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.
Perhaps the answer can be found in the way in which this type of fracturing works. For, the operation is the same as with hydraulic fracturing only with different liquids. Although, waterless fracturing operations first start by drilling a well. Once the desired formation 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.
Benefits of using propane as a substitute include, more efficient operations, the reversal of liquid to a gas form and the oil and gas flowing more freely back to the surface. Whereas, while water can often become trapped and create blockages, being that propane is a gas, this is not the case.
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.
Perhaps the answer can be found in the way in which this type of fracturing works. For, the operation is the same as with hydraulic fracturing only with different liquids. Although, waterless fracturing operations first start by drilling a well. Once the desired formation 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.
Benefits of using propane as a substitute include, more efficient operations, the reversal of liquid to a gas form and the oil and gas flowing more freely back to the surface. Whereas, while water can often become trapped and create blockages, being that propane is a gas, this is not the case.
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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