WHATTHE

FRACKIS GOING

ON?

WHATTHE

FRACKIS GOING

ON?

INTRODUCTION

FROM STATEMENTS TO DEBATE

FROM DEBATE TO ACTORS

All the contents listed below are available online in a more concise form in an website specifically designed as an interactive complement to this report.

>> http://whatthefrackisgoingon.altervista.org

FROM ACTORS TO NETWORKS PART 1

FROM ACTORS TO NETWORKS PART 2

FROM NETWORKS TO COSMOS

FROM COSMOS TO COSMOPOLITICS

APPENDIX

If land degradation is a proved phenomenon, usually public concerns focus on its effects, often indirect, thus preventing the rise of a real online controversy.

T

H

STATES

in the US involved in the practice

MILLION TREATMENTSof hydraulic fracturing

since 1947

Chemical Mixing: the acquired water is combined with chemical additives and proppant to make the HF fluid.> Release to water through on-site spills and leaks

Water Acquisition: large volumes of water are withdrawn from ground and surface water resources to be used in the HF process.> Change in quantity of water available for drinking

1

2

Well Injection: fluid is injected into the well, creating cracks in the geological formation that allow oil or gas to escape through the well.> Potential impacts on drinking water resources

3

Flowback: fluid, formation water and natural gas begin to flow back up the well and must be stored on-site before treatment or disposal.> Release to water through spills from on-site storage

Wastewater Treatment and Waste Disposal:disposal by underground injection, treatment followed by disposal to surface water bodies or recycling for use in future HF operations.> Contaminants reaching drinking water

Source: www.epa.gov

4

5

MILLION GALLONSof water used

to fracture a well

FEET

Fracking wells depth where shale gas is extracted

CHEMICAL ADDITIVES

used within thefracking fluids

DECEMBER 2012Google Trends

data collection day

INPUT

OUTPUT

INPUT

OUTPUT

INPUT

OUTPUT

198 urls (104hf;94fr)

198 urls (104hf;94fr)

INPUT

OUTPUT

INPUT

OUTPUT

INPUT

OUTPUT