Snyder, TX, Feb, 2016 – Hydraulic fracturing is fast becoming a popular option for accessing deposits of natural gas and oil trapped deep within the earth. While the practice has been around for decades, it’s come into its own recently as more local and state governments see the benefits this process has to offer their economies and their residents by delivering access to in-demand fossil fuels.

While hydraulic fracturing is growing in practice, some still wonder if the method is truly safe for the environment and people. “It all comes down to the processes used during hydraulic fracturing,” the officials at Chemplex Solvay say. “When a well is carefully designed and a strict process is used to guide fracturing, the impacts are minimal.”

Reputable drilling companies adhere to industry and regulatory guidelines that ensure safety for people and the environment is the No. 1 priority. The measures that help ensure this include:

• Determining well stability first – Hydraulic fracturing doesn’t take place during the drilling process itself. The well must first be constructed and its stability assured.
• Fracturing doesn’t take long – Hydraulic fracturing is a rather short process that only takes up to 10 days to complete. Once it’s done, a well’s lifespan may reach up to 30 years.
• Groundwater protection matters – Wells intended for use with hydraulic fracturing are carefully placed and constructed to protect groundwater aquifers. In fact, fracturing generally takes place thousands of feet below the groundwater level to keep potable water safe.

It is estimated that hydraulic fracturing has been used in more than 1 million American wells since the process was developed in the 1940s. Safe and deliberate practices have combined with advances in the wellfield chemical industry to ensure environmental protection every step of the way. To find out more about the chemicals used in oil and natural gas production, visit Chemplex Solvay online.

About Chemplex
Chemplex Solvay Group provides companies in the oil and gas industry a competitive advantage through its comprehensive offering of quality fluid systems designed to meet specific location needs in cementing, stimulation (including fracturing) and acidizing.