Fracking: An American Success Story

“The U.S. Shale industry brought our country jobs, economic growth and energy security.  America needs US Shale to thrive economically and to maintain the environmental progress achieved from the increased use of natural gas,” Anne Bradbury, AXPC CEO.

Hydraulic Fracturing

The history of hydraulic fracturing in the United States dates back to 1947 and has been used safely in more than 1.2 million wells. Hydraulic fracturing involves pumping fluid into reservoirs to artificially induce small fractures. This process increases pathways and exposure between the wellbore and the surrounding reservoir rock, enhancing the productivity and hydrocarbon recovery of each well.

Fracture stimulation fluid is typically comprised of over 99% water and sand. The remaining fluid consists of chemical additives that optimize placement and production from the reservoir.  In conjunction with our service providers, we periodically review these chemical additives, switching to green additives, which are often food-grade materials, and using other treatment processes, such as ultraviolet treatment for bacteria, whenever possible.

For more information about the process of hydraulic fracturing, please visit FracFocus, which describes many aspects of the technology and process, including well design and integrity, well pad equipment, resource depth and water management.

Fracking has helped America become energy secure by making America less dependent on unstable countries for oil and natural gas.

• • • In 2019, U.S. net imports (gross imports minus gross exports) of petroleum from foreign countries declined to about 3 percent of total U.S. consumption in 2019, the lowest percentage since 1957, per EIA.
    • Increased domestic production provides our nation with increased energy security.  For years, we have relied on international sources – from some of the world’s most volatile areas – for imports. Producing more oil and natural gas here in the U.S. helps our nation take matters into its own hands – and helps lessen our reliance on these unstable regimes.

Hydraulic Fracturing and Horizontal Drilling are Innovative Technologies used around the U.S.

• • • More than 95 percent of U.S. natural gas and oil wells today are developed using hydraulic fracturing.
    • According to the Bureau of Land Management, onshore federal lands produce about 8 percent of the nation’s oil and 9 percent of its natural gas.

Fracking supports good-paying American jobs across America.

• • • Oil and natural gas companies provide 1 million direct upstream onshore jobs, and over 2 million direct, indirect and induced jobs across the country
    • Our industry’s workforce is 33 percent minorities and 20 percent women

Technological advancements like hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling further environmental progress.

• • • Since 2010, the U.S. shale revolution saw natural gas production nearly double, while U.S. total energy-related CO2 emissions declined significantly
    • Fracking supports reduced air emissions, as greater equipment and engine efficiency and improved technologies mean less energy consumption – thus lower air emissions – per unit of energy produced.

Upstream oil and gas production provides hundreds of thousands of jobs in states across the country and billions of dollars in revenue for state and local economies – jobs and revenue that would be at risk if hydraulic fracturing was restricted or banned.

Additional Information about fracking can be found here:

• Fracking 101
• Fracking operators are committed to safety and protecting water resources