Fracking gas what is

Does Hydraulic Fracturing Cause Earthquakes? What are Fracking Myths? Energy Tomorrow Blog. Natural gas has many residential, commercial and industrial uses. See below: Residential uses: Stove cooktops, dryers and home heating Commercial uses: Heating and cooling offices, schools and hospitals Industrial uses: Preheating metals, glass melting and food processing Power generation: Operation of gas turbines to create electricity Transportation fuel: Transit buses, trucks, vans and passenger cars There are many uses for natural gas, and new technologies are being developed to discover more ways to benefit from its abundance.

Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well. The process can be carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling horizontally to the rock layer, which can create new pathways to release gas or used to extend existing channels.

The term fracking refers to how the rock is fractured apart by the high-pressure mixture. Drilling for shale gas is still at an exploratory phase.

However, reserves of shale gas have been identified across large swathes of the UK , particularly in northern England. More than licences have been awarded by the government, allowing firms to pursue a range of oil and gas exploration activities in certain areas.

Before companies can begin fracking they must also receive planning permission from the relevant local council. Cuadrilla faced legal challenges before it could begin drilling at its Preston New Road site at Little Plumpton in Lancashire. Applications have also been submitted in Yorkshire , Nottinghamshire and for a second site in Lancashire. However, Cuadrilla is the only company to receive final consent from the government to begin fracking.

Governments in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have all said they will oppose fracking until further research is completed into its environmental impact. In , Cuadrilla suspended test fracking operations near Blackpool after earthquakes of 1. A subsequent study found it was "highly probable" that shale gas test drilling triggered the tremors.

A government-appointed panel said there could be more tremors as a result of fracking, but they will be too small to do structural damage above ground. It recommended greater monitoring and said operators should observe a "traffic light" regime, with tremors of magnitude 0. As exploratory drilling restarted in Lancashire, Cuadrilla said it will comply with that system and also issue a daily report about the previous day's drilling.

The firm says it expects to have an idea of "how much natural gas is likely to be recoverable" from the exploratory drilling by spring However, before shale gas can be extracted on a commercial basis, Cuadrilla would need to apply for new licences and permits.

Fracking allows drilling firms to access difficult-to-reach resources of oil and gas. In the United States it has significantly boosted domestic oil production and driven down gas prices. Pipes have up to seven layers, each reinforced by concrete, as they pass through the aquifer and are reduced to one layer of steel at about 3km deep. Supporters also claim that fracking has helped to revolutionise the energy industry in the USA and that the UK could become a net exporter of gas, rather than spending money exporting from other countries.

They also believe the industry could create tens of thousands of jobs and attract billions in investment in communities that were once dependent on mining. After initially supporting the fracking industry — believing the gas had the potential to provide the UK with greater energy security, economic growth and jobs — the UK government reversed its stance on the basis of new scientific analysis received in Minister took the decision to withdraw support and halt all fracking in light of a report from the by the Oil and Gas Authority OGA which found that it is not currently possible to accurately predict the probability or magnitude of earthquakes linked to fracking operations.

NS Energy is using cookies We use them to give you the best experience. Continue Learn More X. Home » Shale » Analysis. Remember me. Don't have an account? What is fracking and how is shale gas extracted? NS Energy takes a closer look at what fracking involves What is fracking and why is it such a contentious subject in the UK? A diagram of how fracking works The Oil and Gas Authority report also claimed it was not possible to predict the magnitude of earthquakes that the process might trigger in future.

Here, we break down what fracking involves. A drilling rig used for fracking in the USA What is fracking?