About Hydraulic Fracturing Oil and Gas
Hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracking, is a proven technological advancement which allows natural gas and oil producers to safely recover natural gas and oil from deep shale formations. This discovery has the potential to not only dramatically reduce our reliance on foreign fuel imports, but also to significantly reduce our national carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and accelerate our transition to a carbon-light environment. Simply put, deep shale gas and oil formation development is critical to America's energy needs and economic renewal.Experts have known for years that natural gas and oil deposits existed in deep shale formations, but until recently the vast quantities of natural gas and oil in these formations were not thought to be recoverable. Today, through the use of hydraulic fracturing, combined with sophisticated horizontal drilling, extraordinary amounts of deep shale natural gas and oil from across the United States are being safely produced.
Hydraulic fracturing has been used by the natural gas and oil industry since the 1940s and has become a key element of natural gas development worldwide. In fact, regardless of whether they are vertical or horizontal wells, this process is used in nearly all natural gas and oil wells drilled in the U.S. today. Properly conducted modern hydraulic fracturing is a safe, sophisticated, highly engineered and controlled procedure.
http://www.netl.doe.gov/technologies/oil-gas/publications/EPreports/Shale_Gas_Primer_2009.pdf.
KEY POINTS
ReplyDelete• Fracking is essential for the production of natural gas
and oil from shale formations.
• Fracking fluids are comprised of approximately 98%
water and sand and are handled in self-contained
systems.
• Freshwater aquifers are protected by multiple layers of
protective steel casing surrounded by cement; this is
administered and enforced under state regulations.
• Deep shale natural gas and oil formations exist many
thousands of feet underground.
What is fracking?
ReplyDeleteFracking is the process of creating fissures, or fractures, in
underground formations to allow natural gas and oil to
flow. In Chesapeake Energy Corporation’s (Chesapeake’s)
deep shale natural gas and oil plays, water, sand and other
additives are pumped under high pressure into the
formation to create fractures. The fluid is approximately
98% water and sand, along with a small amount of specialpurpose
additives. The newly created fractures are
“propped” open by the sand, which allows the natural gas
and oil to flow into the wellbore and be collected at the
surface. Normally a fracking operation is only performed
once in the life of a well. Variables such as rock formations
and thickness of the targeted shale formation are studied by
scientists before fracking is conducted. The result is a highly
sophisticated process that optimizes the network of
fractures and keeps them safely contained within the
boundaries of the deep shale natural gas or oil formation.
Fracking Fluid Makeup
In addition to water and sand, other additives are used to
allow fracking to be performed in a safe and effective
manner. Additives used in fracking fluids include a number
of compounds found in common consumer products.
How the Process Works
ReplyDeleteThe vast increases in our domestic natural gas supplies over the last few years have been made possible by two technologies that have been improved in recent years to the point where we are now able to tap into deep supplies of natural gas that were once thought to be inaccessible.
The first of these technologies is horizontal drilling. That’s pretty much exactly what it sounds like – we drill one vertical hole that can then branch out into several horizontal cuts once the correct depth has been achieved. This is an important advancement because it significantly reduces the overall environmental impact of drilling activities by giving access to more of the natural gas formation underground from fewer wells above ground. Thanks to horizontal drilling, today’s average well site is just 30 percent of the size of its 1970s counterpart and can access 60 times more below-ground area. Continued technological advancements mean fewer wells recovering even greater reserves and creating less surface disturbance and waste.
The other improved technique that is allowing us to tap into new supplies of natural gas is hydraulic fracturing. As illustrated below, hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” takes place more than a mile below the earth’s surface. Today, the process is minimally invasive and involves drilling a small hole (typically about 15” in diameter), which is lined with multiple layers of steel encased in cement to protect any fresh water supplies and allow for the safe extraction of natural gas. Then pressurized water, sand and additives (less than one percent of the overall mixture) are used to create small, often millimeter-thick fissures in carefully targeted sections of the shale rock. This releases the natural gas, allowing it to safely rise to the surface within the self-contained system.
A “Made-In-America” Opportunity
ReplyDeleteFor U.S. Clean Energy Leadership
Natural gas is a clean, abundant and sustainable domestic energy source that supports more than 2.8 million jobs across our country. It is a true game-changer that we can put to use now for our nation’s clean energy future and economy.
More information about natural gas extraction is available at http://