Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic fracturing (“Fracing” or “Fracking”) and horizontal drilling began in Texas in the 1980s. These are proven methods to extract oil and natural gas from tight rock formations.

Oil and natural gas can be trapped in geological formations that have tiny spaces within the rock (called “tight” formations). In these instances, these resources cannot be extracted using typical vertical wells and conventional production methods. Instead, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are used to produce oil or natural gas from tight formations. Tight formations are found throughout much of Western Canada. The Montney (northeastern B.C.) and the Duvernay (B.C. and northwestern / central Alberta) are two large Canadian development areas where this type of production is widely used. Horizontal drilling is also used in the Atlantic offshore industry.

Hydraulic fracturing and multi-well drilling from a single well pad have unlocked resources that were previously uneconomical to develop and reduced the overall surface footprint of drilling activities. Several horizontal wells drilled from a single location (wellpad) can access a greater area of the reservoir from a smaller piece of land than the same number of vertical wells drilled from single-well pads. A 20-well pad disturbs about 5% of the land required for 20 vertical wells.

In horizontal drilling, a flexible drilling pipe is used with a steerable drill bit at the leading edge of the wellbore. The well is first drilled vertically, then at a specific target depth the well is turned and drilled horizontally through the oil or natural gas deposit. Next, the rock formation is fractured using a specially engineered liquid injected into the well under high pressure – a process called hydraulic fracturing or fracking. Sand or similar small grains in the fluid hold the cracks open to allow the oil or natural gas to flow to the well.

Aerial photo of hydraulic fracturing equipment. (aka fracking)

On average, a hydraulic fracturing operation uses 5,000 to 30,000 cubic metres of water, which may be surface water or groundwater. The industry is focused on reducing the overall volumes of water used in hydraulic fracturing. Where possible, the industry tries to use undrinkable saline (salt) water or treated municipal wastewater instead of fresh water from surface water or groundwater aquifers.

All wells, whether vertical or horizontal, are constructed to protect groundwater aquifers by using multiple layers of steel casing cemented in place around the wellbore to create a solid barrier between the well and the groundwater aquifer.

Hydraulic Fracturing Facts

  • Water and sand comprise between 98% and 99.9% of hydraulic fracturing fluid. Additives that provide special properties to the fluid make up the remainder. Additives are used to limit bacterial growth and prevent corrosion. The composition of fracturing fluid varies from one rock formation to another. All additives used must comply with applicable provincial and federal regulations. (Source: FracFocus)
  • Tight formations that require hydraulic fracturing to produce oil or natural gas are deep underground and wells are designed and drilled to protect groundwater aquifers. Drinking water aquifers are usually found at depths of less than 300 metres. A well that is hydraulically fractured is typically drilled to a depth of 2,000 to 4,000 metres, far below any aquifers used for drinking water.

Water

Natural Gas

Oil Sands