Hydrofracking, What goes into it?

Hydrofracking can be viewed as the future of the energy industry. It provides a cheep, more environmentally friendly alternative to crude oil.It is also very plentiful in the United States which could boost this country's struggling economy. However, the environmental drawbacks have been well documented and there is a very dedicated opposition. Because of the nature of the industry and how much of the dialogue is around the environment this subject fits right into the course.
While the subject of fracking is a hot topic for debate surprisingly little is known about it. The actual action of drilling a hole and extracting natural gas is simple enough and fairly common knowledge for people with a background in the field. The mystery comes from the agent's that are used to extract the gas. Fracking liquid is like hot dogs, no one knows whats in it.

The vast majority of fracking fluid is water. The water is supplemented by sand and chemicals that are designed to increase the effectiveness of the drilling. The exact combination of chemicals that goes into fracking fluid varies and is unknown to anyone who is not making it. It is very much like a secret sauce for a restaurant. The different combination are actually trademarked by the respective companies. That leads to many different combinations of highly toxic chemicals that gets pumped into the ground.

The reason for the secrecy is capitalism. The company with the best mixture is the only one that has the right to use it. That gives them an advantage over the rest of the competition and forcing them to give that up would harm business.Thus, all the trademarks. The drilling companies can put whatever they want in their fracking liquid and do not have to tell anyone about it.

That in my opinion is the real problem with hydrofracking. The environmental issue has been a difficult thing to overcome for the industry. Maybe, reveling exactly what, and how much of it, these companies are putting in the round would raise public opinion. Also, as the industry is viewed as an alternative energy source, and a way to reduce the country's dependence on foreigner oil, the effectiveness of the drilling should be maximized. It is for the betterment of the country as a whole if the best concoction was widely used. Then when better, or more environmentally friendly, compounds are developed they can be widely spread and improve the whole industry.

"What Chemicals Are Used." What Chemicals Are Used. Web. 9 Feb. 2015. <https://fracfocus.org/chemical-use/what-chemicals-are-used>.

"Environment." America's Energy. Web. 9 Feb. 2015. <http://www.energyfromshale.org/americas-energy/environment>.