Waterless fracking tested at Utica Shale well
Friday, November 21, 2014
The millions of gallons of water needed for hydraulic fracking has been a controversial topic in the shale industry, but one Canadian company has developed a way to frack without water, according to Columbus Business Journal.
GasFrac Energy Services Inc. has developed a gelled propane substance that can be injected into a well instead of water.
The company is using the substance at a test well in the Utica Shale. Depending on its results, other companies may look into using the substance on other Utica wells.
Using the gelled propane may lessen the chance of earthquakes, which have been recorded in Ohio and have possibly been linked to fracking.
Via: Columbus Business Journal > Waterless fracking getting trial run at Utica well in Ohio
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Shale FAQ
What is fracking?
Fracking is a slang term for hydraulic fracturing. Fracturing is a process by which highly pressurized fluid is pumped thousands of feet into the ground to fracture rock formations. The goal is to release the natural gas that’s locked inside the rock.
Is it safe?
What most concerns people about fracturing is ground water contamination. The worry is that fractures underground, caused by the process, will extending upwards and into aquifers, releasing gas and chemicals into the ground water supply. There’s been no confirmed reports of such a thing happening. Though surface spills and drill site blowouts can lead to localized environmental concerns.
Will my water catch on fire?
Flammable water is caused by the release of methane gas into a drinking water supply. Methane gas occurs naturally and can be released by any kind of drilling, including water wells. In Pennsylvania officials fined Chesapeake Energy $1 million for contaminating ground water with methane. It was determined that the company had not properly cemented it’s boreholes and gas migrated up the well, between rock and into aquifers.