
Summarization regarding the potential for greatly increased production of oil and natural gas in the United States and the description of two major problems to overcome.

Answer to Problem 1CR
The process of horizontal drilling involves drilling a vertical well deep into the earth, turning the flexible shaft of the drill and then horizontal drilling. In the case of hydraulic fracturing, the shale rock is fractured by high-pressure pumps and a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals is pumped through holes in the underground well pipe. These technologies have reduced the cost of oil extraction in the United States and reduced its dependency on oil imports. The major problems to overcome include enormous supply of water required for regional extraction of natural oil and gas and burning more carbon-containing fossil fuels gas; more amounts of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) will be released into the air faster than it can be eliminated by the carbon cycle.
Explanation of Solution
The oil and gas producers combined two extraction technologies, horizontal drilling, and hydraulic fracturing or fracking to reduce the cost of oil extraction.
The process of horizontal drilling involves the following:
(i). Drilling a vertical well deep into the earth.
(ii). Turning the flexible shaft of the drill.
(iii). Horizontal drilling to gain access to multiple oil and natural gas deposits.
The hydraulic fracturing or fracking is used to remove the oil and natural gas trapped in the shale rock. The shale rock is fractured by high-pressure pumps that force a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals through holes in the underground well pipe. A mixture of oil and natural gas and some amount of slurry flows out of the cracks when the pressure is released. The oil and gas with slurry are pumped to the surface through the well pipe. The returning slurry also contains some potentially harmful chemicals. The slurry is again injected under high pressure into deep underground wells and sent to sewage treatment plants.
These technologies are greatly increasing the production of oil and natural gas in the United States and reducing the cost of oil extraction. The United States is utilizing these technologies to reduce its dependency on oil imports. The increased supply has reduced the price of natural gas. It has accelerated a shift from coal to natural gas for generating electricity in the United States.
However, there are two major issues with this scenario.
- 1. Large-scale extraction of natural oil and gas present firmly in shale rock needs enormous quantities of water. It also produces heavily polluted wastewater. Along with this, leakages from oil and gas well piping systems can contaminate shallow water aquifers that feed many drinking water wells, as well as deep aquifers, unless the entire drilling, extraction, and wastewater treatment processes are strictly monitored and regulated to protect drinking water.
- 2. By burning more carbon-containing coal, oil, and natural gas, increasing amounts of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) will be continuously released into the air faster than they can be eliminated by the carbon cycle. Computer models project that growing atmospheric levels of these greenhouse gases will play an important role in altering the world’s climate in possibly dangerous ways during this century.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
- I need help with part b and c. I don't want an explanation I need the actual graph, because it's hard to understand an explanation without showing what they mean.arrow_forwardI need help with part b and c. I don't want an explanation I need the actual graph preferably broken down, because it's hard to understand an explanation without showing what they mean.arrow_forwardI need help with part b and c I don't know how to draw it.arrow_forward
- 4. What is the geologic range of the fossil shown in Figure 10.15? From the Ordovician period through the Permian period. 5. What is the geologic range of the fossil shown in Figure 10.16? From the Cambrian period through the Permian period. 6. Imagine that you have discovered a rock outcrop that contains the fossils identified in Questions 4 and 5. What is the geologic range of this rock?From theperiod through the period.arrow_forward4. What is the geologic range of the fossil shown in Figure 10.15? From the period through the period5. What is the geologic range of the fossil shown in Figure 10.16? From the period through the period.arrow_forwardACTIVITY 10.6 Types of Fossils Pg 174 1. Refer to Figure 10.13. Which photo(s) (A-1) best illustrate(s) the methods of fossilization or fossil evidence listed below? (Photos/letters may be used more than once.)Permineralization: The small internal cavities and pores of an original organism that are filled with precipitated mineral matter. Photo(s):Cast: The space once occupied by a dissolved shell or other structure that is subsequently filled with mineral matter. Photo(s):Carbonization: Preservation that occurs when fine sediment encases delicate plant or animal forms and leaves a residue of carbon, Photo(s):Impression: A replica of an organism, such as a leaf, left in fine-grained sedimentary rock. Photo(s):Amber: Hardened resin of ancient trees that preserved delicate organisms such as insects. Photo(s):Indirect evidence: Traces of prehistoric life but not the organism itself. Photo(s):arrow_forward
- ACTIVITY 10.7 Fossils as Time Indicators Pgs 175-176Use Figure 10.14, page 175, to complete the following. 1. What is the geologic range of plants that belong to the group Ginkgo?From theperiod through theperiod. 2. What is the geologic range of Lepidodendron, an extinct coal-producing plant?From theperiod through theperiod. 3. Imagine that you have discovered an outcrop of sedimentary rock that contains fossil shark teeth and fossils of Archimedes. In which time periods might this rock have formed?From theperiod through theperiod.arrow_forwardACTIVITY 10.4 Unconformities Pg 1721. Label the angular unconformity and disconformity on Figure 10.10. 2. Identify the types of unconformities in Figure 10.11A and Figure 10.11Barrow_forwardACTIVITY 10.3 Principles of Cross-Cutting and Inclusions Pg 171Figure 10.8 is a geologic cross-section of a hypothetical area. Use it to answer the following questions. 1. Is the igneous intrusion, dike E, older or younger than rock layers A-D? 2. Is fault H older or younger than rock layers A-D? 3. Is fault H older or younger than sedimentary layers F and G? 4. Did fault H occur before or after dike E? Explain how you arrived at your answer. 5. What evidence supports the conclusion that the igneous intrusion labeled sili B is more recent than the rock layers on either side (A and C)? ACTIVITY 10.5 Applying Relative Dating Principles Pg 173Use Figure 10.12 to complete the following. 1. Identify and label the unconformities in Figure 10.12. 2. Is rock layer I older or younger than layer H? What relative dating principle did you apply to determine your answer?Rock layer I isthan layer H.Relative dating principle: 3. Is fault L older or younger than rock layer D? What principle did you…arrow_forward
- Applications and Investigations in Earth Science ...Earth ScienceISBN:9780134746241Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. TasaPublisher:PEARSONExercises for Weather & Climate (9th Edition)Earth ScienceISBN:9780134041360Author:Greg CarbonePublisher:PEARSONEnvironmental ScienceEarth ScienceISBN:9781260153125Author:William P Cunningham Prof., Mary Ann Cunningham ProfessorPublisher:McGraw-Hill Education
- Earth Science (15th Edition)Earth ScienceISBN:9780134543536Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. TasaPublisher:PEARSONEnvironmental Science (MindTap Course List)Earth ScienceISBN:9781337569613Author:G. Tyler Miller, Scott SpoolmanPublisher:Cengage LearningPhysical GeologyEarth ScienceISBN:9781259916823Author:Plummer, Charles C., CARLSON, Diane H., Hammersley, LisaPublisher:Mcgraw-hill Education,





