An area environmental group has arranged for two free showings of the award-winning documentary Gasland at the Great Bend Public Library.

According to Jennifer King at the library, a group called GREAT will show the movie at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 3 and at 2 p.m. Sunday at the library, 1409 Williams St.

The 2010 documentary deals with the subject of "hydraulic fracturing" or "fracking" for natural gas production. Gasland filmmaker Josh Fox treks from his home state of Pennsylvania through Alabama, Colorado and Wyoming to talk with ordinary people about their experiences with fracking. Fox was moved to begin his journey after being asked to lease his land for gas drilling and learning of reports from residents of a nearby town that drilling made their water flammable.

Sponsors said Gasland maintains a fast-paced thoughtful, frequently amusing, perspective throughout. Gasland was nominated for the "Best Documentary" Oscar in 2011, was awarded an Emmy for "Best Non Fiction Directing," and won the Sundance Film Festival "Special Jury Prize."

Fracking is used when geological formations containing natural gas are so dense that gas can’t flow into the wellbore at economic rates. High pressure fluids and sand are injected into frack wells to crack these dense formations, making seams that natural gas can flow into so that it can be tapped for use. Gasland explores some of the concerns related to fracking. Not all natural gas is produced this way, nor do all forms of fracking raise concerns. A brief update on fracking in Kansas for interested viewers follows each showing.