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Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is the process of injecting water, sand, and/or chemicals into a well to break up underground bedrock to free up oil or gas reserves. The USGS monitors the environmental impact of this practice across the country, from potential earthquakes to degraded groundwater quality.
A new USGS study reports that shale-gas production in northern Pennsylvania has not currently caused widespread hydrocarbon contamination in the upland aquifer zone used for domestic supply, but it's too soon for a full assessment.
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, reports a new USGS study.
BACKGROUND
Hydraulic fracturing (informally known as hydrofracking, fracking, fracing, or hydrofracturing) is a process that typically involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals under high pressure into a bedrock formation via a well. This process is intended to create new fractures in the rock as well as increase the size, extent, and connectivity of existing fractures in order to extract trapped oil and gas.
Hydraulic fracturing is a well-stimulation technique used commonly in low-permeability rocks like tight sandstone, shale, and some coal beds to increase oil and/or gas flow to a well from petroleum-bearing rock formations. A similar technique is used to create improved permeability in underground geothermal reservoirs. A form of hydraulic fracturing is also used in low permeability sediments and other tight subsurface formations to increase the efficiency of soil vapor extraction and other technologies used in remediating contaminated sites.
POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The actual practice of fracking is only a small part of the overall process of drilling, completing, and producing an oil and gas well. However, since fracking involves injecting a chemical solution into the ground to free up oil and gas resources, there are some potential environmental impacts related to this process. These include:
RELATED USGS RESEARCH
Through an agreement among the Department of the Interior, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the USGS plays a large role in improving our scientific understanding of the environmental issues related to unconventional oil and gas. The scientific data provided by the USGS are crucial in helping Federal and State resource managers meet the challenge of balancing America’s needs for energy resources and a clean and healthy environment.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Department of Energy
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Below are frequently asked questions associated with the hydraulic fracturing (i.e. fracking).
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. Wastewater injection can raise pressure levels in...
Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is the process of injecting water, sand, and/or chemicals into a well to break up underground bedrock to free up oil or gas reserves. The USGS monitors the environmental impact of this practice across the country, from potential earthquakes to degraded groundwater quality.
A new USGS study reports that shale-gas production in northern Pennsylvania has not currently caused widespread hydrocarbon contamination in the upland aquifer zone used for domestic supply, but it's too soon for a full assessment.
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, reports a new USGS study.
BACKGROUND
Hydraulic fracturing (informally known as hydrofracking, fracking, fracing, or hydrofracturing) is a process that typically involves injecting water, sand, and chemicals under high pressure into a bedrock formation via a well. This process is intended to create new fractures in the rock as well as increase the size, extent, and connectivity of existing fractures in order to extract trapped oil and gas.
Hydraulic fracturing is a well-stimulation technique used commonly in low-permeability rocks like tight sandstone, shale, and some coal beds to increase oil and/or gas flow to a well from petroleum-bearing rock formations. A similar technique is used to create improved permeability in underground geothermal reservoirs. A form of hydraulic fracturing is also used in low permeability sediments and other tight subsurface formations to increase the efficiency of soil vapor extraction and other technologies used in remediating contaminated sites.
POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
The actual practice of fracking is only a small part of the overall process of drilling, completing, and producing an oil and gas well. However, since fracking involves injecting a chemical solution into the ground to free up oil and gas resources, there are some potential environmental impacts related to this process. These include:
RELATED USGS RESEARCH
Through an agreement among the Department of the Interior, the Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency, the USGS plays a large role in improving our scientific understanding of the environmental issues related to unconventional oil and gas. The scientific data provided by the USGS are crucial in helping Federal and State resource managers meet the challenge of balancing America’s needs for energy resources and a clean and healthy environment.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
U.S. Department of Energy
Below are multimedia items associated with this project.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Below are frequently asked questions associated with the hydraulic fracturing (i.e. fracking).
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. Wastewater injection can raise pressure levels in...