Keystone Energy Forum

Exaggerated Risks

Just as there are in any major industry, there are risks involved in oil and gas development and hydraulic fracturing.  That’s why the oil and gas industry has applied a century’s worth of experience and knowledge to develop stringent standards, professional operational procedures and common sense regulations.  Sometimes accidents will occur, and companies should be and are held accountable. 

The oil and gas industry has taken the proactive responsibility for developing standards and policies to protect the public welfare and effectively mitigate the risks involved:

• The companies that drill for natural gas have more than 100 years of experience, and have been using hydraulic fracturing since 1940 to extract oil and natural gas from approximately one million wells.
• The industry has developed extensive standards and operating procedures  used worldwide to guide all aspects of oil and natural gas production.  It is continually reviewing and updating industry standards to protect citizens and the environment.  American Petroleum Institute standards and practices are actually being used by many universities in training courses for future oil and gas industry workers.
• Oil and natural gas production is regulated under federal, state and local laws, including Colorado oil and gas laws and Federal environmental protection laws. 
• To date, there have been no confirmed cases of groundwater contamination from hydraulic fracturing.

Please read more about the facts behind drilling for natural gas, including hydraulic fracturing and the history of industry experience:

• Industry Experience
• Industry Standards
• Industry Regulations 
• Hydraulic Fracturing: Unlocking America’s Natural Gas Resources 
• Hydraulic Fracturing, SDWA, Fluids, and DeGette/Casey