Improving our Scientific Understanding of Hydraulic Fracturing

April 2012 Memorandum of Agreement among the U.S. Departments of Energy and Interior and the U.S. EPA about Collaboration on Unconventional Oil and Gas Research (PDF)

Our study of hydraulic fracturing and its potential impact on drinking water resources: We studied the relationship between hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas and drinking water resources. The study includes a review of published literature, analysis of existing data, scenario evaluation and modeling, laboratory studies, and case studies. We released a progress report in December 2012; a final draft assessment report for peer review and comment in June 2015; and the final report in December 2016.  Our report concludes that hydraulic fracturing activities can impact drinking water resources under some circumstances and identifies factors that influence these impacts.  Learn more:

• Final assessment 
• Study home page
• Process of unconventional natural gas production (hydraulic fracturing and shale gas extraction)