During tonight’s national coverage fracking was a topic brought up on multiple occasions. Can someone explain what it is and the pros and cons of it? Need it because a google search did not help :/
In: Biology
Remember how we were taught about how oil comes from the decayed remains of ancient organisms?
And we learned about different types of rocks? Sedimentary rock is made from layers of dirt and sand, compressed into rock. Sedimentary rock tends to be very porous, meaning it can absorb liquid like a sponge.
Well, millions of years ago, much of the US was underwater. This ancient seafloor contained lots of dirt and sand, which was compressed into sedimentary rock. It also contained lots of ancient algae and plant life, which decayed into oil. The porous sedimentary rock absorbed that oil.
Fracking is using high pressure liquid to break apart rocks, with the intent of extracting the oil inside those rocks.
Some people say that fracking is good. Fracking increases our supply of oil. This can cause oil prices to go down.
Some people say that fracking is bad. Drilling destroys the environment. Using oil as a fuel releases carbon into the air.
Fracking specifically also has a risk of the high pressure drilling liquid, or the displaced oil, getting into the groundwater, contaminating wells, and polluting ecosystems.
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