Question 2 of 21

As of 2012, how many documented cases does the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have of wells contaminated by fracking?

... The EPA published a report in 1987 that documented contamination of a West Virginia well in 1984 by the Kaiser Exploration and Mining Co. This is the only proven case.

Question 3 of 21

Fracking is used to extract gas from what kind of rock formation?

... Much natural gas is trapped in shale formations thousands of feet below the surface of the Earth.

Question 4 of 21

EPA officials say they can't investigate most cases of suspected water contamination due to fracking because _________.

... When energy companies settle lawsuits with landowners, the parties are typically restricted from discussing the cases. Thus, the EPA says it can't conduct interviews on the matter.

Question 5 of 21

What do energy companies do with the water used in fracking?

... Energy companies use the water in all three ways. When water is injected into a well, 10 to 40 percent of it will resurface within weeks. It may be stored underground in "injection wells," if the geology of the land permits it. Sometimes, it is recycled for further hydro-fracturing attempts. It may also be sold to other companies or municipalities.

Question 6 of 21

What company is the largest producer of natural gas in the U.S.?

... Exxon Mobil is the top natural gas producer in the U.S. Worldwide, the company produces 10 billion cubic feet (283 million cubic meters) of gas per day.

Question 7 of 21

Besides water, what is the other major component injected into the ground during the fracking process?

... Water and sand account for 98 percent of the injected material. The other two percent consists of a number of additives, including acid, an anti-bacterial agent, a pH-adjusting agent, clay stabilizer and a friction reducer.

Question 8 of 21

What is the sand used for during fracking?

... A high-pressure combination of water, sand and additives is forced into the well, and fissures (cracks) in the shale are made that allow the natural gas to escape. The sand (used as a "proppant") props the fissures open.

Question 9 of 21

A homeowner is required to gain permission from ________ before signing a lease with a drilling company.

... If there is a mortgage on the property, the homeowner is required to gain permission from the mortgage company before a drilling lease is signed, whether it is for an actual well or just land access.

Question 10 of 21

Researchers from Penn State University have estimated that there is enough gas trapped in the Marcellus Shale region to run every gas-powered machine in the U.S. for more than_______ years.

... According to the researchers, the Marcellus Shale reserves -- located under Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New York -- may be able to release 493 trillion cubic feet (13.9 billion cubic meters) of natural gas over the next century, which would be enough to provide gas energy for 20 years to every gas-powered machine in the U.S.

Question 11 of 21

Fracking uses wells that are drilled ______.

... A well is first drilled vertically, then several offshoots are drilled horizontally, similar to spokes on a bike's wheel.

Question 12 of 21

The process of fracking has been used since the __________.

... Nitroglycerin was pumped into oil wells in the 1860s to improve their output in such states as Pennsylvania and West Virginia.

Question 13 of 21

Which company first used fracking in the gas industry?

... Stanolind Oil and Gas Corp. used the process experimentally in 1947 in Kansas. Halliburton later patented a "hydrafrac" technique in 1949 to use on wells in Texas and Oklahoma.

Question 14 of 21

In the early forms of hydrofracking, what was injected into the wells to induce fracturing?

... Since the first wells were only a few hundred feet deep, only about 750 gallons (2,839 liters) of an oil and kerosene mixture were needed for injection. Comparatively, in the Marcellus Shale, a typical well extends for 5,300 feet (1,615 meters) and drilling requires between 65,000 and 600,000 gallons (246,051 and 2.3 million liters) of water.

Question 15 of 21

As of 2012, which process has caused the most man-made earthquakes?

... The National Research Council concluded that during the last 90 years, only 154 earthquakes (few of them large) have been induced by human activity, and they were primarily due to conventional methods of drilling. Only two were caused by fracking, and both (in England and Oklahoma) occurred during 2011. By comparison, each year there are about 14,000 "natural" earthquakes (of at least 4.0 on the Richter scale) worldwide.

Question 16 of 21

Which of the following is NOT a consideration for companies when deciding on well placement?

... In addition to infrastructure, leasing availability and government regulations, companies also look at the characteristics of the rock they are considering drilling. They gather information on thickness, depth, shape and composition of the rock layers. Climate conditions don't factor into the equation.

Question 17 of 21

Thanks to regulators in ________, drilling companies must release detailed accounts of the chemicals used during fracking.

... Wyoming requires companies to supply comprehensive reports about chemicals used in the fracking process. Previously, some information was not revealed because it was considered a trade secret.

Question 18 of 21

In some areas where fracking is occurring, residents believe that the process is causing health problems. This can be difficult to prove because _________.

... The cause of health problems would be difficult to pinpoint, for all of those reasons. Cancers caused by chemical exposure normally take decades to appear. And when they do, it's difficult to isolate the cause, because of other environmental problems such as air pollution. In addition, the mechanisms that record the presence of some dangerous chemicals are highly sensitive, uncovering even tiny, non-dangerous amounts of toxins.

Question 19 of 21

Energy companies are considering drilling the area between Johannesburg and Capetown in South Africa. One of the problems there, however, is ________.

... The 800-mile (1,287-kilometer) stretch is quite arid, getting even less rain than a desert in some areas. How to obtain the vast quantities of water needed for fracking is one of the issues faced by energy companies wishing to drill in the Johannesburg and Capetown areas.

Question 20 of 21

During fracking, about how long does it take for gas to be extracted from a well?

... After it is released, the gas (and some of the fracking fluid) will flow out through the fissures in three to 10 days.

Question 21 of 21

Drilling companies lease land from property owners in order to gain access to gas deposits. One problem with some of these leases is the "force majeure" clause, which allows drilling to continue past the lease expiration date because _________.

... "Force majeure" is invoked if unforeseen circumstances outside the parties' control interfere with the contract. Drilling companies often place the blame on state agencies when the clause is invoked, saying that regulations are not yet in place or that proper drilling permits haven't been made available.

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