Fracking a well, specifically known as hydro-fracturing or hydro-fracking, in the context of the water well industry, is a process used to enhance water flow into the well by injecting high-pressure water into the surrounding bedrock.
Understanding Fracking (Hydro-Fracturing)
As a well development process, hydro-fracturing has been a common technique in the water well industry since the 1990s. It is often referred to as hydro-fracking. This method is employed after a well has been drilled into a bedrock formation.
The Process Detailed
According to the definition provided, hydro-fracturing involves:
"using direct displacement specialized high pressure pumps to inject water under high pressure into a bedrock formation via the well."
This means specialized equipment is used to force water into the rock layer where the well terminates. The intense pressure of the water opens up existing fractures or creates new ones in the bedrock, allowing water to flow more freely towards the wellbore.
Key Components of Hydro-Fracturing
Based on the description, the core elements of this process are:
- Specialized High Pressure Pumps: Equipment designed for generating and sustaining the necessary force.
- Direct Displacement: A type of pumping mechanism suitable for high-pressure injection.
- Water Injection: The fluid used to create or enhance fractures.
- High Pressure: The critical force applied to the water to break or open the rock.
- Bedrock Formation: The geological target where the fracturing occurs.
- Via the Well: The path through which the water is delivered to the target formation.
Purpose
While the definition focuses on the mechanics, the practical purpose of hydro-fracturing a water well is typically to improve the well's yield or flow rate. By creating pathways in the bedrock, more water can enter the well, making it a more productive water source.
