Hydraulic Fracturing 101
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1) The process of hydraulic fracturing involves six main steps: seismic exploration, site preparation, drilling the well, completing the well, finishing the site, and marketing the gas. 2) Drilling the well involves drilling an average of 1.5 miles below the surface and can extend horizontal laterals up to 3,500 feet with minimal surface disruption, reducing the industry's surface footprint by 90%. 3) Completing the well involves hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" which uses water, sand and additives pumped under high pressure to fracture the rock and release natural gas for extraction.
Hydraulic Fracturing 101
- 3. Gas Well Process •Basically six steps involved: 1. Seismic exploration 2. Site preparation 3. Drilling the well 4. Completing the well 5. Finishing the site 6. Marketing the gas
- 5. Site Preparation – Prior to drilling, pad site is prepared as needed – Drilling multiple wells from a single pad site reduces the number of pad sites needed – With fewer pad sites, overall environmental footprint is reduced
- 6. Drilling the well Rockwood, Fort Worth
- 7. Drilling the Well – Average depth is 1.5 miles below surface – Horizontal laterals can reach beneath schools, neighborhoods and businesses with minimal surface disruption – Horizontal drilling reduces industry’s surface footprint by 90% – Computer-driven, state-of-the-art technology 1.5 miles below surface 3,500 feet average lateral length 8,000 ft Average vertical depth
- 8. Wellbore Integrity • 7 layers of protection isolate our well bore from its surroundings, preventing any exposure of chemicals, gas, or produced water with the environment 1. Conductor casing 2. Cement, sealing conductor casing in place 3. Surface casing 4. Cement, sealing surface casing in place 5. Production casing 6. Cement, sealing production casing in place 7. Tubing •The surface casing is drilled to a minimum depth of between 50 to 100 feet below the Trinity aquifer
- 9. Completing the Well – “Frac’ing” or “fracing” or “fracking” is the next step – Fracking is the process to stimulate the natural gas to flow out of the hard shale – Fracking uses water mixed with sand and additives pumped under high pressure – The water “fractures” the rock like a windshield cracks when hit by a stone – Sand holds the cracks open Illustration of hydraulic fracturing or “fracing”
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- 11. Fracking – Fracking occurs sometime after drilling – Process usually takes 5 – 7 days per well – Fracking typically takes place during daytime hours and generally only on weekdays (due to sound level ordinances) Equipment used in hydraulic fracturing
- 12. Fresh Water Ponds – Used to hold large volumes of fresh water for “fracking” and other onsite needs – Potential to serve more than one drill site – Can be reclaimed or given to landowner
- 13. Fresh Water Ponds Novikoff Frac Pond, Fort Worth
- 14. Finishing the Well – Well head, meters, pumps and safety equipment – Production equipment installed and painted – Quietly produces odorless natural gas for decades (the odor is added before the gas comes into homes)
- 15. Finishing the Site – Well site is finished and landscaped – Install appropriate permanent fencing specs per city code – Energy company returns regularly to: • Maintain equipment • Monitor production rate • Remove produced water
- 16. Finished Well Site – Rigs are temporary – Finished well sites blend into urban areas – Landscaped according to city ordinances
- 17. 4th Street Model, Fort Worth4th Street Model, Fort Worth Typical Finished Well Site
- 18. Completed Well Site Hidden Creek, BurlesonHidden Creek, Burleson
- 19. Poly, Fort Worth Completed Well Site Poly, Fort Worth
- 20. Marketing the Gas – Process to take natural gas from the well site to market – Pipelines installed • Gathering lines are the “streets” • Transmission lines are the “highways – Similar to gas lines that currently bring natural gas to your homes and offices
- 21. Gas Transportation – From Wellhead to Homes Upstream Midstream