Michael Giberson
Much of the talk about hydraulic fracturing of shale has been about natural gas, but the method is being used to develop oil shale as well. The New York Times is bringing the news to the east coast, “Shale Boom in Texas Could Increase U.S. Oil Output,” and Texas newspapers have been covering the story too, “Drilling, hydraulic fracturing used in Eagle Ford shale.”
The Texas oil and gas regulator hopes to stay on top of developing issues in the Eagle Ford by forming a task force with producers, oil field services firms, landowners, environmental groups and area politicians. (I guess this is tacit admission that they were surprised by some of the backlash and other developments in the Barnett Shale area in north Texas. The Eagle Ford is much less densely populated, which will reduce some potential conflicts, though water issues will be big in the arid region.)