WorldWide Drilling Resource

WorldWide Drilling Resource ® 15 JUNE 2014 Study Reviews Hydraulic Fracturing Adapted from Information by The Heartland Institute A policy study released through The Heartland Institute called Hydraulic Fracturing: A Game-Changer for Energy and Economies , by Research Fellow Isaac Orr, covers the advantages and disadvantages of smart drilling and the alternatives. We’ve known about the large quan- tities of oil and natural gas which exist in shale formations throughout the United States for decades, but ex- tracting these re- sources was not economi ca l l y viable until the advent of smart drilling technol- ogy - the com- bination of horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing techniques, and computer- assisted underground monitoring. Hy- draulic fracturing has transformed the way oil and natural gas are produced in the U.S. Unfortunately, the overwhelming success of this process has attracted the attention of environmental groups, raising concerns about the impact hydraulic frac- turing could have on the environment, including concerns about groundwater contamination, water consumption, waste- water disposal, earthquakes, and green- house gas emissions. They are taking advantage of the public’s limited understanding of the smart drilling process, limited knowledge of geol- ogy, and their general lack of knowledge regarding current federal and state reg- ulations. “Despite the misleading theatrics seen in the movie Gasland ,” Orr writes, “there has yet to be a confirmed case of hydraulic fracturing contaminating drink- ing water. There are consequences and risks associated with the production of unconventional oil and natural gas, but the costs are vastly outweighed by the benefits.” In this report, Orr reviews the back- ground and potential of hydraulic fractur- ing in the United States and puts the potential in the context of the supply and demand for oil and gas. Environmental impacts, both positive and negative, as well as public safety issues raised by activists, are also addressed. Additionally, Orr discusses how oil and gas production is regulated at both state and national levels, and the proper interaction of these two levels of govern- ment. “Hydraulic fracturing can be done in a safe and environmentally responsible manner,” Orr concluded. “State govern- ments have done a commendable job working with environmental and industry leaders to craft legislation that protects the environment while permitting oil and gas production to move forward. Federal regulations would be duplicative, resulting in higher costs without significantly in- creasing environmental protections.” Smart drilling and the shale revolu- tion has brought U.S. oil production to a 20-year high and created thousands U.S. jobs.