Friday, August 18, 2017

Seawater Frac Use And Important Details For This Process

By Sarah Barnes


Hydraulic fracturing is a technique in well stimulation which the rock is fractured with a pressurized liquid. The procedure involves high pressured injection of a fracking fluid in to a wellbore for creating cracks in deep rock formations in where brine, natural gas, and petroleum will freely flow more. When the pressure is removed, the fractures are held open by the small grains of proppants.

Groundwater is used usually for fracking fluid that is normally a problem because they could be used for drinking instead which is becoming a scarce source. That is why researchers, scientists, and engineers are developing a replacement with seawater frac. This will enable them in having more resources available that are usable for the needs they have instead of relying only with their current source.

Hydraulic fracturing was around more than 70 years ago now and have fracked millions of wells now worldwide. Operators should get permits which regulators approved before wells could be drilled relating to its abandonment, operation, design, spacing and location. Environmental permits are also required such as management and disposal of water and waste.

Fracking occurs after the construction of well is finished and its integrity is confirmed but not during drilling. Among the most essential objectives is protecting groundwater and isolate these zones by designing and creating wells with steel casing and cement barriers. When drilling through these zones, fluids based on freshwater or air is used to prevent contamination.

They will not impact aquifers if performed safely and properly and the created fractures will not extend to them. These fractures were measured for determining their reach that shows their highest points still are far away from deepest aquifers. Some recent studies did not also find substantiated connection between fraccing and groundwater contamination.

Fracking fluid is normally composed of sand and water including chemical additives depending on which well to use it on. These elements which comprised them are also found in consumer products like cosmetics, table salt substitutes, ice cream, deodorant, toothpaste and household cleaners. When appropriately used and handled properly, the chemicals are safe.

These fluids are made specifically for the needs of each environment and factors like temperature, pressure, reservoir fluid composition, permeability, rock strength and mineralogy are addressed. Some companies would disclose what chemical ingredients they use to inform the public about it. This also protect the proprietary industry information and others even participate in national registry for chemical disclosure.

Significant quantity of water is needed for fracking operations like other manufacturing process meant for everyday food, services and products needed. This can be acquired from municipal suppliers, groundwater, treated wastewater and other available sources. Operators are encouraged usually to use not suitable ones for agriculture and human consumption when possible.

The procedure triggers very rarely some seismic events which you can feel on surface because these are happening very deeply. They release energy that will be equivalent to a minus two magnitude on Richter scale which could not be detected on surface. A plus three magnitude for comparison feels like an 18 wheeler truck just passed by the area.




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