Keystone Energy Forum

Hydraulic Fracturing

"Hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling technology in conjunction with the Marcellus shale gas is a godsend we should cherish, protect, and celebrate."  -- Zane Shuck, retired professional engineer and a former WVU professor, writing in the July 8, 2011 Charleston Daily Mail.

Hydraulic fracturing is a means of extracting natural gas from shale formations such as the Marcellus Shale.   It is a proven technology and has been used since the 1940s in more than one million wells in the United States to help produce oil and natural gas.

Hydraulic fracturing is an advanced, effective technique whereby “fracturing fluids”, comprised of more than 99.5 percent water and sand, and less than 0.5 percent chemicals, are injected under high pressure into a shale formation, creating fissures that free the natural gas to flow from rock pores where it is trapped. To learn more about hydraulic fracturing, watch the video below.  In just a few minutes, you will gain an understanding of the critical steps taken before hydraulic fracturing even begins; the safety measures used to protect the fresh water aquifer; and the hydraulic fracturing process itself. 

Nearly 80 percent of natural gas wells drilled in the next decade will require hydraulic fracturing because it allows access to formations, like shale oil and shale gas, available now as a result of technological advances.  West Virginians, however, have the benefit of gaining from the experience of an industry that has used this technology in nearly one million wells for more than 60 years. The combined expertise of thousands of workers in this field has developed comprehensive standards, procedures and regulations to protect citizens and the environment.

Read more:

• Energy from Shale
• Reason Magazine: The Truth About Fracking (Video)
• Hydraulic Fracturing: Unlocking America’s Natural Gas Resources
• Hydraulic Fracturing At a Glance
• West Virginia Public Broadcasting: Marcellus Shale Drilling Research