Fracking in Latin America: An irresistible evil?
Autor | Marris, Johanna |
Latin America stands at a crossroads for determining the future of its energy production and consumption. Following the commitments made at the UN Climate Change conference in Paris in December to keep global warming below 2 degrees Celsius (NotiSur, Dec 18, 2015, and Jan 8, 2016), the region must now decide how far it is prepared to invest in renewable energy sources to meet these goals, and how far it will be guided by corporate interests and the opportunity for short-term financial gain.
Hydraulic fracturing is becoming a key part of this debate in Latin America. More commonly known as fracking, it facilitates the extraction of unconventional hydrocarbon resources, usually trapped by shale, through deep vertical wells and horizontal drilling. The wells are subjected to the injection of a high-pressure mixture of water, chemicals and sand, which breaks up the shale rock and releases the oil and gas trapped there. It provides a means to exploit Latin America's huge, previously unreachable, unconventional reserves.
Fracking was developed in the United States and can be traced back to the 1940s. Its successful application at the Barnett Shale in Texas in the 1980s helped lead to its adoption across the US during the following two decades and has resulted in a boom in the country's natural gas production. Around 2 million oil and gas wells in the US have now been hydraulically fractured, and according to the International Energy Agency, shale gas made up over half of overall gas production in the US in 2014, and 11% worldwide. The basis of its irresistible appeal for energy producers and governments is its ability to open up access to huge new reserves, and to extend the lifespan of existing ones, with sometimes astronomical financial rewards. Its proponents claim this can provide countries with greater energy security and independence.
However, fracking is a highly controversial technique. Environmental groups and NGOs are producing evidence of the devastating effects of fracking on surrounding areas. This is mainly due to the highly toxic chemicals that are mixed with the water for use in the wells. Up to 80% of the water and chemicals remain underground after the fracking process, and what is removed cannot be used again. In cases where there are leaks, these chemicals can pollute whole water systems and surrounding soil, affecting local inhabitants, crops and livestock. Every time a well is fracked, 3.6 million gallons of water are used...
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