Fracking
Fracking,orhydraulic fracturing,is forcing fractures in arock layer,by fluid that is put under pressure. Although it can happen naturally, it is now used as a method to forceoilandnatural gasfromshale.[1][2]
Some hydraulic fractures form naturally: certaindykesare examples. This lets gas andpetroleumfrom sourcerocksget to reservoir rocks. The first use of hydraulic fracturing to extract substances from rock was in 1947.
The modern fracturing technique, called 'horizontal slickwater fracturing', was first used in 1998.[1][2]It made the extraction ofshale gaseconomically practical, and cheaper for other kinds of rock. The energy from the injection of a highly pressurized fluid creates new channels in the rock. This increases the extraction rates and recovery ofhydrocarbons,which are used for fuel. In 2010 it was estimated that 60% of all new oil and gas wells worldwide were being hydraulically fractured.[3]As of the year 2012, 2.5 million hydraulic fracturing actions have been done on oil and gas wells worldwide, more than one million of them in theUnited States.[4]
Advantages and disadvantages
[change|change source]The supporters of hydraulic fracturing point to the economic benefits from the vast amounts of previously out-of-reachhydrocarbons.[5]
Opponents of fracking point to potentially harmfulenvironmentaleffects. These include contamination ofground water,risks toair quality,the migration of gases and hydraulic fracturing chemicals to the surface, surface contamination from spills and flowback, and thehealtheffects of these.[6]For these reasons hydraulic fracturing has come under examination. Some countries are suspending or banning it.[7]
In 2013, some of those countries, including theUnited Kingdom,[8]lifted their bans. Now they have regulations instead of outright prohibition. Fracking can greatly increase the UK gas reserves.[9]
References
[change|change source]- ↑1.01.1Charlez, Philippe A. 1997.Rock mechanics: petroleum applications.Paris: Editions Technip, p. 239
- ↑2.02.1Trembath A. 2012.US Government role in shale gas fracking history: an overview and response to our critics.[1]Archived2013-01-19 at theWayback Machine
- ↑Montgomery, Carl T. & Smith, Michael B. 2010. Hydraulic fracturing. History of an enduring technology (PDF).JPT Online(Society of Petroleum Engineers): 26–41. Retrieved 13 May 2012.[2]Archived2012-11-14 at theWayback Machine
- ↑King, George E. 2012.Hydraulic fracturing 101,Society of Petroleum Engineers Paper 152596.
- ↑Golden rules for a golden age of energy.International Energy Agency.[3]Archived2018-05-17 at theWayback Machine
- ↑Brown, Valerie J. 2007. Industry issues: putting the heat on gas.Environmental Health Perspectives.115(2): A76.[4]
- ↑France to keep fracking ban to protect environment, Sarkozy says.BloombergBusiness.[5]
- ↑Bakewell, Sally 2012. U.K. Government lifts ban on shale gas fracking.Bloomberg News.Retrieved 26 March 2013.[6]
- ↑Moylan J. 2013. UK has huge shale gas resources, energy firm says. BBC News Business.[7]