EnergyWire: 'Hysteria' over hydraulic fracturing is 'scientifically misplaced' -- Anadarko CEO

Days after the launch of an industry attempt to seize the initiative in the pubic debate on hydraulic fracturing, a leader of the effort said it is driven in part by "a feeling of righteousness that we were being unfairly attacked" by critics wielding "bad science" and "hysteria."

James Hackett, CEO of Anadarko Petroleum, said in an interview that an eight-page set of industry recommendations released this week flowed out of government and industry study groups formed over the past two years. But he said the 11 companies involved also wished to set the record straight against "the hysteria that people were trying to create around hydraulic fracturing, which was scientifically misplaced."

"We felt that we needed to have the industry take on the responsibility of comforting society with regards to the impacts of our development," Hackett said.

Hydraulic fracturing, known for short as fracking, is the method used to drill for shale gas. Over the past four years, fracking has transformed the United States from requiring natural gas imports to self-sufficiency and a shake-up of the global gas energy balance. But it has also ignited a furious debate about air and water safety, with critics accusing companies of endangering groundwater and potentially causing earthquakes.

The industry has fought back with local public relations efforts and studies on the economic benefits of the shale gas boom. Yet it has also seemed knocked back on its heels by a flurry of investigative documentaries and reports, notably the 2010 film "Gasland" by Josh Fox, which invigorated critics and led to calls for public investigations and regulation.  MORE