Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is a technique primarily used to extract shale gas.
Understanding Fracking and Shale Gas Extraction
Based on the provided information, hydraulic fracturing is the specific process employed to access and extract natural gas trapped within shale rock formations deep underground.
Here's how the process is described:
- Deep holes are drilled vertically into the Earth.
- Once the shale layer is reached, drilling continues horizontally.
- This horizontal drilling allows access to a larger portion of the shale reserve, as these deposits are typically spread out horizontally rather than stacked vertically.
- A high-pressure mixture of water, sand, and chemicals is then injected into the wellbore to create tiny fractures in the shale rock.
- These fractures allow the trapped shale gas to flow to the wellbore and be brought to the surface.
Key Aspect: Shale Gas Focus
The reference specifically highlights shale gas as the fuel extracted using this method. While hydraulic fracturing can also be used for other hydrocarbons like oil trapped in tight rock formations, the information provided focuses solely on shale gas extraction.
Below is a simple representation based on the reference:
| Process | Fuel Extracted | Key Step(s) Described |
|---|---|---|
| Hydraulic Fracturing | Shale Gas | Deep vertical followed by horizontal drilling |
This technique has significantly increased the production of natural gas in areas with abundant shale deposits.
