Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Natural resource development for science, technology, and environmental policy issues: the case of hydraulic fracturing

  • Perspective
  • Published:
Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The development and effective use of natural resources is essential for meeting crucial societal needs and for the economic development of a nation. Discussed here is the case of hydraulic fracturing which is used to fracture underground formations to recover natural gas and oil. Described in the article are economic benefits and environmental and human health implications of this technology; views on these aspects rapidly become controversial. Presented here is a consensus building paradigm to address and mitigate controversies related to the implementation of this technology.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen DT, Torres VN, Thomas J, Sullivan DW, Harrison M, Hendler A, Herndon SC, Kolb CE, Fraser MP, Hill DA, Lamb BK, Miskimins J, Sawyer RF, Seinfeld JH (2013) Measurement of methane emissions at natural gas production sites in the United States. Proc Natl Acad Sci 10(44):17768–17773. doi:10.1073/pnas.1304880110

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • American Petroleum Institute (2010) Freeing up energy—hydraulic fracturing: unlocking America’s natural gas resources. American Petroleum Institute, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Gregory KB, Vidic RD, Dzombak DA (2011) Water management challenges associated with the production of shale gas by hydraulic fracturing. Elem Mineral Soc Am 7(3):181–186

    Google Scholar 

  • Guelpa P (2013) Proceedings National Academy of Sciences, PNAS, 24 June 2013

  • Jain RK, Urban LV, Balbach HE, Webb MD (2012) Handbook of environmental engineering assessment. Elsevier, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • King GE (2012) “Hydraulic Fracturing 101” SPE Hydraulic Fracturing Technology Conference, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Paper 15296

  • Moniz EJ (2012) The future of natural gas: an interdisciplinary MIT Study. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • National Academy of Engineering (2010) Grand challenges for earth resources engineering. Washington

  • Osborn SG, Vengosh A, Warner NR, Jackson RB (2011) Methane contamination of drinking water accompanying gas well drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 108(20):8172–8176

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schneising O, Burrows JP, Dickerson RR, Buchwitz M, Reuter M, Bovensmann H (2014) Remote sensing of fugitive methane emissions from oil and gas production in North American tight geologic formations. Earth Future. doi:10.1002/2014EF000265

  • Schultze CL (1977) The public use of private interest. Brookings Institution, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Sikdar SK (2013) Resurgence of fossil fuels? Clean Technol Environ Policy 15:203–204

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Spencer T, Sartor O, Mathieu M (2014) Unconventional wisdom: an economic analysis of US shale gas and implications for the EU. Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI), Paris, No. 02/14

  • Stringfellow WT, Domen JK, Camarillo MK, Sandelin WL, Borglin S (2014) Physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of compounds used in hydraulic fracturing. J Hazard Mater 275:37–54

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Congress Committee on Energy and Commerce Report (2011) Chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing

  • Weinhold R (2012) Unknown quantity: regulating radionuclides in tap. Environ Health Perspect 120(9):a350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wigley TML (2011) Coal to gas: the influence of methane leakage. Clim Change 108:601–608

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

I want to express my deep gratitude to the publisher, Springer, the Editor-in-Chief Dr. Subhas Sikdar, members of the Journal editorial board, authors, and paper referees for giving me the opportunity to serve as a Co-Editor-in-Chief of this journal for over 15 years.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA, USA

    Ravi Jain

Authors
  1. Ravi Jain
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ravi Jain.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Jain, R. Natural resource development for science, technology, and environmental policy issues: the case of hydraulic fracturing. Clean Techn Environ Policy 17, 3–8 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-014-0856-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-014-0856-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation