Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic fracturing is used widely throughout the oil and gas industry, and can cause environmental harm. Hydraulic fracturing or fracing involves the high pressure injection of water, sand and toxic fluids into a rock or coal formation to enhance oil and gas production. While fracing is an effective technique for increasing oil and gas production, it also has the potential to cause environmental harm.

• Denver Post article on the Amos well
(pdf-18k)
• WORC letter to U.S. EPA on hydraulic fracturing study
• Letter to U.S. EPA from John Bredehoeft (pdf-54 k)
• See the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's report on the hydraulic fracturing of coal beds
• See an exchange of letters between Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and U.S. EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman