FRONT PAGE CONTRIBUTOR Energy 101: Hydraulic Fracturing This
week, several news stories converged on an odd topic: hydraulic
fracturing. Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking”, has been used
since the 1950s to stimulate oil and gas wells. The process
involves pumping a sand-laden slurry into a well and subjecting
it to enough pressure that the rocks in the productive formation
fracture, or break. The purpose of the sand is to prop open the
fracture, so it stays in place. The carrying fluid can then flow
back out of the well, along with oil and gas if it’s been a
successful frac. Item: In 2009, the U.S. surpassed Russia as the
world’s leading gas producer, largely driven by industry’s
successful shale developments in Texas, Louisiana, Pennsylvania
and other states. The US, with its big gas shale resources, has
surpassed Russia as the world’s leading gas producer. The US
government’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) said US gas
production for the year probably rose 3.7% to 624 billion cubic
meters, its high