During tonight’s national coverage fracking was a topic brought up on multiple occasions. Can someone explain what it is and the pros and cons of it? Need it because a google search did not help :/
In: Biology
It’s not really biology, but physics mostly & a bit of chemistry. It’s a shorthand term for hydraulic fracturing—where oil and gas producers inject high pressure fluids to fracture ‘tight’ (typically low permeability shale) rocks to liberate hydrocarbons (oil & gas). The fluids are mixed with chemicals and proppants (usually surfactants and sands) to reach further into the rock formation and hold open the cracks created by fracturing. This is in contrast to conventional methods which targeted porous rocks with high permeability (usually sandstones) where the hydrocarbons can migrate without stimulation (fracking). This revolution has enabled firms to target what were conventionally considered seal or cap formations as sources of new production & is what has enabled the US to become the largest producer in the world.
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