Barnett Shale

The Barnett Shale is a significant geological formation located in North Texas, known for its rich natural gas deposits. This thick layer of rock is primarily made up of shale, a type of sedimentary rock, which traps natural gas and oil. The discovery and development of the Barnett Shale in the early 2000s spurred a boom in natural gas production, utilizing advanced drilling techniques like hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract these resources. This has had economic benefits for the region but also raised environmental concerns related to water use and contamination.