How much water does the typical hydraulically fractured well require?
There isn’t really a “typical” fractured well because the amount of water used depends on the rock formation, the operator, whether the well is vertical or horizontal, and the number of portions (or stages) of the well that are fractured. In addition, some water is recycled from fluids produced by the well, so the net consumption might be smaller at sites that recycle.
Water use per well can be anywhere from about 1.5 million gallons to about 16 million gallons.
Learn more: Hydraulic Fracturing
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Hydraulic Fracturing and Directional Drilling
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Withdrawing Water for Hydraulic Fracturing
Equipment set up to pump water from a lake to an impoundment for hydraulic fracturing in the Fayetteville Shale of Arkansas.
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Percentage of Hydraulic Fracturing Use
This map shows the average water use in hydraulic fracturing per oil and gas well in watersheds across the United States.
Generalized image showing the key points in hydraulic fracturing
Generalized image showing the key points in hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas development where water is part of the process.