Concerned about the potential of water contamination, many Americans have voiced their opinions and concerns about hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking. This concern is leading the U.S. towards waterless fracking. Is it possible to drill dry?
The fracking process is a technique where millions of gallons of water are typically mixed with sand and chemicals and then injected at an extremely high pressure into a wellbore to create fractures in the rock formations - making space for the oil to flow back up the shaft. In addition to the proposed environmental concerns, this way of fracking requires a substantial amount of water in areas where water is often scarce. Unlike Pennsylvania with its vast water resources, the Bakken in North Dakota and the Cline Shale in West Texas lack the necessary water resources needed to meet the demands of the fast growing boom.
There is an alternative. Carbon Dioxide (Co2), a common by-product of burning fossil fuels, is being used in areas like Wyoming which currently has Carbon Dioxide pipelines in place. Robert Dilmore, a research engineer at the U.S. National Energy Technology Laboratory has recently commented, “economics alone could justify building more Co2 pipelines in some places.”
fracking with Co2 verses water has both advantages and disadvantages. Carbon Dioxide is more difficult to transport, however it can create much larger fractures which could increase the amount of oil being produced. Co2 rises back to the surface and can be reused in more fracking operations, whereas a portion of the water that gets pumped into the ground generally stays in the ground. After a well that has been fracked with Co2 is done producing, it can be sealed - storing the carbon dioxide underground; which would help reduce greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere and save millions of gallons of water per well.
Reader Comments(2)
Publisher writes:
The Roundup does not pretend to be an energy production scientific journal nor do we expect the general public will immediately run out and begin CO2 fracking after reading this article. We are only attempting to highlight positive happenings in the local energy industry. Ms Shank is an excellent writer and I will continue to print her work. If you have more to contribute to anything printed The Roundup you are welcome to submit it.
09/04/2013, 1:24 pm
LWag writes:
Mrs. Shank, I recommend that you thoroughly research this topic before attempting an awfully irresponsible explanation for the use of Carbon Dioxide as a frac fluid. You, along with the majority of media sources, are so far from educating the public on the energy industry, specifically that involving the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. This article should be removed and your rights to publish such literature taken away. Thanks, 'Merica
07/30/2013, 1:50 pm