Gas-Bearing Shale Fractured Rock
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Fracking Fluid
When one section of the well has been perfed the next step is to frack it 1 . High presure fluid is forced down the well and fractures the shale as it exits the holes left by the perfgun. The fluid is mostly sand and water, but also contains chemicals to aid the process. When an area has been fracked it is then sealed 2 to stop the gas from flowing too soon. After the seal is in place the perfing and fracking is repeated on the next segment 3 . 2
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Once all fracking opperations have been completed the seals on each section are drilled out 1 aallowing gas to flow. The drill head is removed, and a permantent wellhead, storage, and compression facilities are installed 2 . Lastly a pipline may be built 3 to connect the well to a larger pipline network.
SPRING 2012 ISSUE 13