User:Joshhamat

The extreme monetary value of oil and its products has led to it being known as "black gold".

In recent years, hydraulic fracturing has moved to the forefront of the industry as this new technology plays an extremely crucial and controversial role in new methods of oil extraction.

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With the advent of hydraulic fracturing and other horizontal drilling techniques, shale play has seen an enormous uptick in production. Areas such as the Permian Basin and Eagle-Ford shales are now huge hotbeds of production for the largest oil corporations in the country.

Though hydraulic fracturing has significantly increased natural gas extraction, there is some belief and evidence to support that consumable water has seen increased in methane contamination due to this gas extraction.

As a result of climate change concerns, many alternative energy enthusiasts have began using other methods of energy such as solar and wind, among others. This recent view has some petroleum enthusiasts skeptic about the true future of the industry.