THE BASICS OF

FRACKING
The Heritage Post: A Daily News Blog | By Emily Paige
Posted 11:01am EST | Updated 55 minutes ago

Fracking is all over the news, but do you really know what fracking is? I
decided to write a short article on fracking. I will be posting more
information throughout the week. Remember to post your comments!
What is fracking? Fracking, or hydraulic
fracturing, is the process of extracting
natural gas from shale rock layers deep
within the earth. Fracking makes it possible
to produce natural gas extraction in shale
plays that were once unreachable with
conventional technologies. Water, sand,
and a mixture of chemicals are used during
this process. The combination of chemicals
usually represents 0.05% of the mixture
and typical additives include sodium
chloride, borate salts, ethylene glycol, and
glutaraldehyde.
How
does
fracking
impact
the
environment? The latest EPA Inventory of Greenhouse Gases found
that methane emissions from natural gas systems fell from 1990 to
2012, while natural gas production grew during the same period,
according
to
the
Energy
Information
Administration.

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to the
Heritage
Post
Today!

PRESS RELEASE

SCENARIO &
INSTRUCTIONS
You work at a local news station in Heritage County. You are an assistant to the
stations Content Manager. The local news station has been notified that Lenpuzz
Inc. is planning to open the states first shale gas fracking operation in Heritage
County. The Content Manager needs to develop a story about whether fracking
should occur in your county. This story needs to be completed by the end of the
week.
The Content Manager has asked you to review the attached research and provide
input. You will need to create a story title, the opening paragraph of
dialogue, and three key talking points with data to support your stance.
The Content Manager has several other projects and is depending on you to
provide a clear message on either the economic/energy benefit or a future problem
for the local environment.
You can write your response in the graphic organizer provided below:
Story Title
Opening Paragraph

Talking Point #1

Talking Point #2

Talking Point #3

THE BASICS OF
FRACKING
The Heritage Post: A Daily News Blog | By Emily Paige
Posted 11:01am EST | Updated 55 minutes ago

Fracking is all over the news, but do you really know what fracking is? I
decided to write a short article on fracking. I will be posting more
information throughout the week. Remember to post your comments!
What is fracking? Fracking, or hydraulic
fracturing, is the process of extracting
natural gas from shale rock layers deep
within the earth. Fracking makes it possible
to produce natural gas extraction in shale
plays that were once unreachable with
conventional technologies. Water, sand,
and a mixture of chemicals are used during
this process. The combination of chemicals
usually represents 0.05% of the mixture
and typical additives include sodium
chloride, borate salts, ethylene glycol, and
glutaraldehyde.
How
does
fracking
impact
the
environment? The latest EPA Inventory of Greenhouse Gases found
that methane emissions from natural gas systems fell from 1990 to
2012, while natural gas production grew during the same period,
according
to
the
Energy
Information
Administration.

Subscribe
to the
Heritage
Post
Today!

PRESS RELEASE

Governor Harris
Peterson Signs the Energy Modernization
Act
June 4, 2014 JOBS AND THE ECONOMY LEGISLATION
The Governor signed the Energy Modernization Act today at Lincoln
State University, clearing the way for energy exploration, high-tech
jobs and new investment in this states energy sector.
We remain intensely focused on creating good jobs,
particularly in our rural areas," said Governor Peters. "We have
watched and waited as other states moved forward with
energy exploration, and it is finally our turn. This legislation
will spur economic development at all levels of our economy,
not just the energy sector."
According to a recent study by Lincoln States Dr. Nelson Dunn, there
are many benefits of on-shore energy development in this state,
including:
Close to 500 jobs created from infrastructure development (over a
seven-year build-up of facilities).
$80 million in new annual income created in this state (over a
seven-year build-up of facilities).
Close to 1,500 jobs created from production activities (over a 20year recovery period).
Over $150 million in new annual income in this state (over a 20year recovery period).
The expansion of our energy sector will not come at a cost to
our precious environment. This legislation has the safeguards

to protect the high quality of life we cherish, continued

Governor Peterson.
A 2014 Interactive poll showed that 79 percent of state voters favor
increased production of domestic sources of oil and natural gas. The
same poll showed a majority of residents support hydraulic fracturing.

Results for #fracking on Twitter

The following are one page of results for a search of #fracking on Twitter.

EnergyTomorrow @EnergyTomorrow 23 minutes ago

#Fracking has helped increase U.S. oil production 65% in the past five years,
driving down gas prices. http://trib.in/1p62w29
Rattlecans @rattlecans 24 minutes ago
From 1776-2010, there were no earthquakes in Youngstown, Ohio. From 20102011, there were 109 earthquakes miccheckradio.blogspote.uk #Fracking
Mark Green @mdgreen1956 24 minutes ago
RT @DWBerkley: Amazing: Oil and gas investment in Ohio hits $3.5B over past 6
months http://bit.ly/11egxFz via @columbusbiz1st #fracking
Newsandreview @NewsReview 24 minutes ago
Hey Lincoln, New York just banned #fracking:
http://newsreview.org/2014/12/17/hey-ln-ny-just-banned-fracking
marcellus protest @marcellus_SWPA 25 minutes ago
Corp Stops Dumping Radioactive #Fracking Waste in River AFTER Lengthy Lawsuit!
http://www.desmogblog.com/2014/09/16/pennsylvania-wastewater-treatmentplant-agrees-stop-dumping-partially-treated-fracking-wastewater-river-after-year
United for Action @UnitedForAction 26 minutes ago
Duke Study: #Fracking Is Leaving Radioactive Pollution In Pennsylvania Rivers
http://read.bi/1i4FG8D
LincolnConservatory @ConserveToday 30 minutes ago
As #fracking looms, Lincoln officials worry about road damage
http://bit.ly/1rU8HcO
CleanH20Lincoln @CleanH20 Oct8 32 minutes ago
Already 700+ signatures on this petition to ban #fracking in Lincoln!
http://cleanwater.org/ban-fracking-in-Lincoln
Drew Hutton @DrewHutton1 Oct 9 34 minutes ago

Californian aquifers contaminated by billions of gallons of #Fracking wastewater in

a state suffering drought.
http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2014/fracking-10-062014.html #csg
EnergyTomorrow @EnergyTomorrow 35 minutes
Lower heating costs are in the forecast for this winter - thanks to #shale:
http://bit.ly/1rU8HcO #fracking

State of Lincoln Oil and Gas Study

Summary of Public Comments
The State of Lincoln conducted an oil and gas study to determine if fracking should occur in
this state. The draft report was published online. The state held three public meetings to allow
people to comment on the report. Below is the summary of the public comments.
The majority of people (more than 450 individuals and organizations) who spoke at the public
meetings or submitted comments on the draft report are opposed to the development of
natural gas extraction using horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing in the state. Many who
commented on the draft report feel that the benefits of shale gas extraction using horizontal
drilling and hydraulic fracturing do not outweigh the risks. Commentators were concerned that
these activities are unsafe, that our drinking water supplies will be contaminated, that our water
resources will be depleted, that the accidents evidenced by this industry in other states will be
repeated in this state, that public health will be threatened, and that our state cannot adopt
regulations and provide enforcement activities sufficient to prevent damage to the environment
and human health.
One individual wrote, I oppose fracking in the State of LincolnI do not trust the legislature
which seems to want to create more jobs and income for Lincoln than care for the health of our
ecology and people.
More than 50 individuals and organizations wrote in support of a go slow approach,
encouraging the General Assembly to hold off on legislation that would enable horizontal
drilling and hydraulic fracturing until further research is completed. The Jefferson County
Department of Environment and Energy cautioned that the State of Lincoln should not rush to
begin oil and gas exploration and development because of the current price of natural gas and
the abundant resources that are known to exist in the United States.

Top 10 Countries with Shale Resources

The tables below provide a listing of the 10 countries holding the largest resources of shale oil and shale
gas. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) and the U.S. Geological Survey worked
together to complete the assessments on the shale resources in 41 countries.

Table 1. Top 10 countries with technically recoverable shale oil resources

Rank
Country
Shale oil
(billion barrels)
1
Russia
75
2
U.S. 1
58
3
China
32
4
Argentina
27
5
Libya
26
6
Australia
18
7
Venezuela
13
8
Mexico
13
9
Pakistan
9
10
Canada
9
World Total
345
1
EIA estimates used for ranking order.

Table 2. Top 10 countries with technically recoverable shale gas resources

Rank
Country
Shale gas
(trillion cubic feet)
1
China
1,115
2
Argentina
802
3
Algeria
707
1
4
U.S.
665
5
Canada
573
6
Mexico
545
7
Australia
437
8
South Africa
390
9
Russia
285
10
Brazil
245
World Total
7,299

Unemployment Chart
Heritage County held a town meeting about unemployment. The County Manager
used this chart to explain that unemployment is declining in the county.
Additionally, he said that in 2015 a chicken processing plant would open in
Heritage County.

10