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HydraulicFracturing II

The document provides a step-by-step overview of the hydraulic fracturing process used by Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation to extract natural gas from Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale formation. It describes the six main steps: 1) perforating the well casing, 2) fracturing the shale formation by pumping water, sand and additives underground, 3) repeating the process in stages, 4) removing the fracturing fluid, 5) flaring excess gas, and 6) harvesting the natural gas. The majority of fracturing fluid consists of water and sand, with less than 1% being chemical additives used to reduce friction and prevent corrosion.

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MohammadFaisalQureshi
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168 views4 pages

HydraulicFracturing II

The document provides a step-by-step overview of the hydraulic fracturing process used by Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation to extract natural gas from Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale formation. It describes the six main steps: 1) perforating the well casing, 2) fracturing the shale formation by pumping water, sand and additives underground, 3) repeating the process in stages, 4) removing the fracturing fluid, 5) flaring excess gas, and 6) harvesting the natural gas. The majority of fracturing fluid consists of water and sand, with less than 1% being chemical additives used to reduce friction and prevent corrosion.

Uploaded by

MohammadFaisalQureshi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HYDRAULIC FRACTURING : PART 2 OF 2

Exploring the Hydraulic


Fracturing Process

In This Issue
Hydraulic Fracturing Process
Frac Focus & Frac Fluids
Flaring

www.cabotog.com

To view a video on hydraulic


fracturing, use your
smartphone to photograph
this QR code.

How Does Hydraulic Fracturing Work?


Lets explore the details of hydraulic fracturing - or fracing - and how Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation
safely performs this procedure deep within Pennsylvanias Marcellus Shale formation. What follows is a
step-by-step overview of the process after the horizontal section of a well has been drilled and a
protective barrier of cement and steel have been installed to separate the gas from surrounding
structures and protect groundwater sources.

Hydraulic Fracturing Process


Hydraulic fracturing happens in small sections called stages. It starts at the end of the wellbore and
moves toward the beginning.

Step 1 Perforating the Casing


First, a perforating gun is lowered into a targeted position within the horizontal portion of the well.
Then, an electrical current is sent down the well to set off a small explosive charge. This shoots tiny
holes through the well casing and out a short, controlled distance into the shale formation. The holes
created by the perf gun serve two purposes: they provide access for the fracturing fluid to enter the
formation and subsequently allows natural gas to enter the wellbore.

Step 2 Shale Fracturing

Cabot
pressure
tests
all well
casings to
ensure
they protect
groundwater.

www.cabotog.com

The fracturing of a well creates a complex network of cracks in the shale formation. This is achieved by
pumping water, sand and a small amount of additives down the wellbore under high pressure. After
these cracks are created the sand will remain in the formation propping open the shale to create a
pathway for the gas to enter the wellbore and flow up the well.

Step 3 Repeat in Stages


During each stage experts will monitor, adjust and record all of the stage parameters to ensure
worker and public safety and to maximize the natural gas production from the shale. After each stage
is completed, a plug will be set and new perforations created to direct the frac fluid to the next stage.
By segmenting the well in stages, a greater amount of gas is produced from the lateral length of
the well.

@CabotOG

cabotsusquehanna

Step 4 Safe Frac Fluid Removal


After hydraulic fracturing is completed, all of the plugs placed between frac stages are drilled
out to remove the restrictions in the wellbore. The completed well is then opened up to safely remove
the fracturing fluid so that natural gas can be harvested. The frac fluid that is recovered from each well
is treated and reused in future frac jobs through Cabots closed-loop water recycling system.

Step 5 Flaring
Toward the end of the frac fluid removal process, gas will start to travel up the well along with the fluid.
Since the amount of gas increases as the water decreases, a flare is set up to make sure the gas is
safely burned.

Step 6 Harvesting the Natural Gas


After safely removing the fracturing fluid from the formation, the sand will remain in the shale to
provide a pathway for the gas to flow into the wellbore and to the surface. Once at the surface, the gas
will be processed and delivered to nearly 70 million homes and businesses across the country.

As part of
Cabots
closed-loop
water system,
all water
used in
operations
will be
trucked to
the site and
stored on a
secondary pad
(pictured on the
front page).

Whats in Hydraulic Fracturing Fluid?


Frac Fluid Composition
(% by volume)

95.2%

0.1%

Water
Product Package
Anti Bacterial Agent
Iron Control Product
Friction Reducer
Scale Inhibitor
Corrosion Inhibitor

Water and sand make up over 99% of the fluid


used by Cabot during the fracing process. Less
than 1% of everything pumped into a well is
chemical additives. The primary function of these
chemicals is to reduce friction, prevent
corrosion and to control bacteria. These chemicals
can generally be found in common household
items. Without the use of these chemicals, our
ability to effectively fracture the shale would be
limited. The exact ratio of the few chemicals used
varies depending on various characteristics of the
rock being fractured.

4.7%

White Sand

As part of our commitment to openness and


transparency, Cabot participates in Frac Focus
a chemical disclosure registry. By visiting
FracFocus.org, you can search for wells by
location or company to see the exact formula of
hydraulic fracturing fluid in a specific well. Cabot
has included all of its wells since 2011.

Proppant

Tiny sand-sized
particles that hold
open cracks
created by the
fracing process.

www.cabotog.com

Mee
Cabo t the
t Cr
ew

Chad Gorman
Water Resource Engineer
North Region

While relatively new to the natural gas


industry, Chad brings 12 years of
Environmental Remediation and
Water Treatment experience to the field as
Cabots Water Resource Engineer.
The position is an important one, bringing with
it the responsibility for the proper and safe management of water during all stages
of the hydraulic fracturing process. This water lifecycle includes obtaining and
transporting the water to the well site, followed by its storage and use in the
hydraulic stimulation process during the completions phase of a well.

The job not only calls for cost analysis and cost control relating to the water
management, but also demands keen organizational skills to juggle a full list of
daily tasks while coordinating water storage and transfer set-ups to new locations
that are changing weekly.

Discover the
Economic Benefits
of the Natural Gas
Industry in our

Raised in small communities not far from Susquehanna County, Chad thanks Cabot
for giving him the opportunity to return and work in this region. I like that you
know your neighbors and I love experiencing the rolling hills, the winding roads
and the fresh, crisp air out here, says Chad. Its great to be back and working so
close to home.

Next Issue
Job Creation
Roads
Royalties
Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation is an independent natural gas producer
and a leading developer of the natural gas supply contained in the Marcellus Shale in
Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

Visit www.cabotog.com to learn more.

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