Fracking: America's Alternative Energy Revolution Paperback – January 16, 2013

An informed public is the worst enemy of the violent, overwrought green movement (the Ecopaths, as another reviewer says it). This book is objective, non-sensationalistic, and offers facts on the ground.It presents the goals of America's energy revolution:1) to manage environmental risks2) to increase profitability3) to make scientific progressThe fracking revolution is the most exciting and innovative applied science happening in America.After decades of pursuing energy independence and a reduction of green house gas emissions, the frackers are delivering results. Frackers are propelling environmental improvements that have been longed for, and despaired of, for years.My kids are very interested in the history, processes, and biographies of fracking. This book gives them that, plus an outline of the controversies and regulatory processes surrounding energy production.America is ahead in the energy revolution because America leads the world in property rights and private enterprise.The book presents these environmental concerns:1) pad construction and operation2) well bore development and maintenance3) injection processes, effluent, and emergent4) water sourcing, use, waste disposal, and treatment5) atmospheric emissions during and after well bore6) health effects on workers and local citizensJohn Graves also explores the politics of fracking - very interesting - and shows how taxpayer funded subsidies distort the market.This is the book I was looking for.Appendix Two offers an I interesting theory on the potential that deep-earth methane is, perhaps, a renewable resource.Good Index and notes section, very good list of sources.

Before I read this book, I was confident that we had a hundred years to research and develop new and much better renewable energy sources. We could safely rely on coal, oil from tar sands, nuclear and natural gas to buy us the time to find select and implement renewable energy sources that were more efficient and less disruptive to our economy.After I reached the mid point of reading this book, I am now convinced that we have at least that relying on natural gas alone.This book is an eye opener regarding the magnitude of the economic impact of 'fracked' natural gas.It begs the question, 'why are we proliferating costly and already obsolete methods of converting the sun's energy to electrical power?'.The book takes the reader through the history of the fracking process and its current state of perfection. It shows the dramaticeffects on our energy reserves. And is shows the very strong impacts of the conversion of our coal fired plants to 'fracked" natural gas on the carbon released in producing electricity.

It is a good book for people who want to have a general understanding of fracking.That said, I found the author biased in favor of hydrocarbons and against renewable alternatives based solely on cost. He seems to ignore the fact that hydrocarbons produce CO2 and that substituting gas for oil or coal may reduce CO2 emissions, but does not eliminate them.The fact that fracking has given given the US a strategic advantage by avoiding potential future shortages does not suggest that as a country we need to stop the research in new alternative energy solutions.

This book is worrisome. I had hoped for a balanced view of the facts and the issues. Perhaps I should have first dug deeper into the author's credentials. This is a sad contribution to the literature and debate on a subject frequently in the public eye.Fracking is a dangerous process being promoted by Big Oil and its allies almost every night on television. It requires large quantities of water mixed with a cocktail of chemicals. Disposal of this water in an environmentally acceptable way is an unresolved challenge. Fracking disrupts local communities with additional heavy vehicle traffic. It attracts young, mainly male workers whose temporary presence distorts the local housing market. It is being highly politicized at every opportunity, the latest being Putin's illegal occupation of the Ukraine.My preference would have been not give the book even one star. The public needs a well-researched book on a subject of high political, environmental and economic importance.

This book is very informative and timely. It provides a pathway to intelligent investing by revealing insight into the world of Alternative Energy production.Prior to purchasing the book, I entered into a joint venture and invested in a complex of seven oil wells in Texas. I then felt compelled to learn as much as I could. I used the book as a primer. As I witnessed the process of discovering oil through the initial fracing and development of the wells, I found the book invaluable. It answered all my questions in "real time".

Graves has many ideas about things that our government and our tax money should not be involved in. But howdid we get from that to the world as predicted in 2022. I believe he done well on basics of oil field info.

This book explains terms often seen in financial reviews of the energy sector, like "turning the bit to the right". It goes into detail on how fracing is accomplished including the use of frac sand and water to open the fissures in the rock. It also explains how old fields can be rejuvenated using unconventional techniques, like fracing. This book is a must read for those interested in investing in the energy sector.

After "Frackers", I read this book. The book was not informative. Nor is it fun.Maybe good for beginners as a primer but not for more enlightened readers.