Blume Library: Eagle Ford Shale Resources: Home

Where is it?

Primary counties:

Atascosa
Bee
DeWitt
Dimmit
Frio
Gonzales
Karnes
La Salle
Live Oak
Maverick
McMullen
Webb
Wilson
Zavala

Adjacent counties:

Bexar
Jim Wells
Nueces
San Patricio
Uvalde
Victoria

Potentially affected counties:

Brazos
Burleson
Edwards
Fayette
Houston
Lavaca
Lee
Leon
Milam
Wood

What is Hydraulic Fracturing?

Fracturing (or "fracking") is the advanced drilling process that is used in the Eagle Ford region and in other sites around the country. Here are some informational sites explaining the process:

Other shale formations

The Eagle Ford formation isn't the only shale formation experiencing a hydraulic fracturing boom. Here are links to information about some other major areas:

Lower 48 Shale Plays
PDF map from the Energy Information Administration
Marcellus Shale
primarily in Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio, and West Virginia
Bakken formation (Williston Basin)
Montana and North Dakota
Haynesville Shale
formation in far east Texas and in Louisiana
Shale Experts
An online tool used by oil and gas professionals. Provides information about shale plays such as the Bakken, Eagle Ford, Haynesville, Marcellus, and Permian Basin.

What is it?

The Eagle Ford Shale is a geological formation underlying parts of South Texas that is rich in hydrocarbons (gas and oil). Characteristics of the formation make it particularly amenable to extracting these resources through hydraulic fracturing and other advanced extraction techniques.

Consult the boxes below for more information about the formation, about hydraulic fracturing, and about the effects of the drilling on these areas.

The box on the left identifies the counties immediately and adjacently involved in the Eagle Ford Shale extraction activity.

This map is taken from the Texas Railroad Commission website. In Texas the Railroad Commission is in charge of regulating the oil and gas industry.

Organizations

Research Reports and other Resources

books The quickest way to find articles in our Library databases is to enter "Eagle Ford shale" (in quotes). Use the search widgets on below on the left and right, or these links. Note that the resources restricted to St. Mary's University students, faculty, and staff for off-campus use are marked with this graphic: icon for: Library subscription database. Access restricted to St. Mary's University's computers and computing accounts

Eagle Ford Shale
comprehensive information from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas
more...less...
They also have similar pages on other shale plays in Texas.

Nexis Uni This link opens in a new window

Economic Impact of the Eagle Ford Shale (AACOG) Study from the Alamo Area Council of Government. March, 2013

Oil boom in Eagle Ford Shale brings new wealth to South Texas
newsletter report from the Dallas Federal Reserve; published 2012
US EIA (Energy Information Adm.): Drilling Productivity Report
recent drilling data and comparisons

UTSA Institute for Economic Development reports:

Economic Impact for Counties with Active Drilling October, 2012
Workforce Analysis for the Eagle Ford Shale October, 2012

Media Resources

In 2013, the San Antonio Express-News published a series of reports entitled "Life on the Shale." To find them, search "karnes and maccormack" on the paper's public website or through a subscription to the digital version. You can also access the paper through the Newsbank database if you have a library card from the San Antonio Public Library.

Other media stories about Eagle Ford issues:

National Public Radio story on Cotulla
this feature, aired on April 10, 2014, spotlights benefits and problems for this south Texas town: "Drilling Frenzy Fuels Sudden Growth In Small Texas Town"
StateImpact (NPR project: Texas)
links to National Public Radio reporting on hydraulic fracturing in Texas