The History of Fracking and Fracked Gas: The Big Picture

The History of Fracking and Fracked Gas: The Big Picture

By
Grace Smoot

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Fracked gas is a subset of natural gas which is acquired by breaking rock formations containing oil and natural gas. Natural gas has grown more in the past decade than any other fossil fuel and is often referred to as a cleaner-burning fossil fuel than coal and oil. So we had to ask: What is the history of fracking and fracked gas?

Fracked gas (FG) energy began millions of years ago with the creation of fossil fuels. The invention of fracking in the 1860s, hydraulic fracturing in the 1940s, and horizontal drilling in the 1960s have shaped the industry. Today, FG is mainly used in industrial processes and as a heat source.

Keep reading to learn how fracking and fracked gas came to be, who and what pioneered its development, how effective it has been thus far, and what the future of fracking and fracked gas could entail. 

Here’s the History of Fracking and Fracked Gas in a Nutshell

Fracked gas is a subset of natural gas, a flammable gas composed of mostly methane (CH4), some hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs), and non-hydrocarbon gasses (CO2 and water vapor). It is also referred to as shale gas because it is found in shale formations deep underground. 

Natural Gas: flammable gas, consisting largely of methane and other hydrocarbons, occurring naturally underground (often in association with petroleum) and used as fuel”

Oxford Dictionary

FG is acquired via the process of fracking (hydraulic fracturing) whereby water, sand, and chemicals are forced down a well at high pressure, breaking rock formations containing oil and natural gas. The fracked gas is released and then flows up through the well to the surface. 

Fracking: a method of getting oil or gas from the rock below the surface of the ground by making large cracks in it. Fracking is short for “hydraulic fracturing.”

Cambridge Dictionary

FG is used primarily for heating and generating electricity but can also be used as a raw material (feedstock) in the production of chemicals, fertilizer, and hydrogen, and as lease and plant fuel. 

Fracking and fracked gas have gone through three distinct development phases in their development:

  • Early market formation and innovation: The early history of fracked gas dates back millions of years ago when, under the right conditions, buried plant and animal remains were subjected to intense heat and pressure. 
  • Consolidation and strengthening: The modern history of fracking and fracked gas began with the invention of fracking in the 1860s. The industry then boomed with the development of hydraulic fracturing in the 1940s and horizontal drilling in the 1960s. 
Fracking and Fracked Gas MilestonesHistorical Event
Initial startThe early history of fracked gas dates back millions of years when plant and animal remains gradually built up on the earth’s surface and the ocean floor. Under the right conditions, some remains were converted into natural gas.
Milestones in fracking and fracked gas development1626: The usage of natural gas by Native Americans was first recorded in North America, near Lake Erie.
1659: Natural gas was first discovered in Europe in the Netherlands.
1785: The British used natural gas produced from coal to light homes and streets. 
1816: The US used natural gas produced from coal to light streets in Maryland for the first time.
1821: William Hart drilled the first natural gas well in the US. Hart is widely known as the father of natural gas, later establishing the Fredonia Gas Light Company, the first natural gas company in the US.
1860s: Edward A. L. Roberts invented the process of fracking. He patented the “oil well torpedo” in 1865, whereby explosives were lowered into and detonated inside wells to break the surrounding rock and allow more fossil fuels to flow to the surface. 
1885: Robert Bunsen invented the Bunsen burner, which combined natural gas and air to produce a flame that could be used for cooking and heating. 
1913: Romania constructed the first transport pipeline for natural gas, becoming one of the first countries in the world to use natural gas for industrial purposes.
1940s: Hydraulic fracturing, injecting fluids underground, replaced explosives as the standard fracking practice in the oil and gas industry. 
1953: Water and other gelling agents began to replace napalm and petroleum products in the hydraulic fracturing injection process.
1960s: Martin Cherrington developed the process of horizontal drilling, which increased the surface area of the wells and increased the amount of accessible fossil fuels.
1971: The South Pars/North Field gas field was discovered in Iranian and Qatari territorial waters. It remains the largest deposit of natural gas in the world.
2013: The Jebel Ali Power and Desalination Plant was opened. It remains the world’s largest, single-site natural gas power generation facility.
2021: The Global Methane Pledge was signed. It is an international agreement between over 100 member countries to reduce global methane emissions by 30% by 2030.
Current statusCurrently, 23% of our primary energy comes from natural gas, and we consume almost 40,000 terawatt-hours (TWh) of natural gas energy a year. The top 10 largest natural gas-producing countries accounted for 73% of global natural gas global production.
Future outlookThe future of natural gas energy will be heavily influenced by ambitious government targets and policy support of reducing methane emissions, as well as increasing competitiveness and decreasing costs of renewable energies.
Key policy developments1974 – The International Energy Agency (IEA)
1995 – The International Hydropower Association (IHA)
2001 – World Nuclear Association (WNA)
2005 – Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC)
2009 – The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
2013 – Ocean Energy Europe (OEE)
2015 – International Solar Alliance (ISA)
2015 – Paris Climate Agreement
2021 – Global Methane Pledge

Understanding fracked gas’s history can provide insight into how it has evolved into the energy source it is today.

When and How Did Fracking and Fracked Gas Get Started

Fracked gas energy comes from the combustion of natural gas, a fossil fuel.

Natural gas was formed millions of years ago when plant and animal remains gradually built up on the earth’s surface and the ocean floor, mixing with sand, silt, and calcium carbonate. Under immense heat and pressure, some of these remains were converted into natural gas depending on the combination of organic matter present, how long it was buried, and pressure conditions. 

Surface occurrences (natural seepages) of natural gas have been known since ancient times. Some of the first natural gas seeps were discovered in Iran between 6000 and 2000 BC.

In 500 BC, the Chinese constructed extensive bamboo pipelines to transport gas used for boiling salt water into drinking water. In 211 AD, the first known natural gas well was drilled in China to a depth of 500 feet (150 meters). The process of fracking, or fracturing the surrounding rock to allow more fossil fuels to escape to the surface, wasn’t introduced until much later in the 1800s.

How Has Fracking and Fracked Gas Developed Over Time

Fossil fuel consumption began with the Industrial Revolution, and consumption has increased exponentially over the past 70 years. In the 1900s, new technologies and environmental concerns forced a switch from solely coal to a mix of coal, oil, and natural gas.

What Are Milestones in Fracking and Fracked Gas Development 

The history of fracking and fracked gas is closely tied to the history of natural gas. The modern history of fracking and fracked gas began with the invention of fracking in the 1860s. The industry boomed with the development of slickwater hydraulic fracturing fluid and the process of horizontal drilling.

1626: French explorers discovered Native Americans in the US burning gasses found around Lake Erie. This was the first recorded discovery of natural gas in North America. 

1659: The Groningen gas fields were discovered in the Netherlands, marking the first discovery of natural gas in Europe. At its peak, the Groningen fields produced 88 billion cubic meters of gas per year.

1785: The British used natural gas produced from coal to light homes and streets. 

1816: The US used natural gas produced from coal to light the streets of Maryland, the first city in the US to do so. 

1821: William Hart drilled the first natural gas well in the US. Hart is widely known as the father of natural gas, later establishing the Fredonia Gas Light Company, the first natural gas company in the US.

1860s: Civil War Union Veteran Lieutenant Colonel Edward A. L. Roberts invented the process of fracking. He patented the “oil well torpedo” in 1865, whereby explosives were lowered into and detonated inside wells to break the surrounding rock and allow more fossil fuels to flow to the surface. 

1885: Robert Bunsen invented the Bunsen burner, which combined natural gas and air to produce a flame that could be used for cooking and heating. 

1913: Romania constructed the first transport pipeline for natural gas, becoming one of the first countries in the world to use natural gas for industrial purposes.

1940s: Hydraulic fracturing, which used high-pressure blasts of liquids instead of explosives to shatter surrounding rock and allow more fossil fuels to flow to the surface, became the standard practice in the oil and gas industry. The first fracturing fluids were napalm and petroleum products.

1953: Water and other gelling agents began to replace napalm and petroleum products in the hydraulic fracturing injection process. This would lead to the development of slickwater, which is a hydraulic fracturing fluid composed of mostly water, some sand, and a small amount of chemical additives. 

1960s: Martin Cherrington developed the process of horizontal drilling, in which wells were drilled at an angle rather than straight down. This increased the surface area of the wells and thereby increased the amount of fossil fuels that could be accessed.

1971: The South Pars/North Field gas field was discovered in Iranian and Qatari territorial waters. It remains the largest deposit of natural gas in the world with a capacity of 1,800 trillion cubic feet. 

2013: The Jebel Ali Power and Desalination Plant was opened. The oil and gas-fired plant is the world’s largest single-site natural gas power generation facility, with a 9,547 MW capacity

2021: The Global Methane Pledge was established. It is an international agreement between over 100 member countries to reduce global methane emissions by 30% by 2030.

How Has the Fracking and Fracked Gas Market Developed Recently

The natural gas market has been turbulent following the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. 

2019: The global demand for natural gas grew by 1.8% (70 bcm) compared to 2018. We consumed 39,058 terawatt-hours (TWh) and produced 39,684 TWh of natural gas. 

2020: The global demand for natural gas decreased largely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing global shutdowns. We consumed 38,603 TWh and produced 38,606 TWh of natural gas.

2021: The global demand for natural gas rebounded and surpassed 2019 levels. We consumed 40,670 TWh and produced 40,534 TWh of natural gas.

2022: The global demand for natural gas decreased partly due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which led to skyrocketing prices. We consumed 39,413 TWh and produced 40,438 TWh of natural gas. 

What Is the Present Status of Fracking and Fracked Gas

Natural gas has lagged far behind coal and oil as a source of energy for decades, but consumption has steadily grown since the 1960s. Natural gas can act as a cleaner replacement for coal in our energy mix, specifically as a source of heat.

We consumed 39,413 terawatt-hours (TWh) worth of natural gas in 2022, the least amount out of the fossil fuels.

Illustration of Fossil fuel consumption for Our World in Data
Our World in Data: Fossil fuel consumption, World

In 2022, natural gas accounted for roughly 23% of our primary energy, having grown from just over 15% in the 1960s. 

Illustration of Share of primary energy from gas from Our World in Data
Our World in Data: Share of primary energy from gas

Global natural gas demand declined by 75 billion cubic meters (bcm) as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, unlike the other fossil fuels, natural gas saw a quick recovery as lockdown measures were eased and seasonal electricity demand and competitive prices increased gas consumption. The recovery was, and still is, spurred by fast-growing markets in Asia and the Middle East.

Illustration of Gas Consumption in 2022 from Our World in Data
Our World in Data: Gas Consumption, 2022

The top 5 natural gas-consuming countries (billion cubic meters (bcm) per year) in the world are:

  1. United States – 881 bcm
  2. Russia – 408 bcm
  3. China – 375 bcm
  4. Iran – 223 bcm
  5. Canada – 122 bcm

We produced 40,438 TWh worth of natural gas in 2022. The top 10 largest natural gas-producing countries, led by the US and Russia, accounted for 73% of global natural gas global production

Illustration of Gas production in 2022 from Our World in Data
Our World in Data: Gas production, 2022

The top 5 natural gas-producing countries (bcm per year) in the world are:

  1. United States – 934 bcm
  2. Russia – 701 bcm
  3. Iran – 256 bcm
  4. China – 209 bcm
  5. Qatar – 177 bcm

In terms of greenhouse gas emissions, the world collectively emits roughly 7.92 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) and 35 million tons of methane from natural gas.

Illustration of CO₂ emissions by fuel type from Our World in Data
Our World in Data: CO2 emissions by fuel or industry, World

However, despite frequently being referred to as the cleanest fossil fuel, natural gas can also be a significant source of methane emissions. In 2022, natural gas accounted for roughly 30% of global methane emissions. Methane is 25 times more potent than CO2 at trapping heat in our atmosphere, so a little can go a long way.

How Will the Future of Fracking and Fracked Gas Look Like

Global natural gas markets are being affected by the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine, which began in 2022. Ambitious government targets, policy support, and increasing competitiveness plus decreasing costs of renewable energies will heavily influence the future of natural gas energy.

How Fracking and Fracked Gas Will Likely Develop in the Future

In the short term, natural gas demand is predicted to increase by a total of 140 billion cubic meters (bcm) from 2021-2025. This is less than half of the amount forecasted previously and down from the 170 bcm increase in 2021 alone. 

Record high gas prices resulting from the Russia-Ukraine war have forced the switch from natural gas to cheaper fuels, such as coal and oil, in some cases. Overall, the Asia-Pacific region is predicted to account for more than 50% of the growth in global gas demand through 2025, while the industrial sector could account for more than 60% of global demand. 

In the long term, natural gas is the only fossil expected to grow beyond 2030. After peaking in 2037, natural gas demand is predicted to decline by roughly 0.5%. In general, natural gas used as power is predicted to gradually decline in Europe, Japan, and North America, whereas natural gas for industrial and chemical uses will grow past 2035.

The turmoil between Russia and Ukraine has cast doubt on natural gas’s future role as a transition fuel between fossil fuels (e.g., coal and oil) and renewable energy (e.g., solar, wind, hydropower). 

Natural gas has long been seen as a transition fuel because it has a lower carbon footprint. On a life-cycle basis, natural gas emits 490 grams of CO2 equivalent per kWh, the third-highest amount out of all of the fuel types, but the lowest out of the three fossil fuels

Illustration of the Average life-cycle CO2 equivalent emissions from World Nuclear Association
World Nuclear Association: Average life-cycle CO2 equivalent emissions

However, although natural gas is a cleaner-burning fossil fuel than both coal and oil, it still has environmental drawbacks that are important to understand:

  • Air pollution: When natural gas is burned at well sites, it releases CO2, carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. Burning natural gas instead of releasing it directly into the atmosphere produces lower levels of GHG emissions because CO2 is not as potent as CH4, but it still contributes to the overall level of CO2 in our atmosphere. 
  • Drilling: This can disturb vegetation and soil and may require clearing and leveling the area around a well pad. Drilling also produces air pollution and may contaminate water sources via erosion, fracking fluids, equipment runoff, and sedimentation. 
  • Landscape alterations: Drilling for natural gas causes surface distribution from drill pads, roads, and pipelines that alter the landscape. Fragmentation of wildlife habitats and migration patterns have also been documented. 
  • Water pollution: Land clearing may cause dirt, minerals, and other pollutants to erode into nearby waterways. Drinking water may become contaminated with hazardous chemicals via drilling, fracturing, processing, and refining the gas, and wastewater disposal.

What Policies Are Put in Place to Reduce Fracking and Fracked Gas Usage

The most well-known piece of legally binding, international climate mitigation legislation is The Paris Agreement, the goal of which is to limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius (C), preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels. 

The Paris Agreement specifically notes a transition away from fossil fuels (e.g., coal, oil, natural gas) and toward renewable energies (e.g., solar, wind, hydropower) as being a critical part of meeting these goals.

Check out the highlights of the 2015 COP21 directly from the UN Climate Change channel:

Two Weeks of COP 21 in 10 Minutes

In addition, The International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Net Zero Emissions by 2050 Scenario is one framework for the global energy sector to achieve net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 and universal energy access by 2030.

One of the most prominent pieces of international legislation regarding natural gas is the Global Methane Pledge. In 2021, over 100 countries pledged to reduce global methane emissions by at least 30% from 2020 levels by 2030. Because natural gas consists mostly of methane, reducing natural gas consumption would help to meet this goal.

There are many global and country-specific policies and organizations aimed at reducing fossil fuel usage, including natural gas, and meeting the 2050 net zero scenario, including: 

  • 1974 – The International Energy Agency (IEA): The IEA was founded in response to the major oil disruptions in 1974. It promotes international energy cooperation and is made up of 31 member countries. 
  • 2013 – Ocean Energy Europe (OEE): They are the largest global network of marine energy professionals, with over 120 member organizations. They aim to advance tidal and wave energy technologies. 
  • 2015 – International Solar Alliance (ISA): The ISA is a treaty-based organization established to create cooperation among solar energy-resource-rich countries and the rest of the world. There are currently 94 member countries.

If you are interested in learning more about country-specific energy policies, you can visit the IEA’s policies database and filter by specific energy type.

What Are Some Additional Facts About Fracking and Fracked Gas

Fracking occurs when stimulation fluid (90% water, 9% sand, and chemical additives) is pumped through the well deep into underground reservoirs of oil and natural gas. The force of the fluid fractures the shale rock containing the oil and natural gas. The natural gas then flows upwards through the well to the surface. 

Illustration of how shale gas extraction works from The British Geologic Survey
The British Geologic Survey: How shale gas extraction works

Natural gas and oil are extracted from the same well, and natural gas is dissolved in oil. Pure natural gas contains contaminants that first need to be removed before natural gas can be transported through pipelines. Processing natural gas is often complex and consists of many steps to remove impurities such as oil, water, HGLs, sulfur, helium, nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide, and CO2. Each well site is different, and the steps required vary from well to well.

Processing natural gas typically involves four main steps:

  1. Oil and condensate removal
  2. Water removal
  3. Separation of natural gas liquids
  4. Sulfur and CO2 removal

After processing, the natural gas is transported either directly to consumers or to a gas-fired power plant. At a gas-fired power plant, natural gas is converted into energy via the following process:

  • Natural gas is put into the combustion chamber of a boiler, where it is incinerated. 
  • The hot gasses and heat energy convert water into steam. 
  • The steam is then passed into a turbine where it rotates the blades at a high speed. 
  • The blades then turn a generator which generates the electricity. 
  • Once the steam passes through the turbine it is condensed back into water and returned to the boiler chamber to be reheated.
Related: Are you interested in learning more about fracking and fracked gas? Check it out in this article here: Fracking and Fracked Gas Explained: All You Need to Know

Final Thoughts

The early history of fracked gas dates back millions of years ago when, under the right conditions, buried plant and animal remains were subjected to intense heat and pressure. Under those conditions, some of the remains were turned into natural gas.

Surface occurrences (natural seepages) of natural gas have been known since ancient times, and the first known natural gas well was drilled in 211 AD in China. But the modern history of fracking and fracked gas didn’t begin until the invention of fracking in the 1860s. The industry boomed following the development of hydraulic fracturing in the 1940s and horizontal drilling in the 1960s. 

Following the invention of the Bunsen burner, natural gas began to establish itself as an alternative fuel to coal and oil. The establishment of the International Energy Agency (IEA) and International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), as well as the Global Methane Pledge of 2021, have since facilitated the transition away from natural gas and toward even cleaner forms of energy as the climate crisis continues to worsen. 

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