Hydraulic Fracking
What is Hydraulic Fracking ?
The Basics of Hydraulic Fracking
Essentially Hydraulic Fracturing is the fracturing of rock by pressurized liquid. Hydraulic Fracking is used to drill through the Earth down to the Marcellus Shale to extract natural gas from the shale. The first experimental use of hydraulic fracturing was in 1947.
The Marcellus Shale
Marcellus shale is the rock that the pressurized liquid break down. It releases the pressured gas and oil through the well. Then it is collected and converted.
Photographs of Hydraulic Fracturing
Explanation of drilling layers
This shows the layers of rock and sediment that must be drilled to get down to the shale.
Map of North Eastern United States
This map displays the area which the Marcellus Shale is located. Also shows where it could be all drilled.
A Hydraulic Fracturing Drilling Rig
This is what a basic hydraulic fracking drilling rig looks like.