Table of Contents
General introduction
3
Background
4
Responsible team
4
Intended use
4
Stakeholders
5
Outcomes/consequences of the technology
5
Positive results
5
Negative results in case of wide deployment of the technology
6
Mitigation measures for minimizing the effects
8
Discussion
9
The guiding ethical principle
9
Future deployment of the innovation
10
Bibliography
11
General introduction
Technological innovation is the primary factor in development by offering possible solutions found in different industries. Innovations in the oil and gas industry have improved the quality of drilling processes leading to high energy productivity. Drilling petroleum wells uses the current technology whereby hydraulics plays a significant role. The petroleum industry now focuses on a disruptive innovation that causes zero-emission of renewable in the area of power generation. The shale gas and shale oil extraction are a new technology that most petroleum industries are using in both horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. The technology has increased production of oil and gas by 50 percent1. The modern hydraulic fracturing technology is a critical tool in hydrocarbon exploration. It makes use of sophisticated engineering processes that create different fracture networks in specified rock strata.
The government realized the cost of natural gas was increasing due lack of sufficient wells. In addition, the introduction of natural gas powered engines increased the need for continuous gas supply. The production of shale gas and shale oil saved had a greater economic impact on the economy of the United States because it was the first country to introduce this technology. Moreover, the production cost was low leading to decreased cost of natural gas. This was a benefit to the country because of reduced energy bills for businesses and private consumers2. This discussion analyses the social impact of the new technology in terms of its positive and negative effects. In addition, it discusses the recommendations on minimizing the negative impacts, and the future decisions about the innovation.
Background
Responsible team
Hydraulic fracture technology in shale gas and oil drilling was developed in the United States of America. It was aimed at increasing the production of oil and gases to serve the fast growing population. The technology has created a significant impact on the energy landscape where many changes have taken place. Shale is a natural rock where oil and natural gases slowly migrated and stayed in the traditional reservoirs over million years. Engineers had to come up with a technology for unlocking these reservoirs to trap the oils and natural gases. In 1990, a technological innovation was introduced that allowed petroleum engineers to access these resources in a direct and more economic manner from the source rock. Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling techniques were employed in accessing the two resources.
Intended use
This technology found many uses in the United States and has expanded into many other countries. Natural gas, which comes from hydrocarbon, emits greenhouse gases. Moreover, the past technologies on coal mining lead to the leakage of methane gases into the atmosphere. This technology ensured the hydraulic fracturing operations freed the gases and oil from rocks created no environmental risks. Through the innovation, petroleum engineers could access shale oil and gas that had been long deposited in traditional rocks. The oil was used for powering engines that run operations in big companies. United States specifically used the oil produced through the new technology in running turbines for electricity generation3.
Stakeholders
Stakeholders responsible for this design were affected either positively or negatively. Both public and private sectors in U.S were affected positively because of reduced energy prices and being the first country to introduce the technology, other countries paid taxes for the new innovation. Moreover, China was positively affected because it had the potential of unlocking shale gas and oil resources. On the other hand, Canada suffered from greenhouse gas emission from the hydraulic wells. In addition, international investors had invested on unconventional gas and oil in United States, but later found it hard to develop such resources in countries outside U.S.
Outcomes/consequences of the technology
Positive results
The technology has led to potential benefits in the society involved. The cheap gas produced lowered the energy costs, thus increasing the competitiveness of U.S. industries. In addition, the energy production for domestic use increased, and increased employment opportunities in the oil and gas industry leading to increased gross Domestic Product (GDP). Moreover, the technology ensured less production of carbon dioxide during extraction leading into low global warming caused by greenhouse gases. Moreover, the use of gases in the power generation plants reduced the use of coal that contributes to more carbon dioxide emission. The country experienced a state of energy security because of reduced oil imports and transportation costs4. In addition, the stakeholders could benefit from developing horizontal-drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies for use internationally. The new technology creates positive results for petroleum engineers because with the invention new oil fields will be open for extraction. Through this, more employment opportunities would be created for fresh graduates and also the experienced petroleum engineers.
Negative results in case of wide deployment of the technology
A number of significant environmental impacts are associated with shale gas and oil production using the hydraulic extraction theory. First, companies utilizing this technology have a number of proven accidents and violation of environmental rules due to poor practices. The arguments are somehow political, but have led to a lot of possible risks and impacts associated with hydraulic fracturing techniques. The following cases may be of great loss to petroleum engineers especially in case of accidents since it can lead to loss of life. In addition, the machines used are automated and in case of a program failure they can cause serious damage to operators and the marine life. Moreover, the current technology enables manufacturing companies to produce imitations of various machines used in the oil and gas industries. Countries that do not follow the patent policies may end up receiving fake machineries that might be of risk to the engineers, and bring more losses to a nation.
Second, the hydraulic fracturing technique has many negative impacts to the environment by disturbing the natural ecology. Excessive use of this technology could lead into serious ecological risks especially in the United States with more than 2,000 shale gas and oil producing companies. The country has the largest number of drilling activities with more than 10,000 horizontal wells. The environmental risks associated with the hydraulic fracture technology used in production of shale oil and gas includes: effects on air quality and the greenhouse gas emissions, and impact of natural land and water. The most affected states are New York, Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
Air quality: The equipments for extraction of shale oil and gas uses diesel-fired that emits NOx and SOx that contributes to air pollution. In addition, the increased use of these fossil fuels combustion of natural gases and oil leads to emission of carbon dioxide, which is the major greenhouse gas. Combustion of natural gas has lower carbon dioxide emission compared to other fossil fuels when used in large scale. It results into the production of high levels of methane gas. Methane gas is a stronger greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, and small amounts of emission have serious effects of global warming.
Land use: As more drilling companies adopt the new technique more land is covered with drilling activities increasing the impact of concentrated drilling. During the first stages of the drilling process, there are a number of continuous operations with many machines involved. The land gets depleted off its natural resources depleted.
Water contamination: The above drilling technology leads into injection of millions of liters of water from the rocks at extremely high pressure leaving little water in the natural rock fractures. The injected water is mixed with gas, and must be treated or otherwise disposed of. Presently, less amount of this water undergoes recycling making water sourcing a growing challenge in the industry. In addition, hydraulic fracture machines leads into contamination of fresh ground water sources in the aquifers. According to United States Environmental Protection Agency, hydraulic fracturing contributes to almost 40% contamination of ground water sources. Moreover, water treatment and disposal has caused a significant impact to the natural environment. Poor treatment methods have resulted into the recycled water causing earthquakes in some regions especially when reused in deep wells5.
Mitigation measures for minimizing the effects
First, a government policy regarding the use of hydraulic fracturing techniques in the oil industry should be developed. The regulation should decide the number of drilling industries that a state should own, and the minimum area of land each should occupy. In addition, the government should carryout environmental impact assessment on each industry using the technique in order to come up with possible solutions in the future. Some of the companies are fond of selling low quality machines causing many risks to users, especially petroleum engineers. The petroleum industry should ensure all machines are patented and come from recognized dealers in order to avoid breakages and losses.
Hydraulic fracture technology has a significant impact on the natural waters and air pollution. The effects result from excessive use of these facilities. The water framework requires a special re-assessment focusing on fracturing activities in order to reduce the amount of impact to the fresh ground water. In addition, a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) framework should be introduced that assesses the overall benefits of introducing a certain technology to the society. The approach applied through 27 European Union countries (EU27) should be developed whereby the relevant authorities could apply Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) framework and discuss the possible solutions with the society.
Discussion
The guiding ethical principle
The most significant ethical principle on this discussion is the theory of utilitarianism. According to Kant human beings are rational animals who develop moral society with a given reason. People always judge the right or wrong of an action after seeing its consequences. Using this theory on the above analysis two questions come in; what is right? And what is good? All these are based on human experience. The proposed environmental impacts resulting from the use of hydraulic fracture technology will be felt after they have already occurred. Human beings are curious in nature and wait to see for themselves the consequences instead of developing means of preventing certain dangerous incidences. Utilizing the hydraulic fracture technology leads to an achievement because it is a new technology thus, worth adopting. On the other hand, the technology has its negative effects to the society which makes it unethical. Naturally, things and pleasures cause happiness or pain. When one party is rejoicing another one is suffering and this constitutes life6.
The theory coincides with this topic because people will have to wait for the consequences of the proposed design in order to run to the necessary authority and report cases. Moreover, an action is always calculated on the basis of the best option for the society, but not what brings maximum happiness to the society. It is right to make use of innovations but a clear analysis is important before implementing it. No single human being should face discrimination regardless of age, gender, race, or tribe. Since the report gives some recommendations, it is not obvious that people will follow them because their moral values insist on trying and not believing.
Future deployment of the innovation
Development in technology presents a possible huge energy distribution in years to come with possible economic advantages and positive consequences. On the other hand, technological innovations come with various risks that must be considered in line with benefits. The decision on whether the hydraulic fracture technology should continue should be addressed with a clear understanding of the future implications involved. This technology should continue because is one of the best innovations found in the 21st century. In addition, adoption of this technology with the necessary government regulations would lead to decreased negative environmental impacts. Moreover, when introduced to developing countries it would aid in reducing energy crisis and improving their economy levels. With careful intervention, the technology is much recommended, and engineers should come up with more sophisticated designs based on the same material.
Bibliography
Applied Energy Studies Foundation (AESF), The Environmental Cost of Energy, (2010).
Retrieved from:
http://energydecisions.org/Downloads/ECOE-Report-AESF.pdf
Arthur J. D., Bruce P.E., Langhus, P. G. An Overview of Modern Shale Gas
Development in the United States, ALL Consulting. (2008). Retrieved from: http://www.allllc.com/publicdownloads/ALLShaleOverviewFINAL.pdf
Wierenga. W. “Utilitarianism and the Divine Theory”, American philosophical Quartely.
21(4), (1984), pp. 311
US Environmental Protection Agency, Investigation of ground water contamination near
Pavillion, Wyoming. (2011). Retrieved from:
www.epa.gov
U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Fossil Energy, Environmental Benefits of Advanced Oil
and Gas Exploration and Production Technology, (DOE-FE-0385, 1999). Retrieved from: http://fossil.energy.gov/programs/oilgas/publications/environ_benefits/env_benefits.pdf.
