In recent years a number of factors have combined to raise the prominence of natural gas as a resource. The new application of technologies such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing have led to an increase of domestic natural gas production and a reassessment of the size of the U.S. technically, recoverable resource base. The promise of expanded domestic gas resources comes with the responsibility to address environmental concerns that relate to the exploration and production of the gas. Recently the public has expressed concerns about the waste water management of flow back fluids from natural gas wells, as well as the potential for ground water contamination.