The Impact of Shale Oil and Gas Development on Rangelands in the Permian Basin Region: An Assessment Using High-Resolution Remote Sensing Data

The environmental impact of shale energy development is a growing concern in the US and worldwide. Although topic well-studied general, development’s on drylands has received much less attention literature. This study focuses effect land cover Permian Basin region—a unique arid/semi-arid landscape experiencing an unprecedented intensity drilling production activities. By taking advantage high-resolution remote sensing data, we develop fixed-effects panel (longitudinal) data regression model to control unobserved spatial heterogeneities regionwide trends. allows us understand cover’s dynamics over past decade development. results show that had moderate negative but statistically significant impacts shrubland grassland/pasture. more strongly associated with hydrocarbon volume number oil gas wells drilled. Between grassland/pasture, pronounced terms magnitude. dominance region likely explains result.