Facts on fears of fraccing
An industry group representing the resource sector says the public is right to hold the gas industry to account about fracture stimulation or fraccing of gas-bearing rock and coal seams.
Straterra, a network representing 84 percent of New Zealand’s mineral production, says drilling opponents have legitimate concerns that deserve to be answered with informed and accurate information.
Straterra senior policy analyst, Bernie Napp says fraccing is used to extract coal seam gas (CSG) here in New Zealand and occasionally in natural gas wells onshore or near shore.
Fraccing is not generally used in oil extraction because there is little effect on the rate of flow, oil being much thicker and less able to flow than gas.
Mr Napp says the technique is used only if it is seen as economically viable.
He points out that fraccing is not done within or near the water table.
Gas reservoirs lie well in excess of 1000m or 1km beneath the water table while CSG reservoirs are shallower, but are still hundreds of metres below the water table, he says.
In the NZ gas industry, fraccing targets rock between 3000m and 4000m below the surface.
Straterra data shows the shallowest operation for gas was at 1400m depth on land in South Taranaki where the water table was 300m deep.
In 2007, CSG trials in the Waikato were fracced 380m, and the water table was 60m deep.
The gas industry believes that much of the opposition to fraccing is part of a campaign against all fossil fuel development.
Mr Knapp says, while the industry agrees the ideal is to move away from fossil fuels “for the foreseeable future they will continue to be, a large part of the mix”.
Straterra on Hydraulic Fracturing:
Fraccing is the creation of fissures in targeted rock formations deep underground.
A mixture of water, sand and chemical agents is pumped into the rock.
The chemical keeps the sand suspended in fluid throughout the pumping process.
When the chemicals break down the fluids are removed and the sand remains to keep the fissures open and increase the flow-rate of the fuel being extracted.
First, a well is drilled and lined with steel casing.
The steel casing is held in place with cement and is installed in tubular sections.
Then, fraccing fluid is pumped under pressure down to the necessary depth.
The fluids are kept under pressure for a short period of time.
Facts On New Zealand - News
Straterra, a network representing 84 percent of New Zealand's mineral production, says drilling opponents have legitimate concerns that deserve to be answered with informed and accurate information. Straterra senior policy analyst, Bernie Napp says
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