Furthermore, we need more regulations on fracking before continuing. President Obama
stated "I'm requiring all companies that drill for gas on public lands to disclose the chemicals
they use. What about the drilling on private lands? President Obama only mentioned about the
companies drilling on public lands but why doesn't he require the companies to tell about what
they use in private lands too? Just because he is including this regulation, he needs to include it
to everyone, not just public lands so the people can acknowledge the chemicals being used.
Because America will develop this resource without putting the health and safety of our citizens
at risk" (2012). According to Nature article on Natural gas, due to the economy issues, the
money to improve the outdated pipes and extracting system are not sought for. (Howarth,
Ingraffea, and Engelder, 2011, (p. 272). The journal by Howarth et al. (2011) proposes the need
for strict regulation (p. 272). Having a stricter regulation will allow natural gas extraction to be
utilized at its upmost. In the studies from Burford (2012), hydraulic fracturing is regulated by the
states (p. 577). He mentions about the states' regulation flaws and how it should be governed by
the federal states for stronger enforcement (p. 577). The federal government will have a better
impact on fracking. Stricter regulations are being process as the president mentions, but it should
be enforced while fracking is still in service.
One can conclude that to reduce the risk of natural gas extraction, the need for stricter
regulation is needed. Despite the media induced of negatives on fracking, the public should learn
about the benefits of fracking because it outweighs the risks. Poor regulations should be publicly
known so one can vote on enforcing a stricter regulation. Stricter regulations by the federal
Natural Gas 6

government will allow fracking to continue with less risks and more benefits in producing job
opportunities and the growth of the economy.

Natural Gas 7

References
Burford, E. (2012). The Need for Federal Regulation of Hydraulic Fracturing. Urban Lawyer,
44(3), 577-588.
Efstathiou, Jr. J., (2013, September 3). Fracking boom seen raising household incomes by
$1,200. Retrieved from http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-04/fracking-boom-
seen-raising-household-incomes-by-1-200.html
Elias, S. A., (2013, September 9). What's really going on beneath our feet when we use fracking
to extract natural gas from deep underground? Retrieved from
http://www.elsevier.com/connect/fracking-the-pros-and-cons
E.P.A. (2014, February 11). Regulation of hydraulic fracturing under the Safe Drinking Water
Act. Retrieved from
http://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/wells_hydroreg.cfm
E.P.A. (2013, September 25). Natural gas: Electricity from natural gas. Retrieved from
http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/natural-gas.html
E.P.A. (2014, March 16). The hydraulic fracturing water cycle. Retrieved from
http://www2.epa.gov/hfstudy/hydraulic-fracturing-water-cycle
Fracking safe if regulated, say experts. (2012). TCE: The Chemical Engineer, (854), 10.
Grealy, N. (2013). Fracking is one of the best things to happen to onshore gas exploration for a
century. Engineering & Technology (17509637), 8(1), 24.
Harris, A. (2012). Gas rush!. Engineering & Technology (17509637), 7(8), 56-58.
Heywood, P. (2012). Fracking safer and greener?. TCE: The Chemical Engineer, (850), 42-45.
Howarth, R. W., Ingraffea, A., & Engelder, T. (2011). Natural gas: Should fracking stop?.
Nature, 477(7364), 271-275. doi:10.1038/477271a
Lotorto, A., (2012, August 22). Explosion, flaring, and more fracking for Susquehanna County.
Retrieved from http://www.wearepowershift.org/blogs/explosion-flaring-and-more-
fracking-susquehanna-county
Obama, B. (2012, January 24). Remarks by the President in State of the Union Address.
Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2012/01/24/remarks-
president-state-union- address
Study cuts fracking emission estimates. (2013). TCE: The Chemical Engineer, (868), 6.
Natural Gas 8

Venables, M. (2013). Fracking protestors should focus on the more pressing issues. Engineering
& Technology (17509637), 8(9), 26-27.

Natural Gas 9

Appendix A
The Process of Fracking

http://www2.epa.gov/hfstudy/hydraulic-fracturing-water-cycle
Natural Gas 10

Appendix B
Stricter Regulations Needed
a









Containment of flaring/Stricter
regulation of released burning
gas needed.
Stricter regulation of waste
disposal needed.
Stricter regulation of released
methane needed.
http://www.wearepowershift.org/blogs/explosion-flaring-and-more-fracking-susquehanna-county
Flaring: leftover gas released into
atmosphere.
Waste Pits: Waste left out in the open
ready to be transfer.
Methane being released into
atmosphere.