Tall city boomtown: A study of the effects of a hydraulic fracturing boom on Midland, TX

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dc.contributor.committeeChairCarter, Perry L.
dc.contributor.committeeMemberElbow, Gary
dc.creatorWilliams, Gregory D.
dc.date.accessioned2018-06-01T20:49:28Z
dc.date.available2018-06-01T20:49:28Z
dc.date.created2018-05
dc.date.issued2018-05
dc.date.submittedMay 2018
dc.date.updated2018-06-01T20:49:28Z
dc.description.abstractThis thesis examines the effects that the “Great American Energy Boom” had on crime, health, and sense of place in Midland, TX from 2009-2014. This oil boom greatly impacted the economy of the city. Midland witnessed record low unemployment rates and unprecedented economic growth due to increased oil and gas production. In the international literature on towns who have secured large oil and gas projects, ‘Boomtown’ has a particular meaning. In particular, the ‘Boomtown Syndrome’ describes the attitudes and issues communities develop and face from the inception of the project through to the end of construction when operations start and the large construction workforce is drawn down. Social disruption theory asserts that communities experiencing resource booms generally “enter a period of generalized crisis and loss of traditional routines and attitudes”. This research focuses on a boomtown, examines the social disruptions that resulted from the boom and measures the effect that these disruptions had on local residents. To examine this impact, I conducted interviews with city officials, health professionals, law enforcement professionals, and community residents. Natural resource booms, and all booms, tremendously transform communities economically and socially. The effects of these booms permeate all facets of the community. These effects transform the experiences of the residents of the community as well as the perception of the city from visitors and outsiders. In Midland, the oil boom had many unintended social and economic consequences that will affect the city for years to come.
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdf
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2346/73823
dc.language.isoeng
dc.rights.availabilityUnrestricted.
dc.subjectUrban geography
dc.subjectPetroleum
dc.subjectHealth
dc.subjectEconomic geography
dc.subjectGeography of health
dc.subjectEnergy humanities
dc.subjectMidland
dc.subjectBoomtown
dc.subjectSense of place
dc.subjectSocial disruption theory
dc.subjectPermian Basin
dc.subjectHydraulic fracturing
dc.subjectEnvironment
dc.subjectCrime
dc.titleTall city boomtown: A study of the effects of a hydraulic fracturing boom on Midland, TX
dc.typeThesis
dc.type.materialtext
thesis.degree.departmentGeosciences
thesis.degree.disciplineGeography
thesis.degree.grantorTexas Tech University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science

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