Risks and Concerns of Fracking

What is fracking?

Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside.

Water, sand, and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure, allowing the gas to flow out to the head of the well.

The process can be carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling horizontally to the rock layer, creating new pathways to release gas or extend existing channels.

The term fracking refers to how the rock is fractured apart by the high-pressure mixture.

associated Risks & Concerns

• Contamination of groundwater

• Methane pollution and its impact on climate change

• Air pollution impacts

• Exposure to toxic chemicals

• Blowouts due to gas explosion

• Waste disposal

• Large volume water use in water-deficient regions

• Fracking-induced earthquakes

• Workplace safety

• Infrastructure degradation