<P> Hydraulic fracturing has been seen as one of the key methods of extracting unconventional oil and unconventional gas resources . According to the International Energy Agency, the remaining technically recoverable resources of shale gas are estimated to amount to 208 trillion cubic metres (7,300 trillion cubic feet), tight gas to 76 trillion cubic metres (2,700 trillion cubic feet), and coalbed methane to 47 trillion cubic metres (1,700 trillion cubic feet). As a rule, formations of these resources have lower permeability than conventional gas formations . Therefore, depending on the geological characteristics of the formation, specific technologies such as hydraulic fracturing are required . Although there are also other methods to extract these resources, such as conventional drilling or horizontal drilling, hydraulic fracturing is one of the key methods making their extraction economically viable . The multi-stage fracturing technique has facilitated the development of shale gas and light tight oil production in the United States and is believed to do so in the other countries with unconventional hydrocarbon resources . </P> <P> Some studies call into question the claim that hydraulic fracturing of shale gas wells has a significant macro-economic impact . A study released in the beginning of 2014 by the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations states that, on the long - term as well as on the short - run, the "shale gas revolution" due to hydraulic fracturing in the United States has had very little impact on economic growth and competitiveness . The same report concludes that in Europe, using hydraulic fracturing would have very little advantage in terms of competitiveness and energy security . Indeed, for the period 2030--2035, shale gas is estimated to cover 3 to 10% of EU projected energy demand, which is not enough to have a significant impact on energetic independence and competitiveness . </P> <P> Research suggests that hydraulic fracturing wells have an adverse impact on agricultural productivity in the vicinity of the wells . One paper found "that productivity of an irrigated crop decreases by 5% when a well is drilled during the agriculturally active months within 11--20 km radius of a producing township . This effect becomes smaller and weaker as the distance between township and wells increases ." The findings imply that the introduction of fracking wells to Alberta cost the province $3.3 million in 2014 due to the decline in the crop productivity, </P> <P> An anti-fracking movement has emerged both internationally with involvement of international environmental organizations and nations such as France and locally in affected areas such as Balcombe in Sussex where the Balcombe drilling protest was in progress during mid-2013 . The considerable opposition against hydraulic fracturing activities in local townships in the United States has led companies to adopt a variety of public relations measures to reassure the public, including the employment of former military personnel with training in psychological warfare operations . According to Matt Pitzarella, the communications director at Range Resources, employees trained in the Middle East have been valuable to Range Resources in Pennsylvania, when dealing with emotionally charged township meetings and advising townships on zoning and local ordinances dealing with hydraulic fracturing . </P>

What is the gas from fracking used for