Halliburton comes clean on gas fracturing

HOUSTON, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Halliburton is setting the standard in transparency through the publication of its materials used to coax natural gas out of shale formations, the company said.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said last week that eight of the nine companies that practice so-called hydraulic fracturing voluntarily handed over information to help the agency examine the controversial practice.

Environmental groups claim that chemicals used to release natural gas from certain rock formations are affecting the quality of drinking water and public health.

Of the nine companies asked, reportedly only Halliburton didn't comply with the request for information on hydraulic fracturing. The agency said that as a result, it was using a subpoena to Halliburton to get the requested information on hydraulic fracturing.

Halliburton in response announced that it launched a Web site dedicated to the fluid system used in hydraulic fracturing. The company added that its system relied entirely on materials used in the food industry.

Halliburton Vice President David Adams said in a statement the launch was a response to the growing concerns over the use of hydraulic fracturing.

"We believe this effort represents an important and substantive contribution to the broader long-term imperative of transparency," he said in a statement.