Green Frac^® Program

Chesapeake’s Green Frac^® program was founded in October 2009 to evaluate the types of additives typically used in the process of hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as fracing, to determine their environmental friendliness. After evaluations are completed, Green Frac calls for the elimination of any additive not critical to the successful completion of the well and determines if greener alternatives are available for all essential additives.

An industry-leading program, Green Frac is a decisive move toward an even greener fluid system. By reviewing all of the ingredients used in each frac, the program identifies chemicals that can be removed and tests alternatives for remaining additives. To date, the company has eliminated 25% of the additives used in frac fluids in most of its shale plays.

Fracing is a proven technique that has been successfully used by the natural gas and oil industry since the 1940s. The process of fracing creates small fissures, or fractures, in underground rock formations to allow natural gas to flow into the wellbore and up to the surface. During this process, water, sand and a small amount of additives are pumped at extremely high pressures into the wellbore to fracture the formation. The sand or proppants used in the frac fluid hold the newly created cracks open, allowing natural gas to flow into the wellbore.

The process continues, however, to draw attention due to concerns over the contents of frac fluids and potential contamination of groundwater by frac fluids despite the fact that there is virtually no risk that the mixture can escape from the targeted zone. Frac fluids are primarily composed of ​approximately 99% sand and water, but the mixture does contain a small amount of chemicals. This mixture, or recipe, varies depending on the characteristics of the producing formation and the well.

Most of these frac chemicals can be found in common, everyday household products such as laundry detergents, cleaners and beauty products. Some are even present in food and beverage items. While some additives have historically been classified as toxic, many, such as pH-adjusting agents and chlorine-based sanitization aides, are found in approximately the same concentration as in your backyard swimming pool.

Despite their common household uses, Chesapeake, through its Green Frac program, is actively searching for and identifying more environmentally friendly options for these products.

Green Frac is also establishing simple guidelines for the company and its vendors to provide safe and proper handling of chemicals while on the surface and ensure environmentally friendly fracing operations. These guidelines will also be used to increase public understanding of the process and its necessity in the production of American natural gas.