The Barnett Shale
The Barnett Shale is a geological formation of economic significance. It consists of sedimentary rocks of Mississippian in the state of Texas. The formation is estimated to stretch from the city of Dallas to west of the city of Fort Worth and south, covering 5000 square miles and at least 17 counties.
Some experts have suggested the Barnett Shale may be one of the largest onshore natural gas fields in the United Sates. The field is proven to have 2.5 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, and is widely estimated to contain as much as 30 trillion cubic feet of natural resources. Oil also has been found in lesser quantities, but sufficient enough to be commercially viable.
The Barnett Shale is known as a “tight” gas reservoir, indicating that the gas is not easily extracted. The shale is very hard, and it was virtually impossible to produce gas in commercial quantities from this formation until recent improvements were made in hydraulic fracturing technology and horizontal drilling, and there was an upturn in the natural gas price.