Hydraulic fracking is a process of injecting proprietary chemicals into the ground in order to fracture rock and release natural gas. Many parts of North Carolina, mostly outside the Catawba basin, are considered to have good potential for "fracking" to release natural gas deposits.
Overview of Fracking
- Hydraulic fracturing, also known as hydrofracking (or "fracking"), is a process of extracting natural gas in gas shale deposits by drilling horizontally.
- The process of fracking involves injecting (with high pressure) sand, hundreds of chemicals and millions of gallons of water into a well.
- The pressure fractures the shale and props open fissures that enable natural gas to flow more freely out of the well.
- For a quick visual presentation of how this happens watch the video to the left or click here for an interactive demonstration.
Potential problems from Fracking
Fracking has the potential to pollute the air, groundwater, and surface waters. Potential devestating impacts include:
- pollution of surface waters (from drilling fluids and other wastes that are brought to the surface in the drilling process);
- groundwater contamination (from bad well construction and the fracking process);
- air pollution (from the wells and related truck traffic);
- strain on water supplies (fracking requires large quantities of water);
- hazardous material spills (fracking fluids and fracking wastes);
- heavy truck traffic;
- and disruption of local economies.
Reports on fracking and its wastewater disposal have caused some distressing problems in other states:
A Duke University study in Dimock, PA found that some residents’ water wells exploded or their water could be lit on fire.
- The EPA scientifically linked fracking as the cause of water contamination in Pavillion, Wyoming.
The following videos contain additional information about fracking:
- For our library of information about hydraulic fracking, click here
- For information about other issues, click here
- For even more information, go to: