Energy Companies Drill for Oil in the Niobrara Formation in Northeastern Colorado

An old technology oil pump stands inoperative as new oil drilling sites are created at the Niobrara oil shale formation in Weld County, North eastern Colorado on May 30, 2012. Gas and oil companies are using large amounts of water to obtain shale oil and gas in a process called hydraulic fracturing or fracking. UPI/Gary C. Caskey