Hydraulic Fracturing

Hydraulic fracturing is a means of extracting natural gas from shale formations.   It is a proven technology and has been used since the 1940s in more than a million wells in the United States to help produce oil and natural gas.  It has been a routine completion technique for most wells in Colorado since the 1970's.  

Hydraulic fracturing is an advanced, effective technique whereby “fracturing fluids”, typically comprised of 99.5 percent water and sand, and less than 0.5 percent chemicals, are injected under high pressure into a shale formation, creating fissures that free the natural gas to flow from rock pores where it is trapped.

To learn more about hydraulic fracturing, watch the video below.  In just a few minutes, you will gain an understanding of the critical steps taken before hydraulic fracturing even begins; the safety measures used to protect the fresh water aquifer; and the hydraulic fracturing process itself.  

Nearly 80 percent of natural gas wells drilled in the next decade will require hydraulic fracturing because it allows access to formations, like shale oil and shale gas, available now as a result of technological advances.  Coloradans, however, have the benefit of gaining from the experience of an industry that has used this technology in nearly one million wells for more than 60 years. The combined expertise of thousands of workers in this field has developed comprehensive standards, procedures and regulations to protect citizens and the environment.
 
Read more:

• Hydraulic Fracturing - What Are U.S. Officials Saying? (Downloadable)
• Understanding the Marcellus Supply Chain (University of Pittsburgh)
• COGCC Hydraulic Fracturing Information