What Chemicals Are Used
Chemical additives perform many functions within fracture fluids. A Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Number is a unique identifier for chemical substances. The CAS is a division of the American Chemical Society that is responsible for the administration, quality assurance and maintenance of the CAS registry. A CAS Number itself has no inherent chemical significance but provides an unambiguous way to identify a chemical substance or molecular structure when there are many possible systematic, generic, proprietary or trade names. The number of chemical additives used in a typical fracture treatment depends on the conditions, such as depth or location, of the specific well being fractured and the characteristics of the formation, such as thickness and type of rock. A typical fracture treatment will use very low concentrations of between 3 and 12 additive chemicals, depending on the characteristics of the water and the rock formation being fractured. Each component serves a specific, engineered purpose.
| Product Function | Chemical Name | CAS | Chemical Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acid | Hydrochloric Acid | 007647-01-0 | Helps dissolve minerals and initiate cracks in the rock |
| Biocide | Glutaraldehyde | 000111-30-8 | Eliminates bacteria in the water that produces corrosive by-products |
| Ammonium Chloride | 012125-02-9 | Eliminates bacteria in the water that produces corrosive by-products | |
| Quaternary Ammonium Chloride | 061789-71-1 | Eliminates bacteria in the water that produces corrosive by-products | |
| Tetrakis Hydroxymethyl-Phosphonium Sulphate | 055566-30-8 | Eliminates bacteria in the water that produces corrosive by-products | |
| Breaker | Ammonium Persulphate | 007727-54-0 | Allows a delayed break down of the gel |
| Sodium Chloride | 007647-14-5 | Product Stabilizer | |
| Magnesium Peroxide | 014452-57-4 | Allows a delayed break down of the gel | |
| Magnesium Oxide | 001309-48-4 | Allows a delayed break down of the gel | |
| Calcium Chloride | 010043-52-4 | Product Stabilizer | |
| Clay Stabilizer | Choline Chloride | 000067-48-1 | Prevents clays from swelling or shifting |
| Tetramethyl ammonium chloride | 000075-57-0 | Prevents clays from swelling or shifting | |
| Sodium Chloride | 007647-14-5 | Prevents clays from swelling or shifting | |
| Corrosion Inhibitor | Isopropanol | 000067-63-0 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent |
| Methanol | 000067-56-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent | |
| Formic Acid | 000064-18-6 | Prevents the corrosion of the pipe | |
| Acetaldehyde | 000075-07-0 | Prevents the corrosion of the pipe | |
| Crosslinker | Petroleum Distillate | 064741-85-1 | Carrier fluid for borate or zirconate crosslinker |
| Hydrotreated Light Petroleum Distillate | 064742-47-8 | Carrier fluid for borate or zirconate crosslinker | |
| Potassium Metaborate | 013709-94-9 | Maintains fluid viscosity as temperature increases | |
| Triethanolamine Zirconate | 101033-44-7 | Maintains fluid viscosity as temperature increases | |
| Sodium Tetraborate | 001303-96-4 | Maintains fluid viscosity as temperature increases | |
| Boric Acid | 001333-73-9 | Maintains fluid viscosity as temperature increases | |
| Zirconium Complex | 113184-20-6 | Maintains fluid viscosity as temperature increases | |
| Borate Salts | N/A | Maintains fluid viscosity as temperature increases | |
| Ethylene Glycol | 000107-21-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | |
| Methanol | 000067-56-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | |
| Friction Reducer | Polyacrylamide | 009003-05-8 | “Slicks” the water to minimize friction |
| Petroleum Distillate | 064741-85-1 | Carrier fluid for polyacrylamide friction reducer | |
| Hydrotreated Light Petroleum Distillate | 064742-47-8 | Carrier fluid for polyacrylamide friction reducer | |
| Methanol | 000067-56-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | |
| Ethylene Glycol | 000107-21-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | |
| Gelling Agent | Guar Gum | 009000-30-0 | Thickens the water in order to suspend the sand |
| Petroleum Distillate | 064741-85-1 | Carrier fluid for guar gum in liquid gels | |
| Hydrotreated Light Petroleum Distillate | 064742-47-8 | Carrier fluid for guar gum in liquid gels | |
| Methanol | 000067-56-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | |
| Polysaccharide Blend | 068130-15-4 | Thickens the water in order to suspend the sand | |
| Ethylene Glycol | 000107-21-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | |
| Iron Control | Citric Acid | 000077-92-9 | Prevents precipitation of metal oxides |
| Acetic Acid | 000064-19-7 | Prevents precipitation of metal oxides | |
| Thioglycolic Acid | 000068-11-1 | Prevents precipitation of metal oxides | |
| Sodium Erythorbate | 006381-77-7 | Prevents precipitation of metal oxides | |
| Non-Emulsifier | Lauryl Sulphate | 000151-21-3 | Used to prevent the formation of emulsions in the fracture fluid |
| Isopropanol | 000067-63-0 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | |
| Ethylene Glycol | 000107-21-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | |
| pH Adjusting Agent | Sodium Hydroxide | 001310-73-2 | Adjusts the pH of fluid to maintains the effectiveness of other components, such as crosslinkers |
| Potassium Hydroxide | 001310-58-3 | Adjusts the pH of fluid to maintains the effectiveness of other components, such as crosslinkers | |
| Acetic Acid | 000064-19-7 | Adjusts the pH of fluid to maintains the effectiveness of other components, such as crosslinkers | |
| Sodium Carbonate | 000497-19-8 | Adjusts the pH of fluid to maintains the effectiveness of other components, such as crosslinkers | |
| Potassium Carbonate | 000584-08-7 | Adjusts the pH of fluid to maintains the effectiveness of other components, such as crosslinkers | |
| Scale Inhibitor | Copolymer of Acrylamide and Sodium Acrylate | 025987-30-8 | Prevents scale deposits in the pipe |
| Sodium Polycarboxylate | N/A | Prevents scale deposits in the pipe | |
| Phosphonic Acid Salt | N/A | Prevents scale deposits in the pipe | |
| Surfactant | Lauryl Sulphate | 000151-21-3 | Used to increase the viscosity of the fracture fluid |
| Ethanol | 000064-17-5 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | |
| Naphthalene | 000091-20-3 | Carrier fluid for the active surfactant ingredients | |
| Methanol | 000067-56-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | |
| Isopropyl Alcohol | 000067-63-0 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | |
| 2-Butoxyethanol | 000111-76-2 | Product stabilizer |