Using Shale Hydraulic Fracturing Effectively
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Red River Securities, LLC, Oil & Gas Exploration & Development, Plano, TX

Technology

Fracturing Insight

Fracing Composition

Tech Facts

 
 
 
 

  • Beginning in 2003, production from the Barnett Shale showed large increases. We believe one of the main reasons for production increases was a result of horizontal wellbores and multi-stage fracturing of the formation with large amounts of freshwater ‘slicked’ by surfactants and combined with sand, as a proppant. This drilling and completion combination changed the Barnett Shale development. Currently, more than 95% of all wells being drilled in the Barnett Shale are horizontal wells.

    Hydraulic Fracturing

    Hydraulic fracturing is the process of creating fissures, or fractures, in underground formations to allow natural gas to flow. In deep shale gas plays, water, sand and other additives are pumped under high pressure into the formation to create fractures. The fluid is over 99.5% water and sand, along with a small amount of special-purpose additives. The newly created fractures are “propped” open by the sand, which allows the natural gas to flow into the wellbore and be collected at the surface. Variables such as rock formations

    and thickness of the targeted shale formation are studied by scientists before hydraulic fracturing is conducted. The result is a highly sophisticated process that optimizes the network of fractures and keeps them safely contained within the boundaries of the deep shale gas formation.

    Fracturing Fluid Makeup

    In addition to water and sand, other additives are used in fracturing fluids to allow fracturing to be performed in a safe and effective manner. Additives used in hydraulic fracturing fluids include a number of compounds found in common consumer products.

    Hydraulic Fracturing percentage diagram and table of chemical composition.A representation showing the percent by volume composition of typical deep shale gas hydraulic fracture components (see diagram and chart) reveals that over 99.5% of the fracturing mixture is comprised of freshwater and sand. This mixture is injected into deep shale gas formations and is typically confined by many thousands of feet of rock layers below the water table.


     

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