How does hydraulic fracturing affect the surface or landscape of an area?
An area undergoing production of oil or gas using hydraulic fracturing technology shares many features with areas where conventional oil or gas is being developed, including:
- Roads
- Pipelines
- Compressor stations
- Processing facilities.
Features that are unique to areas in which hydraulic fracturing is used include:
- Fewer but larger drilling pads, both to accommodate the equipment needed to conduct the hydraulic fracturing and to house multiple wells on each drilling pad
- Impoundments to store the large amounts of water needed for hydraulic fracturing
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Related Content
Where in the United States is hydraulic fracturing being used for oil and gas extraction?
Who is responsible for monitoring the issues associated with hydraulic fracturing and protecting our environment?
When did hydraulic fracturing become such a popular approach to oil and gas production?
What is hydraulic fracturing?
What is in the fluid injected into the ground during hydraulic fracturing?
What is the USGS role related to hydraulic fracturing?
How much water does the typical hydraulically fractured well require?
What environmental issues are associated with hydraulic fracturing?
How is hydraulic fracturing related to earthquakes and tremors?
How does hydraulic fracturing differ from traditional petroleum development methods?
Can hydraulic fracturing impact the quality of groundwater or surface water?
How and where do drillers dispose of waste hydraulic fracturing fluid?
Preliminary geologic framework developed for a proposed environmental monitoring study of a deep, unconventional Marcellus Shale drill site, Washington County, Pennsylvania
BackgroundIn the fall of 2011, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) was afforded an opportunity to participate in an environmental monitoring study of the potential impacts of a deep, unconventional Marcellus Shale hydraulic fracturing site. The drill site of the prospective case study is the “Range Resources MCC Partners L.P. Units 1-5H” location (...
Stamm, Robert G.
Transport of hydraulic fracturing waste from Pennsylvania wells: A county-level analysis of road use and associated road repair costs
Pennsylvania’s rapid unconventional oil and gas (UOG) development—from a single well in 2004 to more than 6700 wells in 2013—has dramatically increased UOG waste transport by heavy trucks. This study quantified the amount of UOG waste and the distance it traveled between wells and disposal facilities on each type of road in each county between...
Patterson, Lauren A.; Maloney, Kelly O.
Trends in hydraulic fracturing distributions and treatment fluids, additives, proppants, and water volumes applied to wells drilled in the United States from 1947 through 2010: data analysis and comparison to the literature
Hydraulic fracturing is presently the primary stimulation technique for oil and gas production in low-permeability, unconventional reservoirs. Comprehensive, published, and publicly available information regarding the extent, location, and character of hydraulic fracturing in the United States is scarce. This national spatial and temporal analysis...
Gallegos, Tanya J.; Varela, Brian A.
Landscape consequences of natural gas extraction in Cameron, Clarion, Elk, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Potter, and Warren Counties, Pennsylvania, 2004-2010
Increased demands for cleaner burning energy, coupled with the relatively recent technological advances in accessing hydrocarbon-rich geologic formations, have led to an intense effort to find and extract unconventional natural gas from various underground sources around the country. One of these sources, the Marcellus Shale, located in the...
Milheim, L. E.; Slonecker, E. T.; Roig-Silva, C. M.; Winters, S. G.; Ballew, J. R.
Landscape consequences of natural gas extraction in Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Clinton, Columbia, Huntingdon, and Luzerne counties, Pennsylvania, 2004-2010
Increased demands for cleaner burning energy, coupled with the relatively recent technological advances in accessing unconventional hydrocarbon-rich geologic formations, have led to an intense effort to find and extract natural gas from various underground sources around the country. One of these sources, the Marcellus Shale, located in the...
Slonecker, E.T.; Milheim, L.E.; Roig-Silva, C.M.; Winters, S.G.
Water quality studied in areas of unconventional oil and gas development, including areas where hydraulic fracturing techniques are used, in the United States
Domestic oil and gas production and clean water are critical for economic growth, public health, and national security of the United States. As domestic oil and gas production increases in new areas and old fields are enhanced, there is increasing public concern about the effects of energy production on surface-water and groundwater quality. To a...
Susong, David D.; Gallegos, Tanya J.; Oelsner, Gretchen P.
Bakken Shale unconventional oil and gas production has not caused widespread hydrocarbon contamination to date in groundwater used for water supply
A new USGS study reports that shale-oil and -gas production from a major production area in Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota has not caused widespread hydrocarbon contamination to date in nearby aquifer zones used for drinking-water supply.
Water Used for Hydraulic Fracturing Varies Widely Across United States
The amount of water required to hydraulically fracture oil and gas wells varies widely across the country, according to the first national-scale analysis and map of hydraulic fracturing water usage detailed in a new USGS study accepted for publication in Water Resources Research, a journal of the American Geophysical Union.
Hydraulic Fracturing (Frac) Sand Sources and Production in the United States
Newly released research from the U.S. Geological Survey describes U.S. hydraulic fracturing (frac) sand deposits and their locations, and provides estimates of frac sand production, consumption, and reserves. A companion map of producing and potential frac sand and resin-coated sand source units in the conterminous U.S. is also included.
The Chemistry of Waters that Follow from Fracking: A Case Study
In a study of 13 hydraulically fractured shale gas wells in north-central Pennsylvania, USGS researchers found that the microbiology and organic chemistry of the produced waters varied widely from well to well.
What Happens to the Water? Assessing Water Quality in Areas with Hydraulically Fractured Oil and Gas Wells
More data and research are necessary to best understand the potential risks to water quality associated with unconventional oil and gas development in the United States, according to a recent U.S. Geological Survey study.
Historical Hydraulic Fracturing Trends and Data Unveiled in New USGS Publications
Two new U.S. Geological Survey publications that highlight historical hydraulic fracturing trends and data from 1947 to 2010 are now available.
PubTalk 5/2018 — Yes Humans really are causing induced earthquakes
Title: Yes, Humans Really Are Causing Earthquakes! How Energy Industry Practices are Causing Earthquakes in America's Heartland
- In every year since 2014, Oklahoma has had more earthquakes than California.
- Oil and gas operations are "inducing" these earthquakes.
- The earthquake rate has dropped by more than 50 percent due to changes in industry
Hydraulic Fracturing Drill Site
A typical drill pad in the Marcellus Shale gas play of southwestern Pennsylvania.
Withdrawing Water for Hydraulic Fracturing
Equipment set up to pump water from a lake to an impoundment for hydraulic fracturing in the Fayetteville Shale of Arkansas.
Hydraulic Fracturing Operation Underway
A hydraulic fracturing operation is underway at this drilling pad in the Marcellus Shale gas play of southwestern Pennsylvania.
Science or Soundbite? Shale Gas, Hydraulic Fracturing, and Induced Earthquakes
Hydraulic fracturing is the process of injecting wells with water, sand, and chemicals at very high pressure. This process creates fractures in deeply buried rocks to allow for the extraction of oil and natural gas as well as geothermal energy. USGS scientists discuss the opportunities and impact associated with hydraulic fracturing. Doug Duncan, associate coordinator for
Generalized image showing the key points in hydraulic fracturing
Generalized image showing the key points in hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas development where water is part of the process.
Percentage of Hydraulic Fracturing Use
This map shows the average water use in hydraulic fracturing per oil and gas well in watersheds across the United States.