7/30/2019 Just the Fracks! Facts About Fracking Waste Water

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What is the Composition of Fracking Fluid?FACT: Fracking fluid consists of 99.5% water and sand. The remaining one half of onepercent (0.5%) consists of various chemicals, most of which are found in householdand consumer products people use every day and pose little to no risk to human healthwhen used in small or trace amounts.

What Chemicals are Used in Hydraulic Fracturing?FACT: Typical additives used in hydraulic fracturing fluid include: sodium chloride(found in table salt), ethylene glycol (found in household cleaners), borate salts (foundin cosmetics), sodium/potassium carbonate (found in detergents), guar gum (found inice cream), and isopropanol (found in deodorant).

How Far Underground Does Hydraulic Fracturing Take Place?FACT: Hydraulic fracturing wells typically reach 6,000 feet below the surface (theapproximate length of 4 Empire State Buildings), far below aquifers where groundwateris found.

How Are Hydraulic Fracturing Wells Constructed?FACT: Hydraulic fracturing wells are constructed of layers of steel piping, known ascasing. Each well requires 3 MILLION pounds of steel and cement, shielding aquifers viaa 10-inch armored barrier. Hydraulic fracturing wells meet American National StandardsInstitute (ANSI)-accredited standards.

How Much Fracking Fluid Rises to the Surface?FACT: In Pennsylvanias Marcellus Shale Formation, roughly 10-30% of fracking fluidrises to the surface. Fracking fluid that comes to the surface is known as flowbackwater.

How is Fracking Flowback Water Handled?FACT: Fracking flowback water is either recycled/reused, disposed of by watertreatment facilities or injected in permitted disposal wells (known as Class II UIC wells)deep underground. Disposal of flowback water is managed in accordance with federaland/or state regulations and in compliance with the Clean Water Act and Safe DrinkingWater Act. There are more than 800,000 UIC wells throughout the United States used tostore industrial waste and for other purposes. However, only around 151,000 are usedby the oil and gas industry.

What is Hydraulic Fracturings Safety Record?FACT: Studies by the Ground Water Protection Council (GWPC), an association of stateregulators, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have shown no significantenvironmental risks as a result of proper hydraulic fracturing.

Just The Fracks!Facts About

"Not Aware of Any Proven Case Where theFracking Process Itself Has Affected Water" Lisa Jackson, Head of the EPA, May 24,

2011

http://www.gwpc.org/e-library/documents/general/State%20Oil%20and%20Gas%20Regulations%20Designed%20to%20Protect%20Water%20Resources.pdfhttp://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/wells_coalbedmethanestudy.cfmhttp://www.gwpc.org/e-library/documents/general/State%20Oil%20and%20Gas%20Regulations%20Designed%20to%20Protect%20Water%20Resources.pdfhttp://water.epa.gov/type/groundwater/uic/class2/hydraulicfracturing/wells_coalbedmethanestudy.cfm

7/30/2019 Just the Fracks! Facts About Fracking Waste Water

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What is Hydraulic Fracturings Impact for the Economy, Jobs and EnergyConsumers?

FACT: Hydraulic fracturing has been a boon for jobs. In 2010 alone the industrysupported 600,000 jobs. By 2035 it is estimated that the industry will support close to2,000,000 jobs. Accordingly, lower natural gas prices due to hydraulic fracturing areexpected to add almost $1,000 in disposable income per every American householdfrom 2012-2015 and that amount could increase to $2,000 by 2035.

Sources: EnergyFromShale.org, FracFocus.org, EnergyTomorrowBlog, U.S. Senate

Committee on Environment & Public Works,The Heritage Foundation

http://www.energyfromshale.org/http://fracfocus.org/http://energytomorrow.org/blog/graphically-speaking-fracking-and-injection-wells/#/type/allhttp://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=23EB85DD-802A-23AD-43F9-DA281B2CD287http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=23EB85DD-802A-23AD-43F9-DA281B2CD287http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2012/08/hydraulic-fracturing-critical-for-energy-production-jobs-and-economic-growth#_ftn12http://www.energyfromshale.org/http://fracfocus.org/http://energytomorrow.org/blog/graphically-speaking-fracking-and-injection-wells/#/type/allhttp://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=23EB85DD-802A-23AD-43F9-DA281B2CD287http://epw.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=PressRoom.PressReleases&ContentRecord_id=23EB85DD-802A-23AD-43F9-DA281B2CD287http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2012/08/hydraulic-fracturing-critical-for-energy-production-jobs-and-economic-growth#_ftn12