Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a method used to extract oil and natural gas from deep underground rock formations. It works by creating fractures in the rock to release trapped resources.
The Fracking Process: A Step-by-Step Guide
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Drilling: A wellbore, or deep hole, is drilled down to the targeted shale or other gas-rich rock formation.
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Fracturing: A high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals (frac fluid) is pumped into the wellbore. This fluid creates small, millimeter-scale cracks in the rock formation.
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Sand Proppants: The sand particles in the frac fluid act as proppants, keeping the newly created fractures open, allowing gas or oil to flow more easily.
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Resource Extraction: Once the fractures are created and propped open, the trapped oil or natural gas can flow up the wellbore and be collected.
Key Components of the Process:
- Frac Fluid: A mixture of water, sand, and chemicals, pumped at high pressure to create and widen fractures. The exact composition varies.
- High Pressure: The pressure applied is crucial for creating the fractures in the rock.
- Sand Proppants: These prevent the fractures from closing after the pressure is released, maintaining pathways for resource flow.
Why Fracking?
Fracking allows access to oil and natural gas reserves previously unreachable using traditional methods. This increases the supply of these energy resources.
Concerns & Considerations
While fracking offers significant energy benefits, there are environmental concerns surrounding water usage, chemical contamination, and potential seismic activity. These concerns are subjects of ongoing research and debate.
