xi
reading. For those concerned about it, I have not received funding from either industry or environmental groups while assembling this manuscript.
No one person can know everything and I welcome any additional rigorous scientific information that may add to or even contradict what I have presented in this
book. This is how science is supposed to work. Scientists who are unwilling to
revise conclusions based on new data are usually not very good scientists.
This book describes what fracking is and is not, along with how and why it was
developed against the historical backdrop of oil and gas production in the United
States. It then lays out what we know and do not know about the risks of fracking to
air, water, landscapes, ecosystems, and human health. The final chapters delve into
the broader issues of fossil fuels and climate change, greener fracking, balancing
energy and the environment, and options for humanity’s potential energy future.
The book uses peer-reviewed studies, published technical literature, and referenced
data to tell what I hope is an interesting story. The book itself has also been peerreviewed. I have attempted to keep it objective, unbiased, and centered on the facts.
If you were expecting sensationalism and thrilling suspense with evil bad guys and
heroic good guys, I am sorry to disappoint. For that kind of drama, I suggest going
to see a movie.
References
Costa, D., Jesus, J., Branco, D., Danko, A., & Fiuza, A. (2017). Extensive review of shale gas environmental impacts from scientific literature (2010–2015). Environmental Science & Pollution
Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8970-0. 16 p, published online April 2017.
Multiagency: U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of the Interior, and the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2014). Federal Multiagency Collaboration on unconventional oil and gas research: A strategy for Research and Development. Report to the
Executive Office of the President, July 18, 2014, Washington, DC, 18 p.
Raimi, D. (2018). The fracking debate: The risks, benefits, and uncertainties of the shale revolution. New York: Columbia University Press. 350 p.
Schug, K. A., & Hildenbrand, Z. L. (2017). Advances in chemical pollution, environmental management and protection: Environmental issues concerning hydraulic fracturing. Cambridge,
MA: Academic. 405 p.
Sernovitz, G. (2016). The green and the black: The complete story of the shale revolution, the fight
over fracking, and the future of energy (289 p). New York: St. Martin’s Press.
Soeder, D. J. (1988). Porosity and permeability of eastern Devonian gas shale. SPE Formation
Evaluation, 3(1), 116–124. https://doi.org/10.2118/15213-PA.
Soeder, D. J. (2017). Unconventional: The development of natural gas from the Marcellus shale
(GSA special paper 527). Boulder, CO: Geological Society of America Books. 143 p.
Soeder, D. J., & Borglum, S. J. (2019). The fossil fuel revolution: Shale gas and tight oil.
Amsterdam: Elsevier. 354 p. (ISBN: 9780128153970).
Soeder, D. J., & Kappel, W. M. (2009). Water resources and natural gas production from the
Marcellus shale. U.S. Geological Survey, Fact Sheet 2009–3032, 6 p.
Soeder, D. J., & Kent, D. B. (2018). When oil and water mix: Understanding the environmental
impacts of shale development. GSA Today, 28(9), 4–10.
Wilbur, T. (2012). Under the surface: Fracking, fortunes, and the fate of the Marcellus shale.
Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. 329 p.
Rapid, SD, USA
Daniel J. Soeder
Preface
reading. For those concerned about it, I have not received funding from either industry or environmental groups while assembling this manuscript.
No one person can know everything and I welcome any additional rigorous scientific information that may add to or even contradict what I have presented in this
book. This is how science is supposed to work. Scientists who are unwilling to
revise conclusions based on new data are usually not very good scientists.
This book describes what fracking is and is not, along with how and why it was
developed against the historical backdrop of oil and gas production in the United
States. It then lays out what we know and do not know about the risks of fracking to
air, water, landscapes, ecosystems, and human health. The final chapters delve into
the broader issues of fossil fuels and climate change, greener fracking, balancing
energy and the environment, and options for humanity’s potential energy future.
The book uses peer-reviewed studies, published technical literature, and referenced
data to tell what I hope is an interesting story. The book itself has also been peerreviewed. I have attempted to keep it objective, unbiased, and centered on the facts.
If you were expecting sensationalism and thrilling suspense with evil bad guys and
heroic good guys, I am sorry to disappoint. For that kind of drama, I suggest going
to see a movie.
References
Costa, D., Jesus, J., Branco, D., Danko, A., & Fiuza, A. (2017). Extensive review of shale gas environmental impacts from scientific literature (2010–2015). Environmental Science & Pollution
Research. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-017-8970-0. 16 p, published online April 2017.
Multiagency: U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of the Interior, and the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2014). Federal Multiagency Collaboration on unconventional oil and gas research: A strategy for Research and Development. Report to the
Executive Office of the President, July 18, 2014, Washington, DC, 18 p.
Raimi, D. (2018). The fracking debate: The risks, benefits, and uncertainties of the shale revolution. New York: Columbia University Press. 350 p.
Schug, K. A., & Hildenbrand, Z. L. (2017). Advances in chemical pollution, environmental management and protection: Environmental issues concerning hydraulic fracturing. Cambridge,
MA: Academic. 405 p.
Sernovitz, G. (2016). The green and the black: The complete story of the shale revolution, the fight
over fracking, and the future of energy (289 p). New York: St. Martin’s Press.
Soeder, D. J. (1988). Porosity and permeability of eastern Devonian gas shale. SPE Formation
Evaluation, 3(1), 116–124. https://doi.org/10.2118/15213-PA.
Soeder, D. J. (2017). Unconventional: The development of natural gas from the Marcellus shale
(GSA special paper 527). Boulder, CO: Geological Society of America Books. 143 p.
Soeder, D. J., & Borglum, S. J. (2019). The fossil fuel revolution: Shale gas and tight oil.
Amsterdam: Elsevier. 354 p. (ISBN: 9780128153970).
Soeder, D. J., & Kappel, W. M. (2009). Water resources and natural gas production from the
Marcellus shale. U.S. Geological Survey, Fact Sheet 2009–3032, 6 p.
Soeder, D. J., & Kent, D. B. (2018). When oil and water mix: Understanding the environmental
impacts of shale development. GSA Today, 28(9), 4–10.
Wilbur, T. (2012). Under the surface: Fracking, fortunes, and the fate of the Marcellus shale.
Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press. 329 p.
Rapid, SD, USA
Daniel J. Soeder
Preface