Fracking Liquids Used During Shale Drilling (ContributorNetwork)

Fracking is quickly becoming a slang term many in the shale boom region are learning. The debate among some environmentalists, natural gas companies and communities in dire need of jobs centers primarily on the fluids used during the hydraulic fracturing process and regulatory monitoring. Fracturing fluid is pumped from a horizontal gas well through a thick steel pipe to fracture shale deposits releasing natural gas deposits.

A U.S. House, Energy and Commerce Committee report released earlier this year identifies 2,500 types of fracturing fluids commonly used during the shale drilling process. Here are some facts and figures about hydraulic fracturing and shale drilling regulations.

750: Hydraulic fracturing products that contain chemicals and other nonorganic components of the 2,500 noted in the congressional report.

270: Hydraulic fracturing liquid ingredients not disclosed by the manufacturing company due to trade secret laws.

2,500: Feet shale drilling will set back from private and public water sources if recently introduced Pennsylvania legislation gains approval. Current rules requires drilling occur at least 1,000 feet from water sources.

342: Companies that include methanol in fracking liquids.

42: Shale drilling companies that use hydrocholic acid in hydraulic fracturing mixtures.

1,500: Feet around pumping wells the EnerVest natural gas drilling company tests for water contamination.

274: Currently used fracking liquid mixtures which utilize isopropyl alcohol.

207: Natural gas drilling liquid mixtures which include sand or cystaline silica.

3,800: Natural gas wells operating in Pennsylvania since the shale boom began in 2005.

126: Fracturing liquid recipes that include ethylene glycol monobutyl.

89: Hydro-treated light petroleum distilates that appear in fracking fluid mixtures.

80: Natural gas drilling companies that use sodium hydroxide when fracturing shale deposits.

11: Times a natural gas company was able to withhold at least one ingredient in a hydraulic fracturing liquid mixture during the government study due to the proprietary nature of the compound.

51: Times diesel fuel is listed in hydraulic fracturing liquid mixtures in the congressional study.

44: Companies that use napthalene when drilling for natural gas.

42: Times xylene is included in fracking liquid mixtures.

29: Times toluene is used in fracking brine when drilling for shale deposits.

28: Natural gas drilling companies that list ethylbenzene as an ingredient in hydraulic fracturing liquids.

14: Times diethanolamine appears in fracking mixture recipes.

9: Times nitrilotriacetic acid, benzyl chloride, sulfuric acid, cumene and tholourea are included in fracturing liquid products.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/energy/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ac/20111122/bs_ac/10428807_fracking_liquids_used_during_shale_drilling

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