Los Alamos, Calif.—Hydraulic fracturing, a controversial petroleum extraction method better known as hydrofracking or fracking, has begun in a Santa Barbara County vineyard. Oil drilling, including highly visible offshore platforms, has been going on in the Central Coast county for decades, but fracking is new here. Some area residents are questioning how and why Venoco, a Denver, Colo.-based energy company, was allowed to proceed. Spokesman Mike Edwards confirmed to Wines & Vines that Venoco had fracked the two Los Alamos wells, but denied the company planned any more in the area.