During the first presidential debate between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, fracking took center stage .
But why is this drilling method so important, particularly for voters in the Keystone State ? Here are the facts.
What is fracking?
Hydraulic fracturing, more commonly known as fracking, has been used in the United States for decades — stretching back to the 1940s and 50s. However, the technology boomed in the country during the early 2000s and has since been used in millions of wells nationwide.
The drilling method uses high pressure from a drill and perforating gun system to crack shale rock layers thousands of feet underground, where natural gas and oil can be found. A perforating gun is a device lowered into a deep well loaded with explosive charges to puncture cracks in the shale rock.
Then, millions of gallons of water, chemicals, and sand are pumped into these open fissures in the shale. As the sand keeps these cracks open, the chemical and water mixture helps natural gas and oil to flow back to the surface.
After being extracted from the wells, the gas or oil is then shipped via pipelines to customers.
While not all oil and natural gas wells heavily rely on fracking, the drilling method is responsible for a massive amount of crude oil production in the company. In 2023, the U.S. Energy Information Administration estimated that 3.04 billion barrels of crude oil, around 8.32 million barrels a day, were produced from fracking. This made up around 64% of the country’s total crude oil production that year.
Why does it matter for swing-state Pennsylvania?
Since the fracking boom of the early 2000s, Pennsylvania has become a hot spot for fracking. This is primarily due to the Marcellus Formation — the largest source of shale natural gas in the country. This formation stretches across most of northern and western Pennsylvania, as well as parts of New York, Ohio, West Virginia, and Virginia. It alone makes up for around 21% of natural gas production in the U.S.
In 2022, research from the Marcellus Shale Coalition found that fracking supported around 123,000 jobs in Pennsylvania, offering workers an average salary of $97,000. Oil and gas production contributed to over $41 billion for the state’s economic activity, and brought in $3.2 billion in state and tax revenues.
What are the effects of fracking for households?
The immense growth of the use of fracking has helped lower energy and gas prices across the country for decades, dropping gas bills by $13 every year between 2007 and 2013, according to the Brookings Institution , a Washington, D.C., think tank. At the same time, the drilling method has boosted local and state economies.
Where do the candidates stand?
Trump supports increased drilling. Ahead of the presidential election, Republicans warned that any increased restrictions would cut these jobs and drive gas prices through the roof.
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Harris, who voiced support for a ban on fracking during her 2020 presidential campaign, vowed during Tuesday night's debate that she would not do away with fracking.
What are the environmental risks of fracking?
While the drilling method has offered a major boost to the oil and gas industry, it has been heavily criticized by environmental activists for its risk to humans and the planet, even beyond the carbon emissions created by using the fuels produced by fracking. The National Resource Defense Council has warned that fracking can strain clean water supplies while causing contamination in others through fluid leaks, well construction, or the mismanagement of wastewater. Experts have also blamed fracking operations for contributing to increased air pollution and earthquakes.
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