Gas is extracted by fracking through a process that uses high-pressure fluid to create fractures in shale rock.
The Fracking Process Explained
The method of hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," involves injecting a mixture of water, chemicals, and sand deep into the earth. This process is crucial for extracting natural gas trapped in shale formations. Here's a step-by-step look:
- Drilling: A borehole is drilled deep into the ground to reach the shale rock formation.
- Fluid Injection: A high-pressure mixture of water, chemicals, and sand is pumped down the borehole.
- Fracture Creation: The high pressure from the fluid causes fractures or cracks to form in the shale rock.
- Proppant Function: The sand grains act as "proppants," lodging into the newly formed cracks to keep them open.
- Gas Release: The cracks allow the trapped natural gas to flow out of the rock.
- Extraction: The released gas travels up the borehole to the surface, where it is collected.
The key to this process is the high-pressure injection and the use of sand to hold the fractures open, thus allowing the trapped gas to flow out and be collected.
Here's a simple table illustrating the process:
| Step | Action | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Drill borehole into shale formation | Reach the gas-containing rock |
| 2 | Inject high-pressure water, chemicals, and sand mixture | Fracture shale rock |
| 3 | Sand lodges into cracks | Keep fractures open |
| 4 | Trapped gas is released and flows into the borehole | Collect the natural gas |
| 5 | Gas is extracted through the borehole to the surface | Distribute natural gas |
This method significantly increases the amount of natural gas that can be recovered from shale rock formations that would otherwise be uneconomical.
