"Comparing the fracked wells of the 1950s with those of today is like comparing a stick of dynamite, which was first patented in 1867, with a modern bunker-buster bomb. Sure, they are a continuation of sorts, but the differences are more important than the similarities. Things are souped up to a whole new extreme."
Adam Briggle - ‘A Field Philosopher’s Guide to Fracking’ Liveright Publishing Corporation. New York and London. 2015.
These are the facts
‘Fracking’ or ‘hydraulic fracturing’ involves all activities associated with unconventional gas mining. This includes exploration mining, production, seismic lines and testing, land clearing, waste water ponds, chemical injections, flaring and truck movements to and from drilling sites.
The hydraulic fracturing (fracking) mining process is the technique of injecting water, sand, and chemicals at high pressure deep beneath the ground into gas-carrying shale rocks (and other tight rock formations) to release the gas fuel trapped inside. Around half that fracking fluid is lost to the environment. The rest returns to the surface and is disposed of in leak-prone surface storage ponds, left to evaporate.
This dangerous and unpopular modern form of fracking has already happened in the South West, Mid West and Kimberley regions of WA. However, if this industry is allowed to fully develop in WA, we could be looking at 40,000 wells in the Kimberley alone. Below are a few diagrams illustrating the 'new fracking' process.
A basic look at the 'fracking' process
Here's one of the wells in the South West, WA - 2017
There's also this to consider...
No regulation standards? This photograph is at Arrowsmith (a town in the Mid West region of WA) showing spilled silica proppant (white powder) at a fracking site.
Don't forget about the land clearing and emissions... and fugitive emissions!
...or these scarred landscapes. If this is what's above the ground, think about what's below... The pipes don't just go out in one direction - they're like spindle webs beneath the ground.
