Hydraulic Fracturing – Computation

Summary

Hydraulic Fracturing Computation Activity

This computation activity helps students use real numerical information to evaluate the scale of hydraulic fracturing in the United States. Students calculate the percentage of daily U.S. water use represented by one well, compare national natural gas production to annual consumption, determine gallons of water used per unit of gas produced, and convert daily gas output into energy units.

The activity is especially strong for teachers looking for energy math activities, natural gas computation worksheets, or environmental science activities for high school that connect quantitative reasoning to energy infrastructure. It gives students practice with unit conversion, percent calculations, scale, and energy measurement while grounding those skills in a real-world context.

Because the problems center on water use, fuel production, and energy output, the activity also helps students think critically about tradeoffs in fossil fuel extraction.

Extend the Lesson:
Use this activity with the Data Set and Debate Lab to help students move from calculations to systems-level argument and evidence.