'The Frackers' is a good starting point

The Frackers: The Outrageous Inside Story of the New Billionaire Wildcatters by Gregory Zuckerman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Good technological and business review; just so-so environmentally

This book is especially valuable for people wanting to understand the technological issues behind both oil and gas fracking, and, related to that, a bit about petroleum geology and exploration in the "age of shale."

Zuckerman could have devoted a bit more than he did to environmental issues, and not put them in an appendix. He also could have included something about federal tax policy and related issues. And, he might have had better footnoting for some of his claims, his scientific claims.

That said, for the amount of information from the production side, even with those shortcomings, this is still a decent four-star book.

For anybody who has a general curiosity about fracking, to those wanting to know more about oil and/or gas development, and through environmentalist leaners wanting to know more about the issues, it's good.

It's also good on understanding the greed of several major players in the business, above all, Aubrey McClendon of Chesapeake.

Per another commenter, Russell Gold's "The Boom" promises to offer different insights in a few months.



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