The Biggest Trade Secret In Earth

What’s added to the water and sand is a tiny percentage of the slurry that is pumped between layers of shale in the process of fracking, but it’s crucial, it varies from company to company, it’s tweaked depending on conditions, it costs millions to develop, it’s alleged to be a potential contaminant  — and it’s a trade secret. This journal article goes deep into the process not only of fracking (some of the secret stuff is “proppant,” meaning it keeps the shale layers propped apart just enough so the oil and gas can be extracted), but how several states are balancing the benefits of proprietary technology with public health, environment, and the right to know.