How can hydraulic fracturing be performed with minimal environmental impact?

1 Use less water

One of the main challenges of fracking is the large amount of water required to fracture the shale. Water scarcity, disposal, and recycling are major issues for the oil and gas industry and the communities affected by fracking. To minimize the water use, some alternatives are to use non-freshwater sources, such as brackish water, recycled wastewater, or produced water, or to use alternative fluids, such as propane, carbon dioxide, or nitrogen, that can reduce or eliminate the need for water.

2 Use safer chemicals

Another concern of fracking is the potential exposure of humans and wildlife to the chemicals used in the fracturing fluid, some of which are toxic, carcinogenic, or endocrine-disrupting. To reduce the chemical risk, some options are to disclose the composition and concentration of the fracturing fluid, to use biodegradable or less harmful chemicals, or to develop new formulations that can achieve the same performance with fewer or no chemicals.

3 Monitor and prevent leaks

A third issue of fracking is the possibility of leaks or spills of the fracturing fluid, the produced water, or the oil and gas that can contaminate the soil, the surface water, or the groundwater. To prevent and detect leaks, some measures are to use proper well design and construction, to implement strict standards and regulations, to employ advanced sensors and monitoring systems, and to respond quickly and effectively to any incidents.

4 Reduce flaring and venting

A fourth problem of fracking is the emission of methane and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can contribute to air pollution and climate change. Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that can leak from the wellhead, the pipelines, or the processing facilities. VOCs are precursors of ozone and smog that can affect human health and crop yields. To reduce flaring and venting, some solutions are to capture and utilize the gas, to upgrade the infrastructure and equipment, to apply leak detection and repair technologies, and to follow best practices and guidelines.

5 Restore the land

A fifth aspect of fracking is the impact on the land use and the ecosystem. Fracking involves clearing the land, building roads and pads, transporting equipment and materials, and generating noise and light. These activities can disturb the wildlife, degrade the habitat, increase the erosion, and affect the landscape. To restore the land, some actions are to minimize the surface footprint, to use existing or shared infrastructure, to reclaim and revegetate the land after the operations, and to collaborate with the stakeholders and the regulators.

Hydraulic fracturing is a complex and controversial technique that has both benefits and drawbacks for the oil and gas industry and the society. By adopting some of the practices mentioned above, hydraulic fracturing can be performed with minimal environmental impact and more sustainability.