Adam Ferrari - Exactly what is fracking

1. Adam Ferrari | The Basics of Fracking in Oil and Gas Exploration Adam Ferrari, Fractures are formed in rocks containing pressurized fluids. These fractures could be natural formations if veins and dikes are taken into consideration. When fractures are induced in rock formations through various means, for the extraction of fossil fuels like petroleum, coal, or natural gas, it is referred to as fracking or hydrofracking, with the longer name being hydraulic fracturing. Hydrofracking is done by drilling a wellbore into rock formations and then introducing highly pressurized fracking fluids through these wellbores. The energy of the pressurized fracking fluids leads to the formation of newer channels in the rock formation. It causes further

2. fracturing of the rocks. The induced fracturing will create newer outlets for the release of the contained fossil fuels. There is a need to undertake such induced fracturing to increase the extraction rate of fossil fuels. It is required to further deepen the cracks within rock formations so that all the cracks would unify, and the containing fossil fuel gets collected at one point. After the fracking fluids are injected, the fracture widths are maintained by introducing proppants. A proppant is a material that is capable of preventing the closure of fractures when the injection of fracking fluids is stopped.

3. Fracking is known to cause damage to the environment, and also has some health and safety concerns. A few of these concerns include poor air quality, the infectivity of ground water, and the migration of gases. Due to these reasons, it has come under scrutiny, and the process has been either suspended or banned in a number of countries. Adam Ferrari says hydraulic fracturing is performed on both vertical and horizontal wells. Horizontal drilling is done parallel to the rock layer from which the fossil fuels need to be extracted. Horizontal drilling has laterals extending to almost 1,500 to 5,000 feet, and in certain cases, up to 10,000 feet. Vertical wells on the other hand could only reach depths of 300 feet. Drilling reduces permeability by blocking pore spaces near the wellbore walls, which can cause a reduction of the flow of the fossil

4. fuels being extracted into the borehole from adjacent rocks, etc. Permeability is restored by hydraulic fracturing. The fluid that is injected into rocks to cause fracturing is a slurry of chemical additives, proppants, and water. Various types of proppants used could contain silica sand, man-made ceramics, and resin-coated sand. Acids are initially used for scouring and cleaning up the wellbore area. Proppants are then used, and their size and density are gradually increased. Once the well is ready, it is flushed with water under pressure.