Shale drilling
Shale drilling is the extraction of hydrocarbons trapped in shale rock formations.
How it’s important to us
Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing are the two drilling methods that have long been used to get wider and deeper access to shale formations. Horizontal drilling activities involve drilling a well vertically, then at a desired depth (oil/gas reservoir), turning the drill bit to dig horizontally.
It has been proven to be effective but in the recent years, hydraulic fracturing (or fracking) has evolved to be the key drilling technique in the shale industry. The process is quite complex and requires not only a large amount of water but also the use of many chemical substances such as hydrochloric acid (to clean up the pipes), polyacrylamide gel (to reduce friction, surfactants to keep sand in suspension), biocides (to kill micro-organisms) and corrosion inhibitors.
Shale gas is extracted by pumping a mix of sand (to keep the fracture open), water and those chemicals down a well and into the reservoir at ultra-high pressure, causing the shale rock to break up freeing the oil and gas which flows up the well.
This drilling methods is subject to ongoing debate over some environmental and safety concerns, and therefore requires a continual assessment of risks and best practices (well construction, disposal of waste, inspections) along the drilling lifecycle.
