fracking

• What is fracking?

  Fracking is a way of extracting shale gas - natural gas trapped underground in shale rock.
• Give an example of where fracking has been used in the UK.

  In 2017, work began at a site on Preston New Road, near Blackpool in Lancashire. However, this extraction was halted in 2019 after increasing safety concerns.
• How does fracking work?

  Liquid is pumped into shale rock at high pressure. This causes the rock to crack (fracture), releasing the gas, which is then collected as it comes back out of the well.
• What are the advantages of fracking?

  • Lots of shale gas is available in the UK. It's thought there it at least 5 trillion m3 of gas at the fracking sites in Lancashire.
  • Fracking increases the UK's energy security as other fossil fuel supplies start to decline.
  • Gas is less polluting than other fossil fuels. It releases half the CO2 of coal when burned.
  • Fracking is cheaper than some renewable energy sources but it can cost more to extract than gas from other sources.
  • The technology has already been tested, e.g. in Texas, USA, and shown to work.
• What are the disadvantages of fracking?

  • Gas is not a sustainable energy source. It's non-renewable, and releases CO2 when it's burned, contributing to global warming.
  • Fracking risks polluting groundwater, drinking water and the air.
  • It uses lots of water which is a limited resource.
  • It's known to cause small earthquakes - a 3 magnitude earthquake was triggered by the work in Lancashire in 2019.
  • It's an issue people feel strongly about - several people were arrested after protesting against the Lancashire site.
  • Investment in fracking may slow down the investment in renewable energy.