Gathering the Facts: Pro-Fracking
Name: ____________________________
Per:____
Station 1: Jobs and Money
Creating Jobs:
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Rapid growth in oil production from shale is creating ________________________________________
and boosting ___________________________________.
 According to the article, which state has the lowest unemployment rate?
______________________________
 What has happened in Texas due to oil production there? _____________________________________
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 According to a report from the IHS CERA, how many jobs did shale production support in 2012?
_____________________________. But not all of these jobs directly related to the oil and natural gas
industry; workers move to the areas where oil is being harvested and help to increase jobs in which other
venues by spending their money at these places. Which other companies benefit from this?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
 In 2012, the drilling industry support ______________________direct jobs (those actually working in
oil production), _____________________ jobs in supplying industries (those companies which supply
the materials they need to produce oil), and more than ________________________ jobs outside the
industry (hotels, restaurants, shops, etc.)
 What happened to the minimum wage at fast food restaurants and companies such as Wal-Mart in the
locations surrounding oil and gas development? ____________________________________________
Increasing Personal Income:
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What type of farm does Jim Van Blarcom run? ______________________________
What did he and about 150 other land owners do about 12 years ago? ____________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
What does it mean that his land (500 acres) has been leased? ___________________________________
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What percentage of the profit from the oil harvested from his land is he paid? ___________________
With the money he has received he says it has made it much easier to invest in his farm. How many new
cattle was he able to purchase? _________________. What else has his family been able to purchase
with the money? ______________________________________________________________________
The Van Blarcom family’s experience with the gas company has been mostly positive. How so?
____________________________________________________________________________________
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According to Van Blarcom, “life is…______________________________________________”
Station 2: Fuel Prices
Cutting the Cost of Energy:
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Who benefits from U.S shale development? ________________________________________________
According to the HIS, U.S. shale development has increased disposable income by an average of
_______________ per household in 2012. How is this so? ____________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
Recent reports have found that the increased supply of crude (oil) from American shale is having what
type of impact on global prices?
_____________________________________________________________________
How does this help consumers? __________________________________________________________
The AAA has credited the shale boom with keeping gasoline prices about ________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
If the average car holds 12 gallons of fuel; how much would this save you every time you fill up your
car? ____________________________. If you fill up your car twice a month, how much would you
save in 1 month? _____________________________; how about 1 year? ________________________
Online Article:
Gasoline prices have risen to a national average of ______________ a gallon
_____________________________ had the nation’s cheapest gasoline, at only ____________ per gallon. Other
states such as Missouri, Alabama, ______________________, South Carolina, _________________________,
Louisiana, Arkansas and ____________________ all had gas prices under ____________ a gallon.
According to the article, gas prices are highest in which state? ____________________________
States like _______________, Nevada, Alaska, _________________________, ___________________,
Pennsylvania, New York and Connecticut, as well as the District of Columbia, all had gas prices over
$____________ per gallon.
Look at the graph, list 2 states with gas prices higher than $2.17 per gallon, and 2 states with gas prices between
$1.84-1.88. _______________________________________________________________________________
What does the article say is the reason for lower gas prices in some portions of the country? (Hint: Where is it
generally the least expensive?) _______________________________________________________________
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Station 3: Energy Security
1. In your own words, what is energy security?
____________________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
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2. Where does the United States import some of its oil from?
___________________________________________________________________________________
3. Why is energy security important? _______________________________________________________
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4. How could fracking in the United States increase energy security? (Explain- provide specific examples)
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Station 4: Uses
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What is Natural Gas? _________________________________________________________________
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Natural Gas is a fossil fuel; what does this mean? (Hint: How does it form?) _____________________
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What are the residential uses of natural gas? (How can it be used in your everyday life?)
___________________________________________________________________________________
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What are the commercial uses of natural gas?
___________________________________________________________________________________
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What are the industrial uses of natural gas? (Hint: What products can be manufactured?)
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Knowing now all of the placed that natural gas and oil are used, what would be a benefit of continuing
the use of hydraulic fracturing in the United States? (How could the US benefit from it?
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