10 News Briefing Drilling for shale gas could cut energy prices and lessen reliance on imports, say

its backers, but critics warn that the process can trigger earth tremors and pollute water supplies.

TheGraphic
Fracking
The game-changer in world energy energy markets Fracking game-changer in world markets?
DR LL NG D R IIL L II N G PP H A SE HAS E Drilling rig: Time to drill Drilling rig: Time to drill each well from spud each well from spud point of breaking ground point of breaking ground to total depth (TD) is about to total depth (TD) is about three to six weeks depending three to six weeks depending on depth and length of on depth and length of horizontal well. (Record for horizontal well. (Record for 4,000m well is 7.5 7.5 days) 4,000-metre well isdays) Aquifer: Water-bearing Aquifer: Water-bearing rock is at average depth rock is at average depth of 100m of 100 metres Fresh water protection: Fresh water protection: Three sets of steel casings Three sets of steel casings are cemented into place are cemented into place to prevent accidental to prevent accidental pollution of drinking pollution of drinking water aquifers water aquifers Wellbore Wellbore 11.4cm 11.4cm Blender Blender Frac pump Frac pump Water tanker Water tanker Injection: Injection: Typically requires Typically requires 20,000 cubic metres 20,000 cubic metres of water equivalent of water equivalent to 500 tankers plus to 500 tankers plus 1,800t of sand, 1,800 tonnes of blended with sand, blended with 100t of 100 tonnes of additives to additives to promote gelling promote gelling Frac fluid: Frac fluid: 95% water 95% water 4.5% sand 4.5% sand 0.5% 0.5% additives additives Back-flushing: Back-flushing: Frac wastewater pumped Frac wastewater pumped out of well for disposal out of well for disposal or re-use or re-use

Hydraulic fracturing also known as fracking a a two-phase process to extract natural gas Hydraulic fracturing also known as fracking is is two-phase process to extract natural gas fromfrom prehistoric shalebeds thousands metres below ground. The first phase includes drilling the wells, prehistoric shalebeds thousands ofof metres below ground. The first phase includes drilling the wells, the second uses high-pressure blasts water and sand-laden gel to to fracture shale rock release gas the second uses high-pressure blasts of of water and sand-laden gel fracture shale rock and and release gas
FRACK NG PHASE F R A C K IIN G P H A S E Hydraulic fracturing fluids: Water, sand Hydraulic fracturing fluids: Water, sand and additives are pumped at extremely high and additives are pumped at extremely high pressure over 100 bar about 1,500 pounds pressure over 100 bar, down wellbore per square inch (1,050kg/sq m) down wellbore Continual pumping: Continual pumping: Increases pressure of frac fluids in well, Increases pressure of frac fluids in well, breaking rocks apart. Fracking continues breaking rocks apart. Fracking continues until rocks are cracked to desired until rocks are cracked to desired length, about 200-300m length, about 200-300m

Reserve pit: Used Reserve pit: Used to store drilling to store drilling mud and mud and cuttings cuttings

Sand Sand truck truck

grounD water protection council, exxon moBil, austin exploration ltD, graphic news

Surface casing Surface casing 24.5cm 24.5cm Shale layer: Shale layer: Rock formations are Rock formations are 1,000-2,500m underground 1,000-2,500m underground Kick-off point: Drill turns Kick-off point: Drill turns horizontal, roughly 150m horizontal, roughly 150m above shale. Horizontal above shale. Horizontal section extends up to 3,000m section extends up to 3,000m Wellbore: Steel pipe Wellbore: Steel pipe surrounded by cement surrounded by cement Jet perforation: Holes Jetperforation: Holes punched through wellbore, punched through wellbore, cement and adjacent rock cement and adjacent rock by shaped explosive by shaped explosive charges similar to those charges similar to those used in anti-armour used in anti-armour ammunition ammunition Perforation Perforation gun assembly gun assembly Cement Cement Gas-bearing Gas-bearing shale rock shale rock End of drilling: End of drilling: Wellbore cleared Wellbore cleared of debris and drilling of debris and drilling rig removed rig removed Production: Well Production:Well head and pipeline head and pipeline remain. Single well can produce remain. Single well can produce thousands of cubic metres of thousands of cubic metres of gas per day for 20-40 years gas per day for 20-40 years

Gas flow: Gas flow: Sand remains, Sand remains, holding fractures open to holding fractures open to allow gas to flow into well. allow gas to flow into well. Fracking process takes Fracking process takes up to 10 days up to 10 days

Pipeline to Pipeline to storage storage tanks tanks

Well head Well head

Sources: Ground Water Protection Council, Exxon Mobil, Austin Exploration Limited

Engineering & Technology January 2012 www.EandTmagazine.com

Copyright of Engineering & Technology (17509637) is the property of Institution of Engineering & Technology and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use.