The onset of horizontal drilling and multi-stage fracing has been a major driver of unconventional resource development. Fracking is a technique used to release oil and gas from reservoir rock formations by sending water and sand down a well at ultra-high pressure. The pressurized fluid fractures the formation rock creating pathways for trapped oil and gas to get to the well.

The fracking companies have become a large if not the largest part of the oilfield services sector. The shale revolution which started a few years ago has seen the horizontal rig count climb to record levels; more than … Continue Reading