Oil Drilling and Water Contamination

Oil Fracking

The entirety of this passage is based around the contamination of water and water wells due to oil fracking. Recently, officials have found contaminants in the water in parts of Wyoming. The contamination is believed to be linked back to the oil fracturing and drilling processes that take place in this area. There has been much suspicion for quite a while and now there is actual evidence. The findings came about in a study that was made to test if oil drilling could be a potential cause of water contamination and it was proved true. It was said that the contaminants came from the gas wells and contained ten different compounds that can be found in the drilling process. These findings have a possibility of leading to numerous debates pertaining to if the contamination is an actual problem or not.

            To environmentalist, this was a big find. It is a huge help to their side of the argument and can help them prove their point and change the way fracking is done. On the other hand, CEOs of the oil companies involved are claiming that the contamination has no relation to the oil drilling and is related to natural cause. It is also stated that the area of Wyoming being affected already has poor water quality parameters, which could likely be a cause. This area in particular has had an issue of poor water quality for a few decades and has recently gotten worse, however, residents claimed that water in their wells turned brown after a recent oil fracking. The company responded to the residents by providing them with other sources of water. Nothing has been decided on the issue as of now. The report on the situation is to be further reviewed and examined to determine if oil fracking is the actual cause of contamination.