Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Introduction -- 2. Shale gas -- 3. Shale gas geology -- 4. Shale gas plays -- 5. Shale gas sources -- 6. Hydraulic fracturing: the process -- 7. Chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing -- 8. Environmental considerations -- 9. Laws and regulations affecting shale gas development and operations -- Appendix A. Chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing -- Appendix B. Case study locations for hydraulic fracturing study. There is a strong need for innovation and the development of viable renewable energy sources. Recent technological advances allow natural gas supplies -- previously believed inaccessible or nonexistent -- to be discovered, mined, and processed for both industrial and consumer use. The technology, a controversial process that is alternatively called hydraulic fracturing, fracking, fracing, or hydrofracking, has greatly expanded natural gas production in the United States. As the use of hydraulic fracturing has grown, concerns about its environmental and public health impacts have also increased -- one of the most significant concerns being the fluids that are injected into rock formations to cause the fracturing contain potentially hazardous chemical additives. This guide covers ongoing controversies about the environmental and operator safety issues arising from possible water pollution, drinking water contamination, on-the-job safety hazards, and harmful chemical exposure to workers and residents near well areas. "Hydraulic fracturing is a well stimulation process used to maximize the extraction of hard-to-reach underground resources. While hydraulic fracturing allows access to previously unobtainable energy supplies, the technology can cause serious damage to environmental media. Public concerns have focused on the impacts of the process used during natural gas production from shale and coalbed methane formations. This book discusses the pros and cons of hydraulic fracturing in a balanced manner. It emphasizes the need for the mining of natural gas to provide future clean energy supplies but also stresses the need for close monitoring of the process, chemicals, and fate of waste products"--