Shale Gas Development In U.S. --- Table of Contents

The following summarizes what is covered in the recent publication by The Department of Energy (DOE). (source)
For our purposes here, we are most interested in the geological, engineering and economic aspects of shale gas development, but comments on any of the following subjects are welcome.

(As an aside, do any of our political lawmakers and decision-makers read and understand the significance of extracting this abundant natural gas? It is used to heat and cool our homes, power our industry, and can even be easily used to power our vehicles when it is compressed. If we really want to reduce our dependence on "foreign oil" we should be aggressively producing this gas! The DOE estimates we have enough to last 100 years! What are we waiting for? Windmills, solar panels and nuclear power plants? That's crazy! We have this natural gas here and now, with established infrastructure and known technology; let's go get it!)
Peter

MODERN SHALE GAS DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES: A PRIMER

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Table of Contents ---i
List of Exhibits---iii

INTRODUCTION---1

THE IMPORTANCE OF SHALE GAS --- 3
The Role of Natural Gas in the United States’ Energy Portfolio ---3
The Advantages of Natural Gas --- 5
Natural Gas Basics ---6
Unconventional Gas--- 7
The Role of Shale Gas in Unconventional Gas---8
Looking Forward ---10

SHALE GAS DEVELOPMENT IN THE UNITED STATES ---13
Shale Gas – Geology ---14
Sources of Natural Gas---16
Shale Gas in the United States ---16
The Barnett Shale ---18
The Fayetteville Shale---19
The Haynesville Shale ---20
The Marcellus Shale ---21
The Woodford Shale ---22
The Antrim Shale ---23
The New Albany Shale ---24

REGULATORY FRAMEWORK--- 25
Federal Environmental Laws Governing Shale Gas Development--- 25
State Regulation ---25
Local Regulation ---27
Regulation of Impacts on Water Quality ---29
Clean Water Act---29
Safe Drinking Water Act --- 32
Oil Pollution Act of 1990 – Spill Prevention Control and Countermeasure---33
State Regulations and Regional Cooperation --- 35
Regulation of Impacts on Air Quality---35
Clean Air Act ---35
Air Quality Regulations ---36
Air Permits ---36
Regulation of Impacts to Land ---37
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) ---37
Endangered Species Act---38
State Endangered Species Protections ---39
Oil and Gas Operations on Public Lands ---39
Federal Lands ---39
State Lands ---40
Other Federal Laws and Requirements that Protect the Environment---40
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act ---40
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act---41
Occupational Safety and Health Act ---42
Summary ---42

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS --- 43
Horizontal Wells ---46
Reducing Surface Disturbance ---47
Reducing Wildlife Impacts --- 48
Reducing Community Impacts --- 49
Protecting Groundwater: Casing and Cementing Programs ---51
Hydraulic Fracturing ---56
Fracture Design ---56
Fracturing Process---58
Fracturing Fluids and Additives ---61
Water Availability ---64
Water Management ---66
Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) ---70
Air Quality ---71
Sources of Air Emissions --- 72
Composition of Air Emissions --- 72
Technological Controls and Practices---74
Summary ---76
Acronyms and Abbreviations ---79

DEFINITIONS --- 81

END NOTES---83