Research Assignment Paper About Advantages of Fracking (Research Paper Sample)

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Advantages of Fracking
As the global concerns on energy production and consumption continue to rise, one of the major areas of attention has been that of hydraulic fracturing and its impact on the environment. A great deal of attention has been placed on the negative impacts, with little consideration being placed on the benefits that this energy production process generates economically and socially. This essay attempts to convince the reader on the importance of fracking by pointing out some of the major benefits that it creates. The fracking process primarily involves the injection of a fluid that contains sand, chemicals into oil and gas wells with the aim of breaking through the shale rocks so as to gain access to the natural gases and oils that deep inside the earth. The resultant effect is the ability to access fossil fuels that were previously inaccessible. For the American society, this process has brought instrumental and positive outcomes as will be discussed below.
First and foremost, fracking is a method that surpasses the effectiveness of traditional extraction, more so when it comes to fossil fuels that are deep into the ground. In this case therefore it has made gas and oils that were previously unavailable more accessible. The increase in gas productions does present two main advantages, beginning with that of more affordable fuels for the American public. As more oil becomes accessible its abundance makes the prices go down considerably (Hadley, et al, p.4). It is also clear that more time is needed for the world over to find cheaper and safer energy source. As the world grapples with the fact that fossil fuels are non-renewable, significant resources have been invested in the finding alternative sources. The adoption of fracking however, does provide a significant break by offering more time for research to be conducted. As surplus gasses are made accessible through fracking, the world over gest to enjoy a significant amount of time in its pursuit of safer and efficient energy sources.
Hydraulic fracturing also introduces another important economic advantage; that of value in increased production as a result of fracking. The ability to drill more oil wells has been instrumental in allowing for the United States to bolster its balance of trade with other countries. In other words with increasing volumes of production, the government is importing lesser fossil fuels than before (Christenson, p.7) The affordability of fossil fuels that emerges as a result of abundance translates into other sectors of the economy in that the cost of production in most sectors go down. While billions of dollars were being flown out of the country in exchange of fossil fuels, most of it has been put back into the pockets of American people in the form of disposable incomes.
Another economic impact has been the increase in employment opportunities. The fracking process has slowed for the expansion of the energy sector even as more people are absorbed into the production and supply value chain. The transcendence of the limitations imposed by traditional extraction methods coupled by the fact that more natural gas deposits abound within the US, it is clear that increase in employment is likely to continue rising.
From a political perspective, fossil fuels have been instrumental in defining global relations between nations. The reliance on oil imports from oil producing countries has previously resulted imbalance of power between states. As a matter of fact, such imbalances have been utilized to gain political and diplomatic headway in the past. The fact that fossil fuels are unevenly distributed around the worlds means that some nations naturally lack ready access, making it a cause for great tension.
From an environmental perspective, fracking has predominantly been viewed as an environmental destructive process (Spellman, p.6). What has been missed however, is the fact that the accessibility of natural gasses that has come about as a result of hydraulic fracturing technology has made it possible for coal power to be replaced. According to Christenson, a significant proportion of electricity in the United States is produced through the burning of coal (p.3). The cheapness of coal has been instrumental in increasing its consumption within the United States, with the adoption of fracking however, more natural gas deposits have been made accessible allowing for the replacement of coal. The greatest advantage that emerges from this particular shift is a significant reduction in the build of greenhouse gasses within the atmosphere.
The burning of natural gasses results in the production of lesser carbon into the air as compared to that of coal. As more natural gas deposits continue to be explored within the United States it is clear that its carbon footprint is likely to be reduced even as its coal consumption is brought down. Considering the United States’ proportion of contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, a significant drop in its emission is of great benefit to the world over.
A number of concerns have been raised in relation to the negative environmental issues that arise as a result of fracking. From the contamination of water resources to the destruction of soils through chemical damping, the fracking process has been painted as an environmentally destructive process. It is however, important to note the advantages that abound as a result of its adoption versus the destructiveness that is causes. For instance, improved economic productivity emerging from the increased value of production can be translated into community projects that are environmentally safe.
As more investors are drawn to the highly efficient hydraulic fracturing technology, more resources are being invested into the local economy in an unprecedented way. For investors, it also presents them with an opportunity to improve the lives of the communities in which they operate. As a result numerous organizations and groups dealing with environmental concerns and issues have received millions of dollars even as they push for environmental wellbeing. From an improved energy outlook of the world, hydraulic fracturing can be seen ...