Water is an essential component of Chesapeake’s deep shale gas development. Chesapeake uses water for drilling, where a mixture of clay and water is used to carry rock cuttings to the surface and to cool and lubricate the drillbit. Drilling a typical Chesapeake Marcellus Shale gas well requires approximately 100,000 gallons of water.
Water is also used in hydraulic fracturing, where a mixture of water, sand and other additives are pumped under high pressure into the deep shale to create small fissures, or fractures, in the rock which allow natural gas to flow. Hydraulically fracturing a typical Chesapeake Marcellus horizontal deep shale gas well requires an average of 5.5 million gallons. Normally, a hydraulic fracturing operation is only performed once during the life of a well. In comparison, New York City uses on average 5.6 million gallons of water every eight minutes1.
Technological advancements in drilling and hydraulic fracking are precisely why the Marcellus Shale stands to provide such a benefit to the region and our country. And yet, the amount of water used for all drilling and hydraulic fracking operations in the Marcellus represents less than a 0.1% increase in total water usage in the region.
When compared to every other viable form of energy produced today such as biofuels, coal and nuclear, Chesapeake’s deep shale natural gas uses a mere fraction of the overall water resources. And we have a highly innovative water recycling process (Aqua Renew®) in place that is increasing our water efficiency.
Chesapeake utilizes a variety of water sources during Marcellus Shale gas exploration, including rivers, creeks and lakes. Chesapeake is reviewing the use of a variety of other water resources, such as treated discharge water from industrial or city wastewater treatment plants, groundwater and the re-use of fracturing water. When drilling inside city limits, Chesapeake often works directly with local officials to arrange water purchases from a municipality.
Sourcing Reference:
1New York Department of Environmental Protection - They list the average daily water consumption by year – “yesterday NYC “consumed” 1.03 billion gallons” – break this down as it relates to using approximately 3.5 million gallons in 5 minutes.