Marcellus Shale and Fracking

Frackville Fracking Attorneys

What is Fracking?

Fracking (also spelled fracing which is a shortened word for fracturing) refers to hydraulic fracturing which is one of many technologies that are a hot topic in the oil and gas industry today. The goal of fracking is to extract natural sources of fuel (natural gas or petroleum) from deep in the earth through wells. The process involves two technologies: hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling. The wells are drilled horizontally so they can extract fuel from a wide area, and after being drilled fracking fluid is injected into the well under high amounts of pressure. This fracking fluid contains millions of gallons of water mixed with sand and chemicals, many of which can be harmful to human health. The fracking process forces layers of rock and shale to crack which allows for the natural gas or oil to be collected. The sand and chemicals that are in the water used in this process keep the cracks open afterward.

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Why is Fracking Dangerous?

If handled correctly, the actual process of fracking should not pose a hazard to anyone’s health. However, explosions, truck accidents and other types of fracking work accidents may result because of the rush to get to the flammable fuels being extracted, and injuries may occur to workers who are employed by Fracking Companies. But the most destructive health risk to the public is water pollution. Because millions of gallons of water containing chemicals are forced into the ground, these chemicals can potentially end up in the water supply. This problem is made even worse when the disposal of this waste water is not done properly, which is the cause of much of the debate surrounding fracking. Although legislation is in place to prevent the contamination of drinking water under The Clean Water Act, fracking waste is not regulated. There are already numerous claims of homeowners’ wells and drinking supplies having been contaminated by these chemicals and other fracking by-products.

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What to do if You or Someone You Know has Been Injured by Fracking

If you, someone in your family or someone you know has been injured on the job working for a fracking company, if you have been hit by a truck involved in fracking or if hydraulic fracturing has had a negative impact on your health in any way, call the law offices of O’Connor Law, LLC. Or fill out our contact form and we will contact you as soon as possible. If you have been injured, the sooner you speak to an attorney about your case, the better your chances are of winning that case. We offer a free initial consultation and case review, so there is nothing to lose if you call us. We can help you to get the answers and help that you need. With several offices in the area where Fracking has become common, and decades of experience helping injured people and their families, we will make sure you get what you deserve.