A comprehensive guide to the technology, science, safety, and environmental assessment and cleanup related to hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas resources

Fracking: Environmental Protection and Development of Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources focuses on hydraulic fracturing related to oil and gas drilling, spills and leaks, and environmental impacts, and the side-effects or unintended consequences of resource extraction. The book starts with the history of oil and gas drilling associated with hydraulic fracturing and explains the geologic and technical issues of fracking of tight formation. This practical guide also describes the geology of petroleum hydrocarbon resources, as well as the methods of verification for environmentally safe resource extraction.

Numerous case studies from the U.S. EPA and other agencies and universities are featured, showing safe and appropriate resource extraction, as well as verified case studies where water resources have been impacted by drilling and production activities. This important and timely book concludes with a variety of background soil, vapor, and groundwater sampling methods to minimize impacts and provide data to lower the chances of future environmental damage and litigation. Monitoring and sampling programs during and after drilling and production activities are explained, and cost recovery methods are described for when environmental damages occur.

• Provides a better understanding of the controversy related to hydraulic fracturing
• Covers hydraulic fracturing technologies, and the geology and chemistry of tight shale and sandstone resources
• Features numerous case studies by the U.S. EPA and other agencies
• Evaluates planning and sampling methods of minimizing environmental impacts
• Explains remediation methods if environmental impacts are confirmed
• Includes cost recovery techniques and data requirements for impacts from hydraulic fracturing