[Script Info]
Title: 
[Events]
Format: Layer, Start, End, Style, Name, MarginL, MarginR, MarginV, Effect, Text
Dialogue: 0,0:00:08.52,0:00:14.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Deep underground lies stores of once\Ninaccessible natural gas.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:14.46,0:00:17.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This gas was likely formed \Nover millions of years
Dialogue: 0,0:00:17.60,0:00:22.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as layers of decaying organisms\Nwere exposed to intense heat and pressure
Dialogue: 0,0:00:22.97,0:00:25.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,under the Earth's crust.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:25.64,0:00:28.36,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's a technology called\Nhydraulic fracturing,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:28.36,0:00:29.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or fracking,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:29.76,0:00:32.47,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that can extract this natural gas,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:32.47,0:00:36.40,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,potentially powering us\Nfor decades to come.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:36.40,0:00:38.15,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,So how does fracking work,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:38.15,0:00:42.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and why it is a source \Nof such heated controversy?
Dialogue: 0,0:00:42.29,0:00:45.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A fracking site can be anywhere\Nwith natural gas,
Dialogue: 0,0:00:45.56,0:00:46.84,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from a remote desert
Dialogue: 0,0:00:46.84,0:00:50.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to several hundred feet\Nfrom your backyard.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:50.24,0:00:54.55,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It starts out with a long vertical hole\Nknown as a wellbore
Dialogue: 0,0:00:54.55,0:00:57.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,drilled down through layers of sediment.
Dialogue: 0,0:00:57.93,0:01:03.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,When the well reaches 2500 - 3000 meters,\Nit's at its kickoff point
Dialogue: 0,0:01:03.43,0:01:07.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,where it can begin the process\Nof horizontal drilling.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:07.43,0:01:13.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It turns 90 degrees and extends\Nhorizontally for about 1.5 kilometers
Dialogue: 0,0:01:13.52,0:01:18.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,through a compressed black layer\Ncalled the shale rock formation.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:18.97,0:01:23.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,A specialized perforating gun\Nis then lowered and fired,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:23.16,0:01:25.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,creating a series of small, \Ninch-long holes
Dialogue: 0,0:01:25.99,0:01:30.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that burst through the well's casing\Ninto the rock layer.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:30.72,0:01:33.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,About three to four months\Nafter the initial drilling,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:33.67,0:01:37.11,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,the well is ready for fracking to begin.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:37.11,0:01:41.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fracking fluid is pumped down\Ninto the well at a pressure so high,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:41.13,0:01:43.39,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it cracks the shale rock,
Dialogue: 0,0:01:43.39,0:01:48.53,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,creating fractures through which\Nthe trapped gas and oil can escape.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:48.53,0:01:52.05,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The fluid itself is more than 90% water.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:52.05,0:01:55.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The rest is made up of concentrated\Nchemical additives.
Dialogue: 0,0:01:55.68,0:02:00.00,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,These vary depending on the specific\Ncharacteristics of the fracking site,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:00.00,0:02:02.90,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but usually fall into three categories:
Dialogue: 0,0:02:02.90,0:02:06.43,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,acids for clearing debris\Nand dissolving minerals,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:06.43,0:02:08.56,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,friction-reducing compounds to create
Dialogue: 0,0:02:08.56,0:02:12.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,a slippery form of water \Nknown as slickwater,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:12.46,0:02:15.81,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and disinfectant to prevent\Nbacteria growth.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:15.81,0:02:20.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Sand or clay is also mixed into\Nthe water to prop open the fissures
Dialogue: 0,0:02:20.69,0:02:26.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so the gas and oil can keep leaking out,\Neven after the pressure is released.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:26.92,0:02:30.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's estimated that all of fracking's\Nintense pumping and flushing
Dialogue: 0,0:02:30.44,0:02:35.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,uses an average of 3-6 million gallons\Nof water per well.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:35.99,0:02:38.95,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's actually not a lot compared\Nto agriculture,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:38.95,0:02:40.07,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,power plants,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:40.07,0:02:42.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or even golf course maintenance,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:42.67,0:02:47.09,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but it can have a notable impact\Non local water supply.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:47.09,0:02:50.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,And disposing of used fracking water\Nis also an issue.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:50.80,0:02:53.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Along with the trapped gas\Nthat's pumped up to the surface,
Dialogue: 0,0:02:53.57,0:02:58.93,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,millions of gallons of flow-back liquid\Ncome gushing up.
Dialogue: 0,0:02:58.93,0:03:02.26,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,This liquid containing contaminants\Nlike radioactive material,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:02.26,0:03:03.24,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,salts,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:03.24,0:03:04.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,heavy metals,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:04.13,0:03:05.60,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and hydrocarbons,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:05.60,0:03:08.34,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,needs to be stored and disposed of.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:08.34,0:03:11.97,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,That's usually done in pits on-site\Nin deep wells
Dialogue: 0,0:03:11.97,0:03:15.76,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,or off-site at water treatment facilities.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:15.76,0:03:19.04,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Another option is to recycle\Nthe flow-back liquid,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:19.04,0:03:23.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but the recycling process can actually\Nincrease levels of contamination
Dialogue: 0,0:03:23.46,0:03:27.14,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since the water is more toxic\Nwith each use.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:27.14,0:03:30.27,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Wells are typically encased \Nin steel and cement
Dialogue: 0,0:03:30.27,0:03:33.37,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,to prevent contaminants from leaking\Ninto groundwater.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:33.37,0:03:36.51,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But any negligence \Nor fracking-related accidents
Dialogue: 0,0:03:36.51,0:03:38.92,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can have devastating effects.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:38.92,0:03:41.38,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fracturing directly \Ninto underground water
Dialogue: 0,0:03:41.38,0:03:43.100,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,hazardous underground \Nseepage and leakage,
Dialogue: 0,0:03:43.100,0:03:48.31,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and inadequate treatment and disposal\Nof highly-toxic waste water
Dialogue: 0,0:03:48.31,0:03:52.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,can potentially contaminate\Ndrinking water around a fracking site.
Dialogue: 0,0:03:52.52,0:03:55.52,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,There's also concern about\Nthe threat of earthquakes
Dialogue: 0,0:03:55.52,0:03:57.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and damaged infrastructure
Dialogue: 0,0:03:57.17,0:04:00.29,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,from pressure \Nand waste water injection.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:00.29,0:04:03.63,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Links between fracking\Nand increased seismic activity
Dialogue: 0,0:04:03.63,0:04:08.02,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,leave unresolved questions\Nabout long-term pressure imbalances
Dialogue: 0,0:04:08.02,0:04:11.44,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,that might be happening\Ndeep beneath our feet.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:11.44,0:04:15.13,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Fracking's biggest controversy, though,\Nis happening above the ground.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:15.13,0:04:19.91,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The general consensus is that burning\Nnatural gas is better for the environment
Dialogue: 0,0:04:19.91,0:04:21.64,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,than burning coal
Dialogue: 0,0:04:21.64,0:04:23.41,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,since the gas collected from fracking
Dialogue: 0,0:04:23.41,0:04:26.67,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,emits only half \Nthe carbon dioxide as coal
Dialogue: 0,0:04:26.67,0:04:28.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,per unit of energy.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:28.96,0:04:31.45,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,The pollution caused \Nby the fracking itself, though,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:31.45,0:04:33.08,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,isn't negligible.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:33.08,0:04:36.01,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Methane that leaks out during the drilling\Nand pumping process
Dialogue: 0,0:04:36.01,0:04:39.16,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,is many times more potent\Nthan carbon dioxide
Dialogue: 0,0:04:39.16,0:04:41.46,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,as a greenhouse gas.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:41.46,0:04:44.78,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Some scientists argue that methane\Neventually dissipates,
Dialogue: 0,0:04:44.78,0:04:48.68,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,so has a relatively low long-term impact.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:48.68,0:04:51.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But a greater question hangs in the air.
Dialogue: 0,0:04:51.28,0:04:53.99,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Does fracking take time,\Nmoney, and research
Dialogue: 0,0:04:53.99,0:04:58.96,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,away from the development\Nof cleaner renewable energy sources?
Dialogue: 0,0:04:58.96,0:05:00.77,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Natural gas is non-renewable,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:00.77,0:05:04.17,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and the short-run economic interests\Nsupporting fracking
Dialogue: 0,0:05:04.17,0:05:07.88,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,may fall short in the face\Nof global climate change.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:07.88,0:05:11.80,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Experts are still examining\Nfracking's overarching effects.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:11.80,0:05:15.28,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,Although modern fracking has been\Naround since the 1940s,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:15.28,0:05:17.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,it's boomed in the last few decades.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:17.72,0:05:22.69,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,As other sources of natural gas decrease,\Nthe costs of non-renewable energies rise,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:22.69,0:05:26.65,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,and cutting-edge technologies\Nmake it so accessible.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:26.65,0:05:29.72,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,But many countries and regions\Nhave already banned fracking
Dialogue: 0,0:05:29.72,0:05:32.57,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,in response to environmental concerns.
Dialogue: 0,0:05:32.57,0:05:37.18,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,It's undeniable that fracking has reshaped\Nthe energy landscape around the world,
Dialogue: 0,0:05:37.18,0:05:41.12,Default,,0000,0000,0000,,but for what long-term benefit\Nand at what cost?