Hydraulic fracturing has faced a great deal of criticism. In most cases, the criticism is due to the already existing shortage of clean water on earth. While some companies like GasFrac Canada are now using alternative frac waters, others need to do so. Although, excessive water use is not the only issue, drilling deep into the rock formation of earth has proved to be the cause of man-made earthquakes in different areas including, Texas and Oklahoma.
While the concerns are real, one company is trying to create a better, cleaner and more efficient operation. The company, GasFrac out of Canada, has redefined the fracking process. In doing so, the company injects petroleum based liquids deep into a well rather than using a mixture of water and chemicals. As a result, while earthquakes due to seismic activity remain a real concern and issue, this new process strives to eliminate water table contamination.
Water-free fracking proponents believe the process to be one which will provide solutions to these concerns, especially with regards to waste water and dumping. Still, it is important to look at the drawbacks as well as benefits with regards to any new process or technology. While there are no reports of drawbacks, it is important to question that if it is such a positive process which would save valuable resources, why more companies are not already using the technology.
When it comes to the process, it is basically the same as traditional fracturing only with alternative liquids. In addition, waterless fracking operations start by drilling a well while traditional operations work with existing wells. When using a waterless operation, once the desired depth of the well has been reached, horizontal drilling continues.
When a well is complete, liquids are injected into the hole with a proppant carrier, the carrier fractures the base rock formation, thus allowing oil and gas to escape to the surface. While GasFrac uses liquid propane as this carrier, other alternatives are also available. Although, the benefits often outweigh the cost when it comes using propane.
The benefits in using propane all result from the chemical aspects of propane compared to that of water. Such benefits include that fracking operations are more effective when using propane because of the reversal of liquid propane to a gas form. As a result of the pressure and heat in the well, oil and gas flow more freely back to the surface, thus eliminating blockages which often occur when water becomes trapped below the surface.
Water-free fracking also helps to prevent pollutants from escaping to the surface. For, when a liquid version of propane vaporizes, the pollutants are left in the well. Whereas, operations which use water tend to carry these pollutants back to the surface, including chemicals used in the process and heavy metals which are a natural aspect of the rock formations which have been disturbed.
One of the biggest benefits in using propane is that liquid propane can be sold or recycled. In addition, once the process is complete, companies must dispose of produced water used during the operation. As a result, there has to be some place to release the polluted water, often causing polluted oceans and waterways. For, while there had been rules in place to prevent dumping of frac water into the ocean, environmental rollbacks have now allowed for a number of coastal locations in which companies can now do so.
While the concerns are real, one company is trying to create a better, cleaner and more efficient operation. The company, GasFrac out of Canada, has redefined the fracking process. In doing so, the company injects petroleum based liquids deep into a well rather than using a mixture of water and chemicals. As a result, while earthquakes due to seismic activity remain a real concern and issue, this new process strives to eliminate water table contamination.
Water-free fracking proponents believe the process to be one which will provide solutions to these concerns, especially with regards to waste water and dumping. Still, it is important to look at the drawbacks as well as benefits with regards to any new process or technology. While there are no reports of drawbacks, it is important to question that if it is such a positive process which would save valuable resources, why more companies are not already using the technology.
When it comes to the process, it is basically the same as traditional fracturing only with alternative liquids. In addition, waterless fracking operations start by drilling a well while traditional operations work with existing wells. When using a waterless operation, once the desired depth of the well has been reached, horizontal drilling continues.
When a well is complete, liquids are injected into the hole with a proppant carrier, the carrier fractures the base rock formation, thus allowing oil and gas to escape to the surface. While GasFrac uses liquid propane as this carrier, other alternatives are also available. Although, the benefits often outweigh the cost when it comes using propane.
The benefits in using propane all result from the chemical aspects of propane compared to that of water. Such benefits include that fracking operations are more effective when using propane because of the reversal of liquid propane to a gas form. As a result of the pressure and heat in the well, oil and gas flow more freely back to the surface, thus eliminating blockages which often occur when water becomes trapped below the surface.
Water-free fracking also helps to prevent pollutants from escaping to the surface. For, when a liquid version of propane vaporizes, the pollutants are left in the well. Whereas, operations which use water tend to carry these pollutants back to the surface, including chemicals used in the process and heavy metals which are a natural aspect of the rock formations which have been disturbed.
One of the biggest benefits in using propane is that liquid propane can be sold or recycled. In addition, once the process is complete, companies must dispose of produced water used during the operation. As a result, there has to be some place to release the polluted water, often causing polluted oceans and waterways. For, while there had been rules in place to prevent dumping of frac water into the ocean, environmental rollbacks have now allowed for a number of coastal locations in which companies can now do so.
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