Frac’ing, a practice that is largely misunderstood and overcomplicated by society and the media, can be easily explained and shouldn’t trigger emotions of anxiety, according to Adam Ferrari, founder and CEO of Ferrari Energy. Frac’ing lights up cities, powers cars to stay on the road, and puts food on the table for thousands of hard-working men and women and their families across the United States.
One of the leading concerns about frac’ing is groundwater protection. However, freshwater close to the surface is protected by thousands of feet of rock, steel pipe, and cement. It is very unlikely for this water to be contaminated, and if it is, the water can still be purified. Freshwater is never destroyed during frac’ing, and numerous precautions are taken so that freshwater is not disturbed in the first place.
Another common objection to frac’ing is that it causes earthquakes. It’s important to remember that while minor earthquakes might take place, they are of very low magnitude and can’t produce damage to existing structures.
The process of hydraulic fracturing has been around for more than 100 years. Geologists discovered that rocks were porous deep within the earth (up to 30,000 ft) and that natural gas could be pulled from those porous spaces safely. Almost all rocks have pores. For example, with close inspection of a granite countertop, one notices that even kitchen counters have pores that could be widened with the application of high-pressure liquid.
Frac’ing pumps this high-pressure water carrying beach sand into rocks deep beneath the earth, creating microscopic cracks that fill with the sand. Once the pumping stops, the forces of the earth naturally close the cracks with the sand and keep them open ever-so-slightly to allow the fluid contents of the rock to flow through a ~5-inch hole that has been drilled.
Typically, frac’ing water has guar, a plant that thickens the liquid, similar to the process of making ketchup. It also has biocides to kill bugs, soap to keep the fluid slippery and reduce friction, and various other components depending on the specific type of rock being fracked. This water is used to carry the sand into the proper pores, and not damage the rock itself. Without this sand, rocks might undergo a process called clay swelling, which could lead to negative oil and gas recovery rates.
Adam Ferrari, founder and CEO, Ferrari Energy
About Adam Ferrari
Adam Ferrari is the founder of the Denver-based mineral acquisitions company Ferrari Energy. He is a chemical engineer by degree and is an accomplished petroleum engineer by profession. He also has experience in the financial sector through his work at an investment banking firm. Under his leadership, his company has supported numerous charitable organizations, including St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Freedom Service Dogs, Denver Rescue Mission, Coats for Colorado, and Next Steps of Chicago.