Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Here’s how you know

Dot gov

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock (LockA locked padlock) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

    • Environmental Topics
    • Air
    • Bed Bugs
    • Cancer
    • Chemicals, Toxics, and Pesticide
    • Emergency Response
    • Environmental Information by Location
    • Health
    • Land, Waste, and Cleanup
    • Lead
    • Mold
    • Radon
    • Research
    • Science Topics
    • Water Topics
    • A-Z Topic Index
    • Laws & Regulations
    • By Business Sector
    • By Topic
    • Compliance
    • Enforcement
    • Laws and Executive Orders
    • Regulations
    • Report a Violation
    • Environmental Violations
    • Fraud, Waste or Abuse
    • About EPA
    • Our Mission and What We Do
    • Headquarters Offices
    • Regional Offices
    • Labs and Research Centers
    • Planning, Budget, and Results
    • Organization Chart
    • EPA History

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. EPA's Study of Hydraulic Fracturing and Its Potential Impact on Drinking Water Resources

Review of Well Operator Files

In 2010, EPA conducted a survey of onshore oil and gas production wells hydraulically fractured by nine oil and gas service companies in 2009 and 2010. Drilling, construction, and completion information for a statistically representative sample of hydraulically fractured oil and gas production wells was collected and summarized in two separate reports. Results of the survey are statistically representative of an estimated 23,200 wells hydraulically fractured by the nine service companies.

The first report describes the relationship of well design and construction characteristics to drinking water resources and the number and relative location of well construction barriers (e.g., casing and cement) that can block pathways for potential subsurface fluid movement

  • Well Design and Construction

The second report provides insights into the potential for hydraulic fracturing fluids or subsurface fluids affected by hydraulic fracturing to move to underground drinking water resources during hydraulic fracturing.

  • Hydraulic Fracturing Operations

This work was done as part of EPA's Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas on Drinking Water Resources.

EPA's Study of Hydraulic Fracturing and Its Potential Impact on Drinking Water Resources

  • Final Assessment
  • EPA Published Research
  • Fact Sheets
  • Questions & Answers about the Final Assessment
Contact Us about EPA's Hydraulic Fracturing Study
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on May 2, 2025
  • Assistance
  • Spanish
  • Arabic
  • Chinese (simplified)
  • Chinese (traditional)
  • French
  • Haitian Creole
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Tagalog
  • Vietnamese
United States Environmental Protection Agency

Discover.

  • Accessibility Statement
  • Budget & Performance
  • Contracting
  • EPA www Web Snapshot
  • Grants
  • No FEAR Act Data
  • Plain Writing
  • Privacy
  • Privacy and Security Notice

Connect.

  • Data
  • Inspector General
  • Jobs
  • Newsroom
  • Regulations.gov
  • Subscribe
  • USA.gov
  • White House

Ask.

  • Contact EPA
  • EPA Disclaimers
  • Hotlines
  • FOIA Requests
  • Frequent Questions
  • Site Feedback

Follow.