Major oil & gas firm to list drilling chemicals

A major supplier to the oil and gas industry says it will begin disclosing 100 percent of the chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing fluid, with no exemptions for trade secrets. The move by Baker Hughes of Houston is a major shift; it’s unclear if other firms will follow suit.

Environmental and health groups have criticized the industry for not disclosing all of the chemicals used in drilling.

A statement on the Baker Hughes website says company officials believe it is possible to disclose all of the ingredients without compromising proprietary formulas. A spokeswoman couldn’t immediately say when the new policy will begin.

Jerry Baker of the Interstate Oil & Gas Compact Commission in Oklahoma City says he doesn’t know of any other major supplier that has made a similar pledge.