Balancing Oil & Gas Production, Energy Needs, and Environmental Responsibility

Contributed by: Rose Morrison

Debates over whether fracking is the best thing to happen to oil & gas production or the worst thing to happen to the environment continue. Utilizing the process can boost energy production in the United States, but many worry it will hasten climate change or pollute the environment. Understanding exactly what the process entails can help key decision-makers see how to balance growing energy needs with environmental responsibility.

How the Energy Sector Addresses Problems with Fracking
In a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, researchers found 44% of Americans support additional hydraulic fracturing for oil & gas production, and about 53% oppose it. Many communities worry about contamination and how a local fracking operation might negatively impact their health. To answer these concerns, hydraulic fracturing entities have come up with a few processes and solutions to ensure they protect local ecosystems:

• They treat flowback water to reduce the amount of freshwater they're using for extraction
• Teams are starting to use electric fracking equipment instead of diesel to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• AI monitoring detects methane gas buildup and helps crews stop a leak before it becomes an environmental incident
• Brands reduce emissions from the fracking process by using various carbon capture and storage methods. For example, they grab carbon dioxide from the gas stream and inject it into storage sites deep under the Earth

However, implementing some of these solutions can be costly, and people worry companies may cut corners to save money.

Regulation and Public Image
No matter where the government stands on fracking now or in the future, some oversight is essential to protect the Earth for future generations. Balancing today's energy needs with tomorrow's planet’s health is challenging.

Many communities are seeking to lower energy consumption by building greener buildings. Commercial structures consume around 40% of energy in America. By focusing on ways to help neighborhoods generate clean power, people can reduce the need for oil and gas and reduce the potential strain on the environment from practices such as fracking.

Some of the restrictions local and federal governments utilize to ensure fracking businesses adhere to specific standards include:

• The United States Environmental Protection Agency sets standards for methane emissions which directly impact the fracking industry
• Many states implement groundwater protection to protect waterways. They might require concrete barriers between wellbores and waterways and pressure testing
• The Clean Air Act monitors emissions from fracking
• States such as Vermont, New York, Washington, Maryland and Oregon have banned fracking altogether

READ: The 2025 State of Methane Emissions Regulations Around the Globe

The Future of Fracking, Explained
Currently, the fracking sector enjoys little regulation. As the practice becomes more commonplace, local governments are likely to implement rules to ensure the protection of citizens’ well-being. Fracking will likely advance and have less of an environmental impact as new methods arise. Balancing the pros and cons and figuring out the best amount of hydraulic fracturing to lower energy costs but keeping it below a threshold of damaging the ecosystem will require effective leaders who can plan for the unexpected.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fracking
Here are some FAQs about fracking answered.

1. How Does Fracking Work in Oil & Gas Production?
Fracking is a complex process used to pull oil and natural gas from underground rocks, such as shale deposits. The process involves a complex set of steps.

• Drilling: The first step to extracting oil and natural gas from the Earth is drilling. Oil field services companies dig a deep vertical well thousands of feet below the surface to access the rock layer — typically shale — and punch small holes in it once the casing is in place. Drilling is the access point to pump fluid below the service and extract the natural resources.
• Casing: A casing is a steel pipe workers cement in the drilled hole to add stability. It also keeps unwanted liquids from leaking into the well, preserving the oil or gas. The casing is the structural part of the well and should prevent walls from caving in.
• Hydraulic fracturing: Once the cement dries around the casing, the frac crew injects fluids into the well. The liquid is made up of a mix of water, chemicals and sand, and is added under high pressure. The pressure creates tiny cracks in the rock, and the trapped oil or gas moves to the surface for extraction.
• Flowback recovered: Ideally, the injected fluid is collected, reducing the environmental impact of any chemicals in the solution. Once the team releases the pressure, the fluid rises to the surface of the wellbore. The employees collect the flowback and put it in stainless steel storage tanks to be treated or disposed of.

2. What Are the Pros of Fracking?
As fracking technology advances, energy companies have become more productive in extracting oil and gas. However, people are also questioning the impact of fracking on emissions, the environment, and methane exposure.

There are many advantages to fracking, including:

• Higher oil and natural gas production in the United States, leading to lower energy costs
• Being cleaner than coal and improving air quality
• Providing jobs to local communities

By improving fracking oil technology, the industry drives others to figure out how to manage emissions. Using methane gas generators for coal mine methane allows plants to utilize about 85% of available energy from methane for power.

3. What Are the Cons of Fracking?
The reasons why fracking is bad for the environment include:

• Using large quantities of water for injection into the shale
• Flowback or improper disposal of it impacts local water and ecosystems
• Creating methane emissions and promoting climate change
• Changing the pressure underground and potentially triggering earthquakes

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