Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is a technique used to extract oil and natural gas from deep underground rock formations, primarily shale. The process involves drilling a well deep into the earth, often over a mile, and then turning the wellbore horizontally into the shale layer. A high-pressure fluid—composed mainly of water, sand, and various chemicals—is then injected to create microscopic fractures in the rock. The injected sand, or proppant, holds these fractures open, allowing the trapped hydrocarbons to flow out and be collected at the surface. This process has unlocked vast reserves of previously inaccessible fossil fuels, fundamentally changing the domestic energy landscape and generating intense debate regarding its benefits versus its environmental and social impacts.
Economic Stimulus and Local Revenue
The rapid expansion of hydraulic fracturing functions as a powerful localized economic engine, bringing significant capital investment to rural areas. This activity directly creates high-paying jobs for drillers, engineers, and support staff, while also fostering indirect employment across local supply chains. Communities near drilling sites often experience a notable increase in employment and a rise in average household income. Local and state governments benefit substantially from the increased tax base and the collection of severance taxes, which can support improvements to schools, roads, and other municipal services.
Despite these financial gains, the industry introduces a distinct “boom-and-bust” economic cycle that creates instability. When global energy prices decline, drilling activity slows rapidly, causing sudden job losses and economic retraction. This industrial growth also strains local resources, leading to increased housing costs and wages in non-energy sectors that cannot compete with industry pay.
Environmental and Resource Consumption
The process requires immense volumes of water, which is a major environmental concern, particularly in drought-prone regions. This water is largely removed from the local hydrological cycle, as only a fraction of the fluid injected returns to the surface as flowback water.
The flowback and produced water contain injected chemicals, naturally occurring toxic substances, salts, and radioactive materials from deep underground. This contaminated wastewater requires disposal, often through injection into deep underground wells. Injecting these large volumes of fluid increases pore pressure on existing faults, which has been directly linked to an increase in induced earthquakes.
Air quality is negatively affected primarily through the release of methane, a potent greenhouse gas, from wellheads and production equipment. Emissions from diesel engines and the flaring of excess natural gas contribute to local air pollution, including volatile organic compounds and fine particulate matter. The physical footprint of drilling sites, access roads, and pipelines also leads to habitat fragmentation and changes in land use.
National Energy Security and Global Supply
The widespread adoption of hydraulic fracturing has fundamentally reshaped the geopolitical energy landscape, enabling the United States to become the world’s largest producer of crude oil and natural gas. This massive increase in domestic production substantially improves national energy security, reducing reliance on volatile foreign sources. The steady domestic supply provides a buffer against international price shocks and supply disruptions, enhancing the nation’s strategic position globally.
The availability of abundant, low-cost natural gas has been promoted as a “bridge fuel” to facilitate the transition away from coal-fired power plants. Burning natural gas releases about half the carbon dioxide emissions of coal, offering a pathway for immediate greenhouse gas reductions. However, heavy investment in new fossil fuel infrastructure creates a long-term economic commitment that may ultimately delay the necessary acceleration toward renewable energy sources.
Public Health and Community Infrastructure
The localized health and social impacts on communities near drilling sites present significant drawbacks. Residents can be exposed to a complex mixture of air and water contaminants, including chemicals used in the fracturing fluid and toxic substances released during production. Health concerns associated with proximity range from respiratory illnesses and headaches to more serious long-term risks.
The industrial activity also places considerable strain on local infrastructure and quality of life in rural areas. Heavy truck traffic damages local roads and generates high levels of noise and vibration. This rapid industrialization introduces social stress, including increased demands on public services and a temporary rise in crime rates, negatively affecting the community’s overall well-being.