The Fracking Debate: The Risks, Benefits, and Uncertainties of the Shale Revolution

by Daniel Raimi

Overview

Over roughly the past decade, oil and gas production in the United States has surged dramatically—thanks largely to technological advances such as high-volume hydraulic fracturing, more commonly known as “fracking.” This rapid increase has generated widespread debate, with proponents touting economic and energy-security benefits and opponents highlighting the environmental and social risks of increased oil and gas production. Despite the heated debate, neither side has a monopoly on the facts. In this book, Daniel Raimi gives a balanced and accessible view of oil and gas development, clearly and thoroughly explaining the key issues surrounding the shale revolution.

The Fracking Debate directly addresses the most common questions and concerns associated with fracking: What is fracking? Does fracking pollute the water supply? Will fracking make the United States energy independent? Does fracking cause earthquakes? How is fracking regulated? Is fracking good for the economy? Coupling a deep understanding of the scholarly research with lessons from his travels to every major U.S. oil- and gas-producing region, Raimi highlights stories of the people and communities affected by the shale revolution, for better and for worse. The Fracking Debate provides the evidence and context that have so frequently been missing from the national discussion of the future of oil and gas production, offering readers the tools to make sense of this critical issue.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780231545716
Publisher:	Columbia University Press
Publication date:	12/26/2017
Series:	Center on Global Energy Policy Series
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Daniel Raimi is a senior research associate at Resources for the Future, a nonprofit research institution focusing on energy and climate issues. He teaches energy policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan and is a faculty affiliate with the University of Michigan Energy Institute.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
1. Introduction
2. What Is Fracking?
3. Does Fracking Contaminate Water?
4. Will Fracking Make Me Sick?
5. Does Fracking Cause Earthquakes?
6. Is There Any Regulation on Fracking?
7. Is Fracking Good or Bad for Climate Change?
8. Will Fracking Make the United States Energy Independent?
9. Is Fracking Good for the Economy?
10. Will Fracking Spread Around the World?
11. Do People Living Near Fracking Love It or Hate It?
12. What’s Next?
Notes
Index

Editorial Reviews

Raimi’s book offers the most balanced, honest, and comprehensive account of fracking available, telling the story from all sides. Readers will appreciate the personal accounts from Raimi’s travels to far-flung oil fields coupled with in-depth yet accessible analysis of the science, regulations, and politics of the U.S. oil and gas boom.

Hannah Wiseman

At a time when everything from an otherwise unremarkable scientific report to a seemingly innocuous news item can be subject to intense scrutiny and mistrust, The Fracking Debate, a balanced guide to the contentious discussion on fracking, is a welcome resource.

Science

A well-rounded refresher and a fine primer for anybody new to the debate, or for those simply seeking more information.

Natural Gas Intelligence Shale Daily

Thumbs up for a masterful book on a highly polarizing topics that resonates around our industry. . . . This is an excellent book and a highly recommended read.

Leading Edge

[Raimi] brings a distinctively objective approach to the text, taking care to accurately represent all positions on the issue. . . . Will serve quite well in the classroom; for advanced courses in exploration geology or petroleum engineering, the text will be a valuable supplement to technical texts, providing excellent material for discussion.

Choice

A worthy addition to the literature.

Civil Engineering

Depending on who’s saying it, ‘fracking’ signifies either a blessing or curse. In truth, it’s both. Raimi methodically explores the risks and rewards of a technical revolution that has made the United States the largest producer of oil and gas in the world once again. A thoughtful and accessible look at a highly contentious and generally misunderstood subject.

Mark S. Brownstein

If you can’t make oilfield visits a part of your next vacation, reading Raimi’s book, The Fracking Debate: The Risks, Benefits, and Uncertainties of the Shale Revolution, is the next best thing. Part of the Center on Global Energy Policy Series, The Fracking Debate can be regarded as the definitive book about fracking and the impact of the shale revolution—a revolution that has allowed U.S. natural gas production to reach all-time highs and reinvigorated domestic oil production.

Failure Magazine - Jason Zasky

In this fair and unbiased book, filled with firsthand accounts and written in a gritty style appropriate for the topic at hand, Raimi explores the technology, the regulation, and the socioeconomic outcomes of shale energy development. Holistic in its range and robust in its depth, The Fracking Debate provides a nuanced but accessible understanding of the shale revolution.

Thomas B. Murphy

The Fracking Debate is the most user-friendly resource on the key policy questions around hydraulic fracturing I have come across. Raimi tackles all of the hot-button topics surrounding fracking—including whether fracking contaminates water or contributes to climate change—concisely and in plain language easily accessible to lay persons. The Fracking Debate belongs on the bookshelf of every local elected official and state legislator who is grappling with hydraulic fracturing.

Matthew Lepore

Read it. Rarely do books about essentially technical energy matters marshal arcane data and peer-reviewed research so digestibly.

Petroleum Economist

The Fracking Debate cuts through the thicket of questions and viewpoints surrounding the shale revolution with balanced evidence and insight delivered through engaging stories. It’s a refreshing ride—refreshing because you get the clear sense you are learning with the author as he seeks the truth about the shale boom.

Richard Newell

At a time when everything from an otherwise unremarkable scientific report to a seemingly innocuous news item can be subject to intense scrutiny and mistrust, The Fracking Debate, a balanced guide to the contentious discussion on fracking, is a welcome resource.

Science

★ 2017-09-24
An examination of the pros and cons and the unknowns of the shale revolution, bringing much-needed light to the hot topic of fracking.Raimi (Energy Policy/Univ. of Michigan) is a research associate at Resources for the Future, an organization that focuses on natural resource and environmental issues. In his first book, the author aims to address the most important issues of the debate surrounding hydraulic fracturing, or fracking as it is commonly called, and he draws on the expertise of state regulators, environmental lawyers, leaders in the gas and oil industry, working scientists, and academics. In addition, he traveled widely around the United States, talking to people who live near fracking sites. The result is a highly readable account with straightforward explanations of what is involved in extracting oil and gas from shale. Numerous simple black-and-white charts and tables back up the narrative, and each chapter concludes with a brief summary of the issues covered. These include the mechanics of fracking, its effects on the environment and the health of those living nearby or working at a drill site, the risk of earthquakes, the effect on the economy and on climate change, and the manner in which the industry is regulated. The take-home message is that the shale revolution is here to stay and that neither proponents nor opponents have all the right answers. As Raimi makes clear, there are no easy answers to some of the complex issues involved. The final chapter gives the book a personal touch, as the author reveals the feelings of people living close to fracking sites. From his conversations with them, he concludes that they may not like the noise, dirt, traffic, and changes to their landscapes, but the money and the jobs are generally welcomed.A deft, fair analysis that clarifies the issues for both the general public and concerned policymakers.

Kirkus Reviews