Hydraulic Fracturing for oil and natural gas is possibly one of the most misunderstood parts of drilling around. The term itself is almost as bad for some as racial slanders. Countries have banned the process and even some states such as Colorado have placed embargos on the process until more research is available. Environmental groups storm capitals at the sound of the word demanding more regulations. What many don’t realize is that the oil business has been using the same process for 70 years without any wide spread accidents. Around the world today horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are methods being used to get and easily distribute trapped oil and natural gas. Actor Matt Damon said the following about fracking: “Rushing into
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Once the hole is past the deepest water aquifer, the drill pipe is removed and replaced casing. Next, cement is pumped down the casing. When it reaches the bottom it is forced back up between the borehole wall and pipe creating another barrier between the bore and any freshwater sources. In some cases additional sections may be installed and like surface casing, are cemented in place so fluids and gas dont get between the casing and the groundwater sources. What makes drilling in a shale formation unique is the necessity to drill horizontally. Vertical drilling continues to a depth called the kick off point (King). This is where the well bore begins turning (becoming a horizontal well). One of the advantages of horizontal drilling is that its possible to drill several wells from only one drilling pad, minimizing the impact of the surface environment (Curtis 2011). Once the depth and horizontal distance is reached, the drill pipe is removed, and more casing is run through the full length of the wellbore. Once the drilling is completed and the final casing has been run, the drilling rig is removed and preparations are made for well …show more content…
The Chemicals are used as a lubrication, to keep bacteria forming, and help carry the sand. They typically form only 0.1 to 0.5 percent and help enhance the fracture (Fracfocus 2015). This fluid is sent through trucks that pump it into the wellbore and through the perforations in the formation. This process creates fractures in the rock. The sand in the fluid remains in the fractures (0.2cm wide), and keeps them open when the pressure is reduced (Walker 2015). This allows the trapped oil and natural gas to flow easier. This initial stimulation section is then isolated using a specially designed plug. Then the process is repeated in the same manner until the whole horizontal line (which can extend several miles) has been fractured. Once the stimulation has been completed the isolation plugs are drilled out and production begins. First water and fracture chemicals, and then oil or natural gas, flows into the horizontal casing and up the wellbore. In the course of initial production of the well, roughly fifteen to fifty percent of the fluids are recovered and then recycled or disposed of according to government
Once the hole is past the deepest water aquifer, the drill pipe is removed and replaced casing. Next, cement is pumped down the casing. When it reaches the bottom it is forced back up between the borehole wall and pipe creating another barrier between the bore and any freshwater sources. In some cases additional sections may be installed and like surface casing, are cemented in place so fluids and gas dont get between the casing and the groundwater sources. What makes drilling in a shale formation unique is the necessity to drill horizontally. Vertical drilling continues to a depth called the kick off point (King). This is where the well bore begins turning (becoming a horizontal well). One of the advantages of horizontal drilling is that its possible to drill several wells from only one drilling pad, minimizing the impact of the surface environment (Curtis 2011). Once the depth and horizontal distance is reached, the drill pipe is removed, and more casing is run through the full length of the wellbore. Once the drilling is completed and the final casing has been run, the drilling rig is removed and preparations are made for well …show more content…
The Chemicals are used as a lubrication, to keep bacteria forming, and help carry the sand. They typically form only 0.1 to 0.5 percent and help enhance the fracture (Fracfocus 2015). This fluid is sent through trucks that pump it into the wellbore and through the perforations in the formation. This process creates fractures in the rock. The sand in the fluid remains in the fractures (0.2cm wide), and keeps them open when the pressure is reduced (Walker 2015). This allows the trapped oil and natural gas to flow easier. This initial stimulation section is then isolated using a specially designed plug. Then the process is repeated in the same manner until the whole horizontal line (which can extend several miles) has been fractured. Once the stimulation has been completed the isolation plugs are drilled out and production begins. First water and fracture chemicals, and then oil or natural gas, flows into the horizontal casing and up the wellbore. In the course of initial production of the well, roughly fifteen to fifty percent of the fluids are recovered and then recycled or disposed of according to government