Anthony R. Ingraffea, Ph.D., a professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Cornell University. Ingraffea is considered a world expert on in the field of fracture mechanics for gas and oil extractions. He discuses the differences between conventional gas drilling and what is refered to as hydrofracking.
Wednesday, April 13 at Upstate Medical University Part 1 of 5
Horizontal, high-volume, slick-water hydraulic fracturing, otherwise known as hydrofracking, is a process used to extract oil and natural gas from hard rock formations, such as shale. The oil and gas are drawn out through fissures in the rock formation. These fissures are created through horizontal drilling deep into the rock formation, then sending high-pressured amounts of water, sand and chemicals down into the fractures. The sand and water hold the fissures open while the chemicals act as lubricants to help ease the gas out of the rock. The nearby Marcellus Shale formation has the potential to provide natural gas from its hard rock formation.