FRACKING : GODSEND OR FUTURE DISASTER?

For the last ten to fifteen years American engineers have been developing and improving a new and highly controversial technique for gas drilling, called FRACKING. The word stands for “hydraulic fracturing” and involves the use of chemicals, explosives, and many millions gallons of water. As our developed and developing countries will need ever more energy for the decades to come, “fracking” could be THE solution, were it not for possible environmental consequences.

This relatively new and controversial drilling technique had been considered too expensive to be competitive, till lately. Nevertheless, with rising oil prices and continual unrest in many oil producing countries, Shale gas winning has now become politically and financially interesting, even necessary.

While the technique was initially American, now other Nations and especially gas guzzling countries like China, have started to prospect their subsoil and began drilling where possible. The whole process remains rather complicated, though, because the gas containing shale formations are located at more than three thousand feet underground.

The technique consists of vertical drilling through layers of hard rock for about a thousand meters, or more, to reach the shale formation. Once the target depth is reached, the drill goes horizontal, deep into the shale formation. A perforating gun blows holes through the walls of the well, creating “channels” for the mix of water, chemicals and sand, injected under high pressure, to fracture the shale. The sand needs to be included to keep the cracks open. As part of the mix flows back to the surface, the gas trapped in the shale rock then follows and flows up through the well. Although the steel pipes are encased in cement to avoid leaks, the technique is far from safe.

There are many concerns over contamination of freshwater, increased green-house  gas emissions, and other problems. That’s why most  countries – with the exception of Poland and China and of course the USA – prohibit drilling, for the time being.

However, future oil prices – as well as a growing demand for more energy -  will determine the success or failure of Fracking.

In Europe this controversial way of gas winning poses no political  problems for now, although Europe has enormous shale gas reserves. Our continent is so densely populated that most Nations fear eventual environmental disasters and did not start prospecting. This may be a temporary relief, however, depending on the future of our economy and worldwide political changes.

Spain needs not to worry! Unfortunately or not, this country apparently  hasn’t got ONE drop of shale gas, nor have Italy and Greece.

Maybe it is time to explore and use more extensively this country’s cheap and timeless energy resources, namely: SUN AND WIND.

ADRIANA