Monday, July 15, 2019

Introducing GasFrac And Alternative Frac Waters

By Joshua Cole


Hydraulic fracturing has faced a great deal of criticism. In most cases, the criticism is due to the already existing shortage of clean water on earth. While some companies like GasFrac Canada are now using alternative frac waters, others need to do so. Although, excessive water use is not the only issue, drilling deep into the rock formation of earth has proved to be the cause of man-made earthquakes in different areas including, Texas and Oklahoma.

Regardless of such concerns, one company has introduced alternatives to water based operations. Developed by Canada-based GasFrac, the new process redefines the process by injecting liquids which are petroleum based deep into the earth rather than using chemical cocktails mixed with water. As a result, while seismic activity from the operations are still a concern, the new operation eliminates water table contamination.

Proponents of water-free fracking believe the process is a solution to the most common concerns related to the fracking process. While this is the case, it is important to look at the benefits versus draw backs. For, if water-free fracturing can help save one of the most precious resources on earth, there are a number of individuals whom wonder why more companies are not currently using the process.

Perhaps the answer can be found in the way in which this type of fracturing works. For, the operation is the same as with hydraulic fracturing only with different liquids. Although, waterless fracturing operations first start by drilling a well. Once the desired formation of the well has been reached, horizontal drilling continues.

When a well is complete, liquids are injected into the hole with a proppant carrier, the carrier fractures the base rock formation, thus allowing oil and gas to escape to the surface. While GasFrac uses liquid propane as this carrier, other alternatives are also available. Although, the benefits often outweigh the cost when it comes using propane.

Benefits of using propane as a substitute include, more efficient operations, the reversal of liquid to a gas form and the oil and gas flowing more freely back to the surface. Whereas, while water can often become trapped and create blockages, being that propane is a gas, this is not the case.

Water-free fracking also helps to prevent pollutants from escaping to the surface. For, when a liquid version of propane vaporizes, the pollutants are left in the well. Whereas, operations which use water tend to carry these pollutants back to the surface, including chemicals used in the process and heavy metals which are a natural aspect of the rock formations which have been disturbed.

One of the biggest benefits of using liquid propane is that post-fracking propane can be sold. In addition, as produced water, which when companies consider the disposal cost, provides little savings. Whereas, propane which emerges from the a well can be reused or sold for profit. As a result, waterless fracking benefits the planet and creates a better, cleaner and safer operation for individuals and companies involved in the process.




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