Chapter 15, Problem 1CR

To determine

The process of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing (fracking); the way they are used to produce oil and natural gas.

Answer to Problem 1CR

The process of horizontal drilling involves drilling a vertical well deep into the Earth, turning the flexible shaft of the drill, and then horizontal drilling to gain access to multiple oil and natural gas deposits. In the case of hydraulic fracturing, the shale rock is fractured by high-pressure pumps and a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals is pumped through holes in the underground well pipe to extract oil and natural gas trapped in the shale rock. These technologies have reduced the cost of oil extraction and reduced its dependency on oil imports.

Explanation of Solution

The oil and gas producers combined two extraction technologies, namely, horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing or fracking, to reduce the cost of oil extraction.

The process of horizontal drilling involves the following steps:

(i). Drilling a vertical well deep into the Earth.

(ii). Turning the flexible shaft of the drill.

(iii). Horizontal drilling to gain access to multiple oil and natural gas deposits.

The hydraulic fracturing or fracking is used to remove the oil and natural gas trapped in the shale rock. The shale rock is fractured by high-pressure pumps that force a mixture of water, sand, and chemicals through holes in the underground well pipe. A mixture of oil and natural gas and some amount of slurry flow out of the cracks when the pressure is released. The oil and gas with slurry are pumped to the surface through the well pipe. The returning slurry also contains some potentially harmful chemicals. The slurry is again injected under high pressure into deep underground wells and sent to sewage treatment plants.

These technologies are greatly increasing the production of oil and natural gas in the United States and reducing the cost of oil extraction. The United States is utilizing these technologies to reduce its dependency on oil imports. The increased supply has reduced the price of natural gas. It has accelerated a shift from coal to natural gas for generating electricity in the United States.