Cattle graze in a field as gas flares from a pumping facility on the Eagle Ford Shale in Karnes County. The shale oil boom is going strong here south of San Antonio on a formation that stretches for about 300 miles across south Texas, one of the most prolific oil patches in the United States, In some areas the oil companies have discovered "sweet" spots and they are still drilling, while other areas have been cut back. Excess gas is burned off at oil pumping stations which dot the countryside.
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a controversial technique used for the extraction of oil and natural gas. It consists of injecting high-pressure water mixed with sand and various chemicals into underground rock formations to fracture them and release trapped hydrocarbons. Although it has been key to the rise of energy production in countries such as the United States, where it has allowed access to large quantities of unconventional gas, its implementation has generated a global debate, including in Spain, due to its potential negative effects on the environment and public health.
In this article we will review what fracking is, how it works, its situation in Spain, the associated risks and the pros and cons of its use. In addition, we will address the political and social positions regarding this technique, as well as its partial or total prohibition in various countries, including ours.
What is fracking?
Hydraulic fracturing is a technique used to extract natural resources, such as gas or oil, that are trapped in deep rock formations, such as shale or mudstone. Fracking involves drilling a vertical well until the layer containing the hydrocarbons is reached; then, a horizontal well is drilled that can extend for several kilometers, which increases the extraction area.
Once the well is drilled, a mixture of water, sand and chemicals is injected at very high pressure. This mixture causes small fractures in the rock, releasing natural gas or oil that would otherwise be inaccessible. The sand acts as a proppant, keeping the fractures open to allow the gas to flow to the surface.
The particularity of fracking is that it can extract non-conventional gas, that is, gas that is not present in large pockets but dispersed in the pores of the rock. This has made fracking mainly used to extract shale gas in rock formations such as slate.
Environmental impact and risks of fracking
The environmental impact of fracking This has been one of the main arguments against its implementation in countries such as Spain, where it has finally been banned by the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law of 2021. There are various risks associated with this technique, many of which have to do with the large amount of resources needed for its execution, as well as the possible additional side effects it can generate.
- Water contamination: The use of large amounts of water and chemicals in fracking can lead to the contamination of underground aquifers in the event of leaks or poor wastewater management. In addition, it has been reported that the wastewater generated in this process can contain substances that are dangerous to health and the environment, such as heavy metals and radioactive compounds.
- Excessive consumption of water resources: The fracking industry requires a huge amount of water. In the United States, for example, it is estimated that the water used for this technique is equivalent to the annual consumption of a city like Madrid. In a context of climate change and water scarcity in many regions, this consumption of resources is particularly worrying.
- Seismic risk: Fracturing rock and injecting large volumes of pressurized water can trigger small earthquakes or more intense seismic movements in some geologically unstable areas. In the United Kingdom, for example, the use of fracking has been halted due to the risk of earthquakes.
- Emissions of greenhouse gases:Although natural gas is considered a cleaner source of fossil energy compared to coal, the extraction process through fracking can generate uncontrolled emissions of gases such as methane, which has a much higher calorific and polluting value than CO2.
- Residuous generationFracking produces contaminated sludge and wastewater that must be treated properly to avoid negative impacts on the environment. Treatment costs and risks of improper management can be high.
The situation of fracking in Spain
In Spain, the debate on hydraulic fracturing has been ongoing for several years, especially after the rise of fracking in the United States. Between 2011 and 2014, the Spanish government granted several research permits to explore possible unconventional gas deposits through fracking, mainly in the northern basins of the country, such as the Basque-Cantabrian basin and the Burgos area.
However, social resistance and environmental concerns led several autonomous communities, such as Cantabria, La Rioja, the Balearic Islands and Castilla-La Mancha, to ban this technique in their territories. This reflected a growing social and political opposition to fracking, mainly driven by environmental organizations and citizen groups concerned about the environmental and public health effects.
Fracking was finally banned nationwide in 2021, when the Climate Change and Energy Transition Law was passed. This law expressly prohibits the use of hydraulic fracturing for the extraction of gas or oil throughout Spanish territory, including the sea, and highlights the country's commitment to the abandonment of fossil fuels and the move towards a decarbonized economy.
Opinions for and against fracking
Fracking is a topic that polarizes opinions. While some sectors defend its use as a an opportunity to explore new energy sources and reduce dependence on gas imports, others categorically reject it due to its environmental risks. Below are some of the main positions for and against this technique.
Advantages:
- Energy independence: Fracking advocates argue that it would allow countries like Spain to access their own unconventional energy resources, reducing dependence on gas imports and improving energy sovereignty.
- Economic growth:The exploitation of unconventional gas reserves could generate thousands of direct and indirect jobs, as well as tax revenues for the regions where exploration and exploitation are carried out.
- Stability in supply:In times of energy crisis, such as that caused by the war in Ukraine, having access to own sources of gas could guarantee stability of supply and avoid price fluctuations.
Disadvantages:
- Environmental impactFracking is considered by many to be a very aggressive technique for the environment, as it can cause water pollution, emissions of polluting gases and seismic movements.
- High cost:Hydraulic fracturing is an expensive technique that is only viable when oil or gas prices are high. In times of low prices, as has happened in previous years, companies may not make a profit from this technique.
- Limited development in Europe:Despite the success of fracking in the United States, its implementation in Europe has been much more limited due to the lack of proven reserves and strong social movements against its adoption in countries such as France, Germany and Spain.
Fracking in other European countries
Fracking is not only a controversial issue in Spain, but in many European countries. Although in the United States it has been key to the energy revolution and lower gas prices, there is increasing resistance in Europe due to environmental concerns.
France was one of the first countries to ban fracking, in 2011, citing concerns about water pollution and overall environmental impact. Since then, other countries such as Bulgaria and Germany have followed suit and implemented bans or moratoriums on this technique.
In contrast, in the United KingdomFracking was temporarily authorised in some regions, but was suspended in 2019 following a series of small earthquakes linked to hydraulic fracturing activity in Lancashire. The debate is still ongoing in the country, with some calling for its reactivation to reduce dependence on Russian gas and improve the country's energy security.
In other countries, such as Poland y Hungary, fracking has had limited development, mainly due to the lack of proven reserves and regulatory and social obstacles. In any case, the general trend in the European Union is to move towards greater decarbonization of the economy and the reduction in the use of fossil fuels, making it unlikely that fracking has a significant future on the continent.
Finally, although fracking has provided significant economic and energy benefits in countries such as the United States, its environmental impacts and collateral risks should not be underestimated. For this reason, many countries have chosen to prohibit or restrict this technique, and Spain is no exception. With the Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition, the country has clearly indicated that its future commitment will be to renewable energies and not fossil fuels. However, the debate is still alive, especially in a context of global energy crisis in which every resource counts.