process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water‚ sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. The process can be carried out vertically or‚ more commonly‚ by drilling horizontally to the rock layer and can create new pathways to release gas or can be used to extend existing channels. The term fracking refers to how the rock is fractured apart
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PWhat is horizontal hydraulic fracturing? Horizontal hydrofracking is a means of tapping shale deposits containing natural gas that were previously inaccessible by conventional drilling. Vertical hydrofracking is used to extend the life of an existing well once its productivity starts to run out‚ sort of a last resort. Horizontal fracking differs in that it uses a mixture of 596 chemicals‚ many of them proprietary‚ and millions of gallons of water per frack. This water then becomes contaminated and must
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environmental damage‚ and widespread damage to the livelihood of people living along the Gulf Coast. The organization with the largest share in the oil drill‚ BP (Beyond Petroleum)‚ is still facing consequences of this spill and lost millions of dollars as well as national support. The Obama administration also received criticism for not responding to this crisis quickly enough. This monstrous oil spill created environmental‚ health‚ social‚ and economic problems that were unprecedented‚ and the rippling
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sure that the cement used for the well formed a solid seal. The cement did not form the proper barrier that was needed and as a result when BP’s drill bit arrived at the targeted site‚ combustible natural gas mixed with petroleum‚ and they ignited as they pushed up to the surface causing the well to spill an uncontrollable amount into the Gulf of Mexico. This accident could have been totally avoidable had the proper tests been taken and the proper tools for the well had been used. It is at this point
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process where millions of gallons of fluid – typically a mix of water‚ sand‚ and chemicals‚ including ones known to cause cancer‚ are injected underground at high pressure to fracture the rock surrounding an oil or gas well. What Fracking is: Explain the process drill a well remove drill stem insert casing pump cement casing use coiled-tubing to clean out steel casing frac use coiled-tubing to drill out zone plugs flowback frac fluid
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frequently. “Deep well injection involves drilling a hole that is a few thousand feet deep and injecting toxic substances at extremely high pressure so they will penetrate deep into the Earth.” (Saukko Par 2) This is called fracking and is used to bring fossil fuels to the surface. “According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) there are about 360 such deep injection wells in the United States.” (Saukko Par 2) Not only is there deep well injections‚ there are also shallow well injections which
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paddy cultivation as well as the Secretary of an Association of farmers. I come from Thirunellveli district in Tamil Nadu. About five kilometers from my farm land‚ a multinational company established a factory for producing soft drinks. The entire land around the factory to an extent of 10 Sq.km was under paddy cultivation. The entire water requirement for the company was from bore wells in the company premises. It is understood from the employees of the company that each bore well is around 1000 ft
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Horizon rig sank on April 22‚ 2010‚ two days after the Macondo well blowout and explosion that killed 11 workers. The Deepwater Horizon accident‚ also known as the BP Oil Spill‚ was a project failure of immense proportions. It went from an oil exploration “project” to a massive program with portfolios of projects related to dealing with the families of those killed on the oil rig‚ stopping the oil leak‚ capturing the oil (from the well and from the ocean)‚ cleaning the environment (seashores‚ wetlands
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reservoir rock that allow the oil or natural gas to flow more freely to the well bore.” (DEQ) Chemicals and silica sand are added to the fracking water to improve effectiveness and keep the fractures open‚ increasing flow of natural gas. Fracking has been used since the early 1950s to drill vertically‚ strictly where the well pipeline will be placed. (Bortman) Recently horizontal drilling has been implemented when drilling a new well. This process uses the same techniques that have been used for over sixty
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Permeability is the measure of how well a fluid flows through a porous material. At that depth‚ and within such nonporous rock‚ the ability of fluids to travel to the well is greatly limited. Fracturing increases the area of the fluid that is exposed to porous materials and thus greatly increases production. The method of fracturing utilizes a few key components which allow for an economical extraction of resources. The fracturing process applied in a horizontal well through shale. Simplified Steps
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