‘Natural’ Gas: A nonrenewable fossil fuel that forms when buried and decaying organic materials are exposed to intense heat and pressure over time. 

Fracking: Slang for hydraulic fracturing. This is the process of creating fractures in rock formations by injecting specialized fluid into the cracks. This causes subterranean wells to open further and release large quantities of water, petroleum, or gas.

Conventional/Unconventional Drilling: Conventional oil and gas extraction takes place in conventional geologic formations and consists of vertical wells. Most desirable conventional formations have already been tapped. Oil and Gas operators have thus turned to unconventional drilling. Drilling in unconventional formations, such as shales, requires new drilling methods like hydraulic fracturing. 

Fracking Fluid: Liquid used for fracking. Typically consists of water, sand, and various chemicals. Some common chemicals additives are sodium chloride, ethylene glycol, sodium/potassium carbonate, guar gum, borate salts, and isopropanol. 

Flowback Fluid: Liquid that returns to the surface after fracking. It contains, fracking fluid, brine, clay, etc. Also referred to as produced or contaminated water. This water can never return to the hydro-logical cycle. 

Blowout: An uncontrolled release of oil, gas, or other hydrocarbons from a well.

VOCs: Volatile Organic Compounds are gaseous at normal or indoor/outdoor temperatures. They are released by the burning of fuels such as wood, coal, and gas. Leaky/faulty O&G infrastructure also emits these toxic compounds.

BETX Compounds: BTEX is the acronym for the four volatile organic compounds often associated with oil and natural gas production: benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene.