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Fracking and Offshore Drilling

Learn about natural gas hydraulic fracturing, also known as fracking, and how offshore oil and gas drilling is regulated under domestic and international law.

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I. Sources and Uses of Natural Gas

Natural gas describes simple gaseous hydrocarbon molecules, including naturally occurring methane. When natural gas is burned, it emits carbon dioxide. However, natural gas is still considered to burn more cleanly than coal or oil. In addition to coal and oil, natural gas is considered a non-renewable fossil fuel because it was formed by a natural process that converted organic materials into gas over millions of years. Natural gas is a versatile energy...