What is in the fluid injected into the ground during hydraulic fracturing?
In general, hydraulic fracturing fluid is composed of water, proppant (typically sand), and chemicals. A public website known as FracFocus has been established by industry that lists specific materials used in many, but not all, hydraulically fractured wells. Individual companies select a few chemicals to be used from hundreds that are available and the fluids are tailored to the rocks they are being injected into as well as the conditions at the well site. Reporting to the FracFocus Web site is mandatory in some states and voluntary in the rest. The specific formulation of some chemicals may be trade secrets that may be exempt from reporting on the site.
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Water Used for Hydraulic Fracturing Varies Widely Across United States
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Historical Hydraulic Fracturing Trends and Data Unveiled in New USGS Publications
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Using a geology-based assessment method, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated a mean undiscovered natural gas resource of 3.9 trillion cubic feet and a mean undiscovered natural gas liquids resource of 135 million barrels in continuous accumulations within five East Coast Mesozoic basins, according to a new USGS report.
Hydraulic Fracturing Sand
Fine-grained silica sand is mixed with chemicals and water before being pumped into rock formations to prevent the newly created artificial fractures from closing after hydraulic fracturing is completed.
Hydraulic Fracturing Drill Site
A typical drill pad in the Marcellus Shale gas play of southwestern Pennsylvania.
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.
Hydraulic Fracturing Well Heads
Well heads hooked up in preparation for a hydraulic fracturing operation at a drill pad in the Fayetteville Shale gas play of Arkansas.
Brown Fracking Sand
Frac sands courtesy of Unimin Energy Solutions.
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.