The United States has immense proven reserves of natural gas that could become a major source for the country's energy future (1). Exploitation of natural gas resources has become feasible and less expensive thanks to advances in hydraulic fracturing technologies that have increased the volume of extraction and allowed “greater access to gas in shale formations” (2). Hydraulic fracturing, or hydraulic fracturing of shale formations, has positive benefits including economic growth and the extracted natural gas being cleaner than coal and oil. However, it has caused serious environmental problems and could possibly be the cause of recent seismic activity in areas where hydraulic fracturing operations exist. (3). Gas in shale formations is "low permeable", making its extraction very tedious, but with the increase in technological knowledge of hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling in shale beds, the vast resource reserves of natural gas could be extracted (4). ). Hydraulic fracturing is a large industrial operation that increases the “productivity of an oil or gas well” (5). It is a process by which, under very high pressure, a mixture of water, chemicals and sand is pumped into shale formations, causing fractures in the rocks or rocks to open wider. creating new fractures that would allow otherwise trapped oil and gas to flow. in the wells (6). There are fears that hydraulic fracturing could cause earthquakes. In areas where hydraulic fracturing operations are taking place and earthquakes are not the norm, there have been instances of seismic activity. For example, before 2011, the last known seismic activity by a small Ohio town named Youngstown was in 1776, but within a few months in 2011, more than 100 instances of seismic activity ranging from 2.7 to 3.9 on the Ric... .. middle of paper......, September 9, 2013. Web. November 23, 2013.4. Montgomery, Carla W. Environmental Geology. 9th ed. New York: McGraw Hill, 2011. Print.5. "What is hydraulic fracturing and why is it controversial?" » BBC News. BBC, June 27, 2013. Web. November 25, 2013.6. “The Environmental Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing.” G4tv.com. Np, April 20, 2012. Web. November 25, 2013.7. Lobello, Carmel. “Does hydraulic fracturing cause earthquakes? » Yahoo! News. Yahoo!, September 6, 2013. Web. November 26, 2013.8. Upton, John. “Hydraulic fracturing has triggered more than 100 earthquakes in Ohio.” Grist. Np, September 5, 2013. Web. November 26, 2013.9. Upton, John. "The oil industry probably triggered the Great Oklahoma Earthquake in 2011, scientists say."Grist. Np, March 27, 2013. Web. November 26, 2013.10. Begley, Sharon. "Research shows earthquakes in 3 states were caused by fracking. "Research shows earthquakes in 3 states were caused by fracking. Reuters, July 11, 2013. Web. November 26. 2013.