Fracking: an Energy Revolution?

This Catalyst article looks at hydraulic fracking, the process of breaking up rocks deep underground using high-pressure water mixed with sand and chemicals. The process has been used for decades in the energy industry to free oil and gas trapped in rock formations. However, questions have been raised over the environmental impact and safety of fracking technology.

As well as the potential to cause earthquakes, some people believe that fracking is contaminating drinking water. Dramatic images of tap water being set alight have given rise to a large and vocal anti-fracking protest movement. All energy sources come with some risk to safety and to the environment, but do those of fracking outweigh the economic benefits?

This article is from Catalyst: Secondary Science Review 2013, Volume 23, Issue 3.

Catalyst is a science magazine for students aged 14-19 years. Annual subscriptions to print copies of the magazine can be purchased from Mindsets.