Poll: Fracking - Pro or Con?

[TexasBama]

I think the engineering report said that, where convenient, they use sea water, NaCl, because the salinity is pretty uniform around most of the world...

Maybe offshore. On land, the cement guys have solid meter systems with their cement trucks, so they just mix to spec. I've used accelerators on plugging jobs, where I wanted to fast-plug the bottom of an artesian well.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

Maybe offshore. On land, the cement guys have solid meter systems with their cement trucks, so they just mix to spec. I've used accelerators on plugging jobs, where I wanted to fast-plug the bottom of an artesian well.

I was astounded at the number and type of admixtures used...

 

[bamacon]

When I turn on the light switch I think it is cool that the lights come on. Not to mention that use of natural sources of energy is what has made our country the most prosperous and grand in the world. ANd overall I think we are a pretty freaking good country. Anything that allows us to keep that status is good in my book.

Now if we were going all China on it....not so much. I like being able to take deep breaths in my country too.

 

[TexasBama]

I was astounded at the number and type of admixtures used...

When the wells are cemented, drilling mud with some cement will be displaced and captured in the mud tanks. To keep the cement from setting, sugar is sometimes used. I wouldn't think you could use it down hole because it would probably decompose due to heat. But I would imagine the down hole retarders are chemically similar to sucrose.

 

[TIDE-HSV]

When the wells are cemented, drilling mud with some cement will be displaced and captured in the mud tanks. To keep the cement from setting, sugar is sometimes used. I wouldn't think you could use it down hole because it would probably decompose due to heat. But I would imagine the down hole retarders are chemically similar to sucrose.

They do mention organics as one additive. I didn't see sucrose specifically. This is just a generic paragraph on additives:

Accelerators or retarders may be used in the cement to change the set time from a few minutes to many hours. A retarder is used in deep or very hot wells to prevent the set of the cement before the job is complete. Accelerators are used in shallow or cool wells to speed up the set of cement so less rig time islost waiting on the cement to set. Values such as filtrate loss control and cement expansion can also be directly affected. Cement additives may be divided into two general classifications based on their reaction type; chemical and nonchemical. Nonchemical additives are usually materials which affect the cement by altering density or controlling fluid loss. Chemical additives modify the hydration (water intake).

They do mention adding Bentonite as an additive for a lighter slurry. That set off a memory for me. My wife and I were heading for the Wind River Range right at the end of the Yellowstone fires. We had talked to some friends about joint trip, but he wanted to head off to the east into the Absarokas. I wasn't crazy about that, both because there's less dramatic elevation change and also because that range is basically volcanic and the soil is basically Bentonite, which is as slick as owl's grease (expression from childhood that I don't really understand). Anyway, the snows came, put out the fires and liquified the soil over where they were. They got their motor home out, with the help of a bunch of volunteers to keep it pushed up on the road. They also kept being asked by hikers if they'd seen the grizzly yet. (Some grizzlies drifted down south out of the park.) I had represented a exploration company out of Denver for several years during the late '70s - early 80s and I knew enough about the composition of Bentonite that I knew I didn't want to be camping on it.

Funny, but the first time I was up there after the bubble burst, I checked into a motel in Lander and actually laughed when I saw the $58 price. The clerk looked puzzled and I had to explain that the last invoice I'd seen for a room there during the boom was $350. He just looked sad and nodded...

 

[Bama4Ever831]

Re: Fracking. Pro or Con?

Pro ... with common sense, fairly applied regulations and properly incentivizing rewards and punishments.

We agree on this one.

 

[bamachile]

Re: Fracking. Pro or Con?

Some good info is popping out on this thread. TB, it sounds like this is your field and I appreciate the insight. Earle, you surprised me. I didn't know this was a field in which you were well studied. Shoot, is there a field where you're not well-studied? :smile:

 

[BamaFlum]

Re: Fracking. Pro or Con?

Some good info is popping out on this thread. TB, it sounds like this is your field and I appreciate the insight. Earle, you surprised me. I didn't know this was a field in which you were well studied. Shoot, is there a field where you're not well-studied? :smile:

I was thinking the same thing. Maybe brain surgery? Earl, what you got on brain surgery?

I agree about sensible regulations. Water is precious. In TX, it is more valuable than gold in some areas.