Hydraulic Fracturing Rig in Cornfield in Colorado

A warning sign marks the route of an underground gas pipeline in a cornfield near Fort Lupton on the Niobara shale formation, one of the most heavily fracked areas in the United States. In the background a drilling rig creates a new well.

Unique identifier: GP0STPZPF

Type: Image

Shoot date: 18/07/2016

Locations: Colorado, North America, United States of America, Weld County (Colorado)

Credit line: © Les Stone / Greenpeace

Ranking: ★★★★ (E)

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Hydraulic Fracturing in Colorado

Natural gas tanks, fracking rigs and pipelines share backyards and farmland with people in Weld County, northern Colorado. The area is one of the most densely fracked regions of the United States. Fracking drill rigs first drill deep into the earth to reach oil and gas trapped in shale formations. Horizontal drilling then is used to pump millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals into the shale to fracture it and release fossil fuels.

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