Hydraulic Fracking

Question 1

Hydrofracking gets gas from what rock?

Answer 1

shale

Question 2

What are the characteristics of that rock?

Answer 2

sedimentary rock formed from mud, low permeability, has clay, quartz, organic matter and other minerals

Question 3

Marcellus shale encompasses what states and extends to what depth?

Answer 3

New York
Pennsylvania
West Virginia
Ohio 
Maryland
New Jersey
Virginia
2200 meters below Devonian

Question 4

In what area was the MS formed?

Answer 4

in the Appalachian Basin 350 million years ago

Question 5

Why is fracking useful?

Answer 5

use shale gas,

omit need for reservoir rock, seal and trap and migration pathway by creating these

Question 6

environmental issues related to shale gas formation

Answer 6

no all impacts known
brine discharge
surface water withdrawals
flowback dispersal
seismic activity

Question 7

What is proppant?

Answer 7

what stays behind to keep fractures open

Question 8

What are the possible characteristics of natural gas and what process may compromise this advantage?

Answer 8

Energy independence (abundant in US)
infrastructure already built
greenhouse gas reduction: gas is the cleanest fossil fuel
(release of stray methane would counteract this)