Updated Outline for First Section

Here is the (hopefully) final outline for my section of the paper.

EPA Fracking Study Plan Draft

The EPA (in typical government fashion) still has not completed a study on fracking and its effect on water supplies. They do, however, have a plan for an initial study that will be completed by 2012. I found it most useful for its description of the fracking process as well as the types and locations of uncvonventional natural gas fields that fracking is used in. It deals extensively with the environmental impact of fracking, but its unfinished nature may make it difficult to use as a resource on that subject.

EPA Study Plan

NYT Article on Fracking

Here's a NYT article on fracking for shale oil. It is extremely bullish on the issue and only briefly mentions possible environmental hazards. It gives a very good look at the economic possibilities that fracking opens up. Companies estimate that the boom this fracking will set off will add two million new jobs, and bring tens of billions of dollars to the states where the fields are located (one of which is Ohio). It also brings up the possibility of increased energy independence. Yergin is quoted as saying that "this is like adding another Venezuela or Kuwait by 2020, except these tight oil fields are in the United States."

Shale Boom in Texas Could Increase U.S. Oil Output

By CLIFFORD KRAUSS

CATARINA, Tex. — Until last year, the 17-mile stretch of road between this forsaken South Texas village and the county seat of Carrizo Springs was a patchwork of derelict gasoline stations and rusting warehouses.

OOGA Presentation

The link below will take you to the Ohio Oil and Natural Gas presentation

http://www.umich.edu/~twod/oil_osu/ooga_fracking_interview_may11.pdf

outline for section 2 of report

My section of the report covers the question, 'Is fracking safe?' which is a more complicated question than it sounds because of the various methodologies that are all used in fracking processes in different situations. Here's a basic outline of what my report will cover:

YERGIN CHAPTER 35 -- JUST ANOTHER COMMODITY?

The oil boom exceeded all previous booms in size, moving vast sums of money from consumer to producer countries. The oil price boom was accompanied by a boom in the price of real estate, drilling crews, geology majors, geologists. There was a general belief that the world was entering a period to be characterized by dwindling oil stocks and ever-higher prices. Shale oil technology became a popular avenue for seeking new oil supplies. As oil price and demand dropped, shale oil became non-viable. Ghost towns appeared where previous oil shale development had been going on.

CHAPTER 34 OUTLINE -- WE'RE GOING DOWN

Chapter 34 is entitled, 'We're going down.'

In a youth revolt, sixty-three American embassy workers in Iran were taken hostage. Thirteen were quickly released, but the remaining fifty were the subject of a drawn-out international affair.

The hostage takers were upset that the US had accepted the Shah into the country for treatment for his leukemia. The US attempted to conceal his presence but word quickly got out. Iranian authorities demanded that the Shah be handed over to them for examination to see whether he was faking his illness.