Download Myth or Fact - AirWaterGas

Myth or Fact
The real “FRACKING” story
Myth or Fact?
 Oil and natural gas reside in huge underground pools and
lakes.
 Myth
 Oil and natural gas are trapped in sedimentary rock formations,
such as sandstone and shale, in the Earth’s crust.
Myth of Fact?
 Fracking is a new technology that has only been used in the
last 10-15 years.
 MYTH and FACT
 Fracking actually began in 1949 and over 90% of existing oil and
gas wells have been fracked.
 However, fracking isn’t like it used to be. New techniques can
add up to 100 times more fractures to rock.
Myth or Fact?
 There are regulations to help ensure that fracking does not
contaminate water resources underground (aquifers).
 FACT
 Regulations do exist in some places (Texas, Colorado, Canada,
Germany, and the U.K.). However, regulations do not exist in
most U.S. states and most countries.
Myth or Fact?
99.5% of fracking fluid consists of water
and sand
FACT
0.5% is chemical additives, 99% is water and
sand
Composition of fracturing fluids
blog.ecologix.com/whats-in-frac-fluid/
Myth or Fact?
The chemical additives in fracking fluid are
present in small enough quantities that they
are not a danger to health.
MYTH
Some of those chemicals are hazardous
at very small quantities.
Example: Benzene
Myth or Fact?
 In Colorado, spills from fracking have contaminated
groundwater and surface water.
 MYTH and FACT
 According to testimony from an EPA Administrator the EPA and
COGCC have not found a direct connection to chemicals from
fracking contaminating groundwater
 A case study found 77 surface spills with groundwater impact
reported to COGCC in Weld County, CO between July 1, 2010
and July 1, 2011
 Impact rate: <0.5% of active wells experienced spill
impacting groundwater
Myth or Fact?
 MYTH and FACT
 In places where fracking is used to produce natural gas which
lowers use of coal, then greenhouse gas emissions are lowered.
 In places where fracking is used for oil or where natural gas
development does not reduce use of coal, then this adds
greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change.