Shale gas is natural gas extracted from shale wells using hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling techniques. Shale is rich in organic matter and minerals, but shale gas extraction has been controversial due to potential environmental harm. Recent technological advancements have made shale gas extraction more profitable and many countries are looking to it to meet future energy needs.
Shale gas refers to natural gas extracted from shale wells. A gas-rich form of rock, shale is often found in layers in the ground. While shale gas extraction has not been very profitable in the past, recent advances in technology have improved the prospects for shale gas extraction. In particular, hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling techniques have largely solved some of the problems associated with access to shale gas. However, some have criticized shale gas extraction as harmful to the environment.
Shale is a type of sedimentary rock that contains clay and minerals such as quartz. It is commonly found in Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks, meaning it is often between 500 and 700 million years old. Shales are known to be rich in organic matter, including natural gas.
The first well drilled to extract natural gas in the United States was a shale gas well. In the 1860s, however, conventional natural gas fields became more profitable than shale as a gas source. In recent years, new technological developments have made shale gas extraction more profitable. Many countries are now looking to shale gas technology to meet their future energy needs, including the US and China.
While shale gas wells are typically not permeable enough to allow easy extraction of natural gas, the advent of hydraulic fracturing has helped circumvent this problem. Hydraulic fracturing involves drilling a well into a well and pumping a fluid called fracturing fluid. The fracturing liquid serves to increase the pressure in a well, leading to the formation of new fractures. A permeable mixture such as sand can be added to keep the fractures open and allow natural gas to flow out of the well. Hydraulic fracturing techniques have opened up many shale gas wells as potential sources of natural gas.
Another technology that has made shale gas extraction cheaper is horizontal drilling. Horizontal drilling seeks to alter the path of a well to better penetrate a gas-rich shale. This technique is used because shale wells often extend horizontally in layers that are not very thick in the vertical direction. To maximize natural gas flow, however, the surface area of the well in contact with the well must be maximized. Then, wells are drilled horizontally through a shale well to improve gas flow.
The extraction of natural gas from shale has been the subject of controversy. Natural gas is mostly methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas. Some critics have argued that the amount of methane leaked from shale mining is greater than from conventional gas sources. Hydraulic fracturing has also been criticized. Some say the chemicals used during hydraulic fracturing will contaminate groundwater.
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