Fracking making waves again
The controversial drilling technology, that boosted US oil and gas production and transformed global energy markets in the process, is making waves again
Chief executives from two of the world’s largest oil companies slammed European laws restricting hydraulic fracking as the global gas industry gathered in Paris for the World Gas Conference. Rex Tillerson, chief executive of US supermajor ExxonMobil, and Eldar Saetre, chief executive of Norwegian state-backed energy company Statoil, both called on EU policy makers to allow the drilling process, where a mixture of water, sand and chemicals is pumped down wells at high pressure to break underground rock so that oil and gas can flow to the surface. Fracking has existed since the late 1940s, but technological advancements in recent years, such as horizontal and directional drilling have sparked
Also in this section
11 April 2025
The Gulf state’s offer to supply electricity-starved Syria is an opportunity to support a key ally, but Doha’s ambitions to build broader pipeline networks to Turkey and Europe face challenges
11 April 2025
As the global economy grows, demand for materials is expected to increase. The way materials are made could incorporate new technologies in the future to ensure economic growth is more sustainable
10 April 2025
Technology, policy and narrative are the three biggest factors that could change the course of our 2050 outlook
10 April 2025
Latin America’s largest economy expects big uptick in crude this year with the imminent arrival of several FPSOs
