EDINBURGH (Sputnik), Mark Hirst — He added that there was a long history of extracting hydrocarbons "without any environmental damage" in the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland.
"I fully support fracking. It's had a geopolitical impact and it's completely changed the whole petroleum market and in the US, which is leading the way, we could see that country becoming a net energy exporter… the risks are wholly and ludicrously exaggerated," Paterson said.
Fracking is a process in which water mixed with chemicals is pumped underground at high pressure to break apart rock formations to release oil or natural gas to wellheads.
Environmental groups have repeatedly warned that chemical residues left over from fracking could contaminate underground supplies of drinking water.
In Britain, it was banned between 2011 and 2012 after this method of gas extraction was blamed for a series of minor earthquakes.
