Saturday, October 27, 2018

Facts About Clean Fracking Technology

By Jose Foster


Although fracking is only attaining popularity today, it is a technology that has been around for about two centuries. Other names used to refer to this process include hydraulic fracturing, faccing, hydrofracking, and hydrofracturing. According to history, this technology has been around since the 1800s. During that time, gas and oil shale formations underground were reached using explosives instead of water. Facts regarding clean fracking technology.

Firms later in 1930s made a decision to begin applying non-explosive methods. In the course of the next decade, experiments were done to find out how effectual non-explosive methods could be. The invention of hydrofrac technology was done by 1949. By 1950s, the use of the new technology became much popular. About 3000 wells were adopting the new technology per month at that time.

Over gallons of fluid were utilized in the initial models of fracking technology. The fluid was made up of gelled kerosene, 400 pounds of sand, water and gelled crude oil. The amount and composition of the fluid did not change for a long period. Today, there has been some slight changes. Around 8 million gallons of water and between 75000 and 32000 pounds of sand are utilized today.

Technological advancements have enabled the use of various fluid forms. A number of the fluids in use are foams, gels and slickwater. Present-day fracking fluid comprises elements like biocines, guan gum, diesel fuels, friction reducers, benzene and hydrochloric acid. Many of the listed ingredients are hazardous to the environment. This is why that there are demands all over that hydrofracking be made harmless to the environment.

Since there is a large amount of water used in this process, the water must be disposed carefully to avoid bad effects. Before 1985, all the wastewater ended in state waterways like rivers, lakes, and oceans. However, today, that has changed as wastewater is disposed of in deep injection wells. These wells are also referred to using the term brine disposal wells.

Besides disposing wastewater in deep wells, some private treatment facilities acquire it for processing into useful water. Even though the water can be processed and refined, not all of it can be processed successfully. Wastewater that cannot be processed usually contain hydrofracturing fluid and must be disposed in landfills or pumped into deep wells. Disposal into landfills and deep wells was once deemed error proof but that has changed now as some problems are associated with the process.

Polluted drinking water is among the major negative effects that come with wastewater disposal. In one way or the other, the water makes its way into the water systems hence causing contamination. Furthermore, depletion of fresh water has developed as a major impact resulting from heavy usage of water in extracting oil. Finally, there are negative impacts on the environment due to both methods of disposing water and hydrofracking itself.

Suggestions to obtain better means of reusing wastewater so as to reduce its adverse effects have been made. One suggestion is to use techniques that allow for reuse of wastewater. Secondly, reduction of fresh water amounts used in the process would curb impact. Thirdly, using other forms of fuel other than diesel would reduce exhaust production. And lastly, escape of methane during mining should be curbed.




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