Energy

Where in the United States is hydraulic fracturing being used for oil and gas extraction?

Hydraulic fracturing is used in many established oil and gas producing regions of the country as well as some areas new to the petroleum industry. Maps of major shale gas, tight gas, and tight oil basins are available from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, although not all of the shale basins shown currently have production.

Learn more: Hydraulic Fracturing

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A map showing the Barnett Shale assessment area in east Texas

Why have some estimates of undiscovered technically recoverable oil or gas changed so much from previous estimates?

Petroleum geologists have long known that oil and gas resources were present in “tight” or impermeable formations such as shale. But there was no feasible way to extract that oil and gas, so they were not “technically recoverable” and were not included in USGS assessment results. Thanks to new technologies, oil and gas can now be extracted from “...

Image shows a drill rig against blue mountains

Who is responsible for monitoring the issues associated with hydraulic fracturing and protecting our environment?

Individual states regulate many aspects of oil and gas exploration and production. Federal land managers, such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have some oversight of oil and gas activities on the lands they manage. This includes conducting environmental impact...

When did hydraulic fracturing become such a popular approach to oil and gas production?

Hydraulic fracturing in vertical wells has been used for over fifty years to improve the flow of oil and gas from conventional reservoirs. However, the current practice of horizontal drilling coupled with multiple applications of hydraulic fracturing in a single well was pioneered in the late 1980s and has continued to evolve. Since the final...

$Generalized image showing the key points in hydraulic fracturing$

What is hydraulic fracturing?

Hydraulic fracturing, informally referred to as “fracking,” is an oil and gas well development process that typically involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals under high pressure into a bedrock formation via the well. This process is intended to create new fractures in the rock as well as increase the size, extent, and connectivity of...

What is in the fluid injected into the ground during hydraulic fracturing?

In general, hydraulic fracturing fluid is composed of water, proppant (typically sand), and chemicals. A public website known as FracFocus has been established by industry that lists specific materials used in many, but not all, hydraulically fractured wells. Individual companies select a few chemicals to be used from hundreds that are available...

Image shows USGS scientists standing beside a drill rig in protective gear.

What is the USGS role related to hydraulic fracturing?

The USGS is a science research agency with no regulatory, land management, or enforcement powers. The USGS role includes: research and assessments on the location, quantity, and quality of unconventional oil and gas resources whose production could involve hydraulic fracturing. Resource assessments estimate the quantity of oil and gas that is yet...

Image: Withdrawing Water for Hydraulic Fracturing

How much water does the typical hydraulically fractured well require?

There isn’t really a “typical” fractured well because the amount of water used depends on the rock formation, the operator, whether the well is vertical or horizontal, and the number of portions (or stages) of the well that are fractured. In addition, some water is recycled from fluids produced by the well, so the net consumption might be smaller...

Image: Hydraulic Fracturing Operation Underway

What environmental issues are associated with hydraulic fracturing?

The actual practice of hydraulic fracturing (or “fracking”) is only a small part of the overall process of drilling, completing, and producing an oil and gas well. Environmental issues that are specifically related to hydraulic fracturing include: water availability spills of chemicals at the surface impacts of sand mining for use in the hydraulic...

Research has identified 17 areas in the central and eastern United States with increased rates of induced seismicity.

How is hydraulic fracturing related to earthquakes and tremors?

Reports of hydraulic fracturing causing felt earthquakes are extremely rare. However, wastewater produced by wells that were hydraulic fractured can cause “induced” earthquakes when it is injected into deep wastewater wells. Wastewater disposal wells operate for longer durations and inject much more fluid than the hydraulic fracturing operations...

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,...

Image: Perforating Gun for Hydraulic Fracturing

How does hydraulic fracturing differ from traditional petroleum development methods?

In a conventional oil or gas field, where the oil or gas is in relatively porous and permeable rock (i.e. the pores are connected), the oil or gas can usually flow naturally from the reservoir rock to the wellbore. Nonetheless, a variety of techniques are often used to improve the flow of oil or gas, including hydraulic fracturing. Rock formations...

USGS scientist collecting water samples on a wastewater disposal facility

Can hydraulic fracturing impact the quality of groundwater or surface water?

Conducted properly, hydraulic fracturing (or “fracking”) has little possibility of contaminating water supplies. Properly constructed wells prevent drilling fluids, hydraulic fracturing fluids, deep saline formation waters, or oil and gas from entering aquifers. Carefully constructed and operated well sites have the ability to contain potential...

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Year Published: 2015

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.

Attribution: Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Energy Resources Program, Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin

Year Published: 2012

Variability of distributions of well-scale estimated ultimate recovery for continuous (unconventional) oil and gas resources in the United States

Since 2000, the U.S. Geological Survey has completed assessments of continuous (unconventional) resources in the United States based on geologic studies and analysis of well-production data. This publication uses those 132 continuous oil and gas assessments to show the variability of well productivity within and among the 132 areas. The production...

Attribution: Central Energy Resources Science Center, Energy Resources Program, Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin

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Variability of distributions of well-scale estimated ultimate recovery for continuous (unconventional) oil and gas resources in the United States; 2012; OFR; 2012-1118; U.S. Geological Survey Oil and Gas Assessment Team

Year Published: 2012

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.

Attribution: Fort Collins Science Center, Utah Water Science Center, Eastern Energy Resources Science Center, John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Water Resources, Ecosystems, Energy Resources Program, Region 7: Upper Colorado Basin

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Water quality studied in areas of unconventional oil and gas development, including areas where hydraulic fracturing techniques are used, in the United States; 2012; FS; 2012-3049; Susong, David D.; Gallegos, Tanya J.; Oelsner, Gretchen P.

Year Published: 1998

Areas of historical oil and gas exploration and production in the conterminous United States

Mast, R.F.; Root, D.H.; Williams, L.P.; Beeman, W.R.; Barnett, D.L.

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Areas of historical oil and gas exploration and production in the conterminous United States; 1998; I; 2582; Mast, R. F.; Root, D. H.; Williams, L. P.; Beeman, W. R.; Barnett, D. L.

Year Published: 1998

Unconventional natural gas resources on U.S. federal lands

Crovelli, Robert A.; Schmoker, J.W.; Nuccio, Vito F.

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Unconventional natural gas resources on U.S. federal lands; 1998; FS; 030-98; Crovelli, Robert A.; Schmoker, J. W.; Nuccio, Vito F.

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Vista of Buda, Eagle Ford, and Austin Formations, Terrell County, Texas (March 10, 2015)

Date published: October 14, 2020

Mixing Oil and Water

In south Texas, a wide band of rocks stretches from the Mexican border all the way to western Louisiana, forming the highly productive Eagle Ford Group. These formations, made up primarily of shale and mudstone, are some of the most prolific oil and gas-producing rocks in the United States.

Attribution: Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program

Date published: March 3, 2015

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.

Attribution: Energy and Minerals

Date published: January 27, 2015

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.

Attribution: Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program

Date published: June 20, 2012

USGS Releases Unconventional Gas Estimates for Five East Coast Basins

Using a geology-based assessment method, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated a mean undiscovered natural gas resource of 3.9 trillion cubic feet and a mean undiscovered natural gas liquids resource of 135 million barrels in continuous accumulations within five East Coast Mesozoic basins, according to a new USGS report.

Attribution: Region 2: South Atlantic-Gulf (Includes Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands)

Date published: June 20, 2011

Media Advisory: USGS to Host Congressional Briefing Unconventional Oil and Gas - Fueling the Future

The Nation relies on oil and gas to power its economy, and unconventional gas is the fastest-growing energy resource in the United States. The U.S. Geological Survey is the authoritative, unbiased source for assessments of the world's oil and gas endowment. Come learn how these exciting new energy resources may contribute to the energy mix.

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May 31, 2018

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

Attribution: