Literature 20review
Literature review
This literature review will give an in depth understanding of the material I’ve researched and question I’m tackling that I have progressed throughout my extended project. This research will show the reliability of the sources and how they are presented. It is sectioned into the different areas that I researched regarding whether or not fracking is the future and if it is the answer to our energy problems.
How it began?
Back in 2006, oil production was peaking. However halfway through the year production had dropped by almost 375 million barrels per day. This was just a minor bump compared to the total supply however when barrels hit the bottom it had a global impact. Oil drills around the world were pumping out less oil and this became an even bigger problem for energy supplies.
So began the course of finding an alternative energy option that could solve the problem immediately. Renewable energy sources were an option however they were costly and took a long time to set up. However one energy solution came to light. Fracking
What is ‘fracking’?
Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. Most of the oil and gas which is being fracked comes from sedimentary shale rock. This rock is made of clay and other minerals. In the past many layers of shale rock were inaccessible which is why hydraulic fracturing was so inefficient, however with today’s technological advancements we are now able to drill horizontally and have access to much larger forms of shale rock. Instead of drilling deeper oil companies can now drill sideways and pass through the shale, shoot them with highly pressurized liquid to crack the sediments open and release the fuel. When collecting oil out of the ground, air is pumped through the shale instead. This
This literature review will give an in depth understanding of the material I’ve researched and question I’m tackling that I have progressed throughout my extended project. This research will show the reliability of the sources and how they are presented. It is sectioned into the different areas that I researched regarding whether or not fracking is the future and if it is the answer to our energy problems.
How it began?
Back in 2006, oil production was peaking. However halfway through the year production had dropped by almost 375 million barrels per day. This was just a minor bump compared to the total supply however when barrels hit the bottom it had a global impact. Oil drills around the world were pumping out less oil and this became an even bigger problem for energy supplies.
So began the course of finding an alternative energy option that could solve the problem immediately. Renewable energy sources were an option however they were costly and took a long time to set up. However one energy solution came to light. Fracking
What is ‘fracking’?
Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. Most of the oil and gas which is being fracked comes from sedimentary shale rock. This rock is made of clay and other minerals. In the past many layers of shale rock were inaccessible which is why hydraulic fracturing was so inefficient, however with today’s technological advancements we are now able to drill horizontally and have access to much larger forms of shale rock. Instead of drilling deeper oil companies can now drill sideways and pass through the shale, shoot them with highly pressurized liquid to crack the sediments open and release the fuel. When collecting oil out of the ground, air is pumped through the shale instead. This