HYDRAULIC FRACTURE Meaning and
Definition
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Hydraulic fracture, also commonly known as fracking, is a technique used in the extraction of oil and natural gas that involves the injection of pressurized fluids into subsurface rock formations. The aim is to create cracks within the rock, enabling the release of trapped hydrocarbons.
This process begins with the drilling of a wellbore into the target formation. Once the wellbore is in place, a specialized fluid consisting of water, sand, and chemical additives is pumped down into the well at extremely high pressure. The pressure causes the rock to fracture, and the sand acts as a proppant to hold the fractures open. This allows the hydrocarbons to flow more easily to the wellbore and be extracted.
Hydraulic fracture relies on the principles of fluid mechanics and geomechanics to achieve its objectives. The high-pressure fluid creates enough force to overcome the strength of the rock, inducing fractures that extend from the wellbore into the surrounding formation. These fractures can extend for several hundred feet horizontally, greatly increasing the surface area available for hydrocarbon extraction.
The process of hydraulic fracturing has revolutionized the oil and gas industry by unlocking vast reserves that were previously inaccessible. However, it has also attracted attention and controversy due to concerns about environmental impacts, including water contamination and induced seismic activity. As a result, regulation and oversight of hydraulic fracturing practices have become essential.
Etymology of HYDRAULIC FRACTURE
The word "hydraulic fracture" is composed of two parts: "hydraulic" and "fracture".
- "Hydraulic" is derived from the Greek word "hydraulikos", which means "water organ" or "powered by water". It combines "hydr-" (meaning water) with "aulos" (meaning pipe or tube). The term was first coined around the 17th century and refers to the transmission of power through the use of water pressure.
- "Fracture" comes from the Latin word "fractura", which means "a breaking" or "a fracture". It is derived from the verb "frangere", meaning "to break". The word entered the English language in the 17th century and is commonly used to describe the act of breaking or cracking something, particularly in reference to bones or rocks.
