After a well is drilled, it needs to be “completed” so that oil and gas can flow to the surface from the producing zone, several km below the surface. Completion involves several steps, one of which in unconventional reservoirs is hydraulic fracturing.

In fracturing, fluid comprised of water, sand and a very small volume of additives is pumped down the well under high pressure that fractures the rock. These fractures extend between 50 and 100 metres from the horizontal wellbore. Sand holds the fractures open to provide pathways for natural gas to flow into the wellbore. All wells are constructed to protect groundwater, using multiple layers of steel casing, which are inserted and cemented in place to create a solid barrier between the wellbore and near-surface water sources.

Video 4: Natural Gas Well Completion in the Marcellus Shale (4 minutes 53 seconds)

 

Learning Activity 3: Completion and Hydraulic Fracturing

Instructions

Watch Video 4 and answer the following questions.

  1. What is completion?

  2. When does completion take place?

  3. How does it begin?

  4. What is protecting the ground water near well pad sites?

  5. How long does a “frac” job take?

  6. Explain how water is used in the process

  7. What is a “frack stack”?

  8. What is “proppant” and what does it do?

  9. What is in “fracking fluid”? What does it do?

  10. What is “produced water”?

  11. What is a “service rig” or “workover rig”? What is it used for?

  12. What is the “Christmas Tree?” What is its function?

  13. How is the “Christmas Tree” operated?

  14. What is the first product of a new well?

  15. How long can a wellhead be used?