The drillers are coming.

• Autores: Mark Fischetti
• Localización: Scientific American, ISSN 0036-8733, Vol. 303, Nº. 1, 2010, págs. 82-85
• Idioma: inglés
• Texto completo no disponible (Saber más ...)
• Resumen

  • The article discusses increased interest which is being shown in drilling in a large shale deposit known as the Marcellus formation, which stretches from New York to Tennessee and may contain enough natural gas to supply the U.S. for 40 years. A discussion of the horizontal drilling process which is used with shale, which is called slickwater hydraulic fracturing or fracking, is presented. Concerns about environmental problems which are linked to chemicals that are forced into wells during fracking and may contaminate drinking water supplies are discussed. Stringent controls for shale drilling which have been proposed by government regulators as a result of the environmental concerns are examined. INSETS: VAST SUPPLY, WORRIED EYE;FRACK, BABY, FRACK.