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1949- early fracking
An early, small scale form of vertical fracturing is used to improve output from oil wells in Oklahoma and Texas. Oil and chemicals are pumped into existing wells, without horizontal drilling. -
1953- Introduction of Water
Water is first used to stimulate oil wells. A typical operation uses 2,800 liters of fluid and 180 kg of sand -
The 1970s
The use of high-volume or "Massive" vertical fracturing becomes more common in US oil fields. Up to a million liters of fluid and half a million kilograms of sand are pumped down existing wells, improving output dramatically -
1980s-1998
Horizontal oil drilling is pioneered along the Texan Gulf Coast. Horizontal fracking is carried out on shale for the first time. Mitchell Energy (Now Devon Energy) develops a "slick water fracturing" technique that radically reduces the costs of horizontal fracturing into shale -
2001-2005
2001- US Vice President Dick Cheney(ex- CEO of oil services company Halliburton) leads an energy task force that touts the benefits of fracking and downplays the risks.
2005- The US Congress votes to exempt fracking from the Clean Water Act and Safe Drinking Water Acts. Cheney's involvement causes the amendment to be dubbed the "Halliburton loophole". -
2006-2008
2006: Fracking begins in British Columbia, Canada
2006-2008 US natural gas reserves expand by 35% as fracking spreads across the country. A single "frack" now uses up to 19 million liters of water -
2007-2012
2007- Cluster drilling of multiple bores from a single pad begins
2010- 60% of all new oil and gas wells worldwide now utilize fracking
