What the Frack?

Hydraulic fracturing is the the most recent technology being

used to extract natural gas reserves.

https://www.google.com/search?q=hydraulic+fracturing&aq=0&um=1&ie=UTF8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=vgZhUZzIHei40gGFzYDQDw&biw=1680&bih=959&sei=wAZhUY6iG86I0QGInYG4BQ#imgrc=XR2UmU9LDhaJ2M%3A%3BNk9QtVE_zZP7VM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.pioga.
org%252Fphoto_images%252F177_large.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.pioga.org%252Fenvironment-safety%252Fhydraulic-fracturing%252F%3B1000%3B750

The Process Simplified

They begin this process by drilling a hole

just below the freshwater revivor, with
water and additives pumped into the hole
to cool the drill bit.

A steel pipe is then inserted down the

hole.

Once the pipe is in place, cement is forced

through the center of the pole.

A plug then pushes the cement out the

bottom and around the outside of the
pole.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHQu3SeUwUI

The Process Simplified

This process is what prevents

contamination of the freshwater aquifer.

The next step in this process is to drill

through the base of the hole, through the
plug.

At about 5,000 feet the drill bit then

begins to curve and will drill out to about a
mile horizontally.

The Process Simplified

The next step in this process is to drill

through the base of the hole, through the
plug.

At about 5,000 feet the drill bit then

begins to curve and will drill out to about
a mile horizontally.

Production casing is then inserted;

followed by cement.

A perforated gun is then sent down, by

wire.

The Process Simplified

An electric current shoots small holes from

the gun, through the casing into the shale
rock.

A plug is inserted to prevent fracturing

fluids from entering this zone while
additional sections of the casing are
perforated and fracked.

After which fracking fluids are sent into

the casing under high pressure, causing
shale layers to crack, releasing gas in the
rock.

After all sections have been fracked, the

plugs are drilled out and gas flows to the
surface.

Where does the water come from?

How do they dispose of the frack

water?

Where are they drilling in PA?

As of August 2012

6,400 wells were drilled in

Pennsylvania
2,500 permits were provided
Roughly two wells per pad
Roughly 3,200 pads in
Pennsylvania
Each pad consumes
between 5-8 acres of land
APPROX 20,800 ACRES
OF LAND HAS BEEN
FRACKED ON

What happens to
the land?

Hydraulic Fracking is exempt from...

Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act
Resource Conservation and
Recovery Act
Safe Drinking Water Act
Clean Water Act
Clean Air Act
National Environmental Policy
Act
Toxic Release Inventory under
the Emergency Planning and
Community Right-to-Know Act

Questions?
fracking@psu.edu

References
http://www.hydraulicfracturing.com/Process/Pages/information.aspx
http://www.energyfromshale.org/hydraulic-fracturing/hydraulic-fracturing-fluid
http://www.fractracker.org/2013/03/pa-gas-legislation/
http://electrictreehouse.com/notes-on-the-history-of-fracking/
http://exploreshale.org/#