Hydraulic Fracturing ('Fracking') on the OCS

摘要

Fracking allows energy companies to access otherwise impossible or difficult-to-reach unconventional oil and gas reserves. In the US it has significantly boosted domestic oil production and driven down gas prices. Leading experts project that rapid expansion of fracking is projected to make the U.S. a net exporter of natural gas in the coming years and potentially the world's largest oil producer by 2017. Shale gas, which currently accounts for 23% of the nation's natural gas production, is projected to increase to 49% by 2035.