How to Read a Fracturing Record

The following is a list of elements contained in the hydraulic fracturing records viewable on this site and an explanation of what each element means.  Minor differences may be observed between reports prepared by different provinces.
The header of each fracturing record contains general information about a well:

1. Fracture date: This is the date on which the fracturing associated with the record occurred.

2. Submission date: This is the date of the most recent submission of hydraulic fracturing information related to a well, reflecting either subsequent hydraulic fracturing operations or information amendments (Alberta).

3. Province: The name of the province in which the surface location of the well is located.

4. Region: The name of the region within the province.

5. Field Centre: The name of the regulatory agency field centre within the province (Alberta).

6. Surface Location: The Dominion Land Survey location of the surface of the well (Alberta).

7. Well (Licence) Number: This is the permit or license number associated with the well.

8. Operator (Licensee) Name: This is the name of the company that is responsible for operations at the well at the time the report is prepared.

9. Unique Well Identifier: The unique well identifier is the standard 16-character code which defines the bottom hole location and each significant drilling or completion event in the well (Alberta). When considered with the surface location, interested parties can better appreciate the approximate sub surface path of the lateral reach of the well.

10. Well Name: The well name typically provides generalized information regarding the operator region and location of the well.

11. Number of Stages:  The number of completed intervals along the length of a wellbore that were hydraulically fractured in the well (Alberta).

12. Longitude: This is the east-west coordinate location of the well on the earth in degrees, minutes and seconds.

13. Latitude: This is the north-south coordinate location of the well on the earth in degrees, minutes and seconds.

14. Latitude/ Longitude Projection: This is the particular projection method for the Latitude/ Longitude (e.g. North American Datum (NAD) 27 or 83).

15. True Vertical Depth: This is the absolute depth of the well measured from the surface to the deepest point of penetration.

16. Total Water Volume: This is the total amount of water in cubic metres (m³) used as the carrier fluid for the hydraulic fracturing job. It may include recycled, fresh or saline water.

17. Production Type: This designates the well type (e.g. oil, gas).

In addition to the general information shown above, each record contains information about the specific ingredients used during the fracturing process. 

The following is a list of the information shown on the fracturing record:

1. Trade Name: This is the name of the product designated by the supplier.

2. Supplier: This is the name of the company that supplied the product (e.g. Schlumberger, Halliburton).

3. Purpose: This is the function served by the additive (Trade Name) in the fracturing process (e.g. surfactant, biocide, etc.).

4. Fracture Start/End Date: The period when the hydraulic fracturing operations occurred (Alberta).

5. Component Type:  This indicates the component of the hydraulic fracturing fluid system to which an additive or ingredient is associated (Alberta).

6. Ingredients: This is the name of the chemical ingredient (e.g. Ethanol, Naphthalene etc.).  An ingredient chemical family name may be reported for ingredients considered to be confidential business information.

7. Chemical Abstract Service or CAS #: This is a number assigned by a division of the American Chemical Society for the purpose of identifying a specific substance. You can learn more about the characteristics of chemicals by searching for name or CAS number on the USEPA National Center for Computational Toxicology  website. 

8. Hazardous Material Information Review Commission or HMIRC (registry) #: This number indicates that the particular ingredient or additive formulation is considered to be confidential business information and is subject to a Hazardous Material Information Review Act claim exemption.

9. Ingredient Percentage in Additive by % Mass: This describes the amount of ingredient within the additive (Trade Name) as a per cent of the total mass of the additive. Note: Because the % Mass of the additive may be expressed in its maximum concentration, the total % Mass of ingredient percentage may exceed 100 per cent.

10. Ingredient Concentration in HF (Hydraulic fracturing) fluid % by mass: This describes the amount of ingredient as a per cent of the total mass of the HF fluid including carrier fluid and additives. Note: The total may not equal 100 per cent due to the redaction of proprietary components in accordance with the Trade Secrets provisions of the Federal Hazardous Material Information Review Act.