An innovative drilling process called hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a vast new energy supply. Producers can now extract natural gas and oil trapped in shale rock, which was previously thought too costly to access. Ohio is on the front line thanks to the Marcellus and Utica shale formations within its borders.
"Fracking" uses hydraulic pressure to fracture rock formations, opening a path for oil and gas extraction. A shale gas well is typically drilled 5,000 to 8,000 feet below the ground and then a mixture of sand, water and chemicals is injected to fracture the shale. Many concerns have been raised about the environmental impact of this process. This has been exacerbated by negative media coverage such as the 2010 documentary "Gasland," which depicts landowners whose properties are near gas wells lighting methane gas from their faucets on fire...
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