# Chemicals Used in Fracking and Their Purpose URL: https://sciencestruck.com/chemistry/chemicals-used-in-fracking-their-purpose Category: Chemistry Published: 2014-11-03T06:43:00 Updated: 2014-11-03T06:43:00 Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a process of extracting oil and natural gas from underground shale formations, by inducing the formation of fissures along the shale rock. These cracks are induced by pumping hydraulically pressurized fluids through the formations. The nature and composition of this fracking fluid is elucidated in this article. ### Heavy Load Approximately 1-8 million gallons of water is used, per fracking event. Hydraulic fracturing (also known as hydrofracturing, hydrofracking, or fracking) involves injecting shale formations with pressurized fluids to release trapped oil and gas reserves. The fluid used for this purpose is a mixture of water, sand, and a variety of chemicals. The chemicals to be used are based on the type of shale formations surrounding the fuel reserves. The water in the fluid acts as a transporting agent for the chemicals and the sand. The sand acts to keep the fissures, caused by the pressurized nature of the injected fluid, to remain open. The different chemicals kill bacteria and other microbes, and help in dissolving minerals found in the shale. With various possible chemicals that can be used, each company maintains its own tried and tested blend of chemicals to be used for the process. However, there are a few chemicals that are commonly and routinely used by all companies that carry out fracking. Each chemical serves a purpose and can be classified accordingly. ## Types of Chemical Functions ### Acid Dissolves minerals and helps induce cracks in the rock. ### Biocide Kills any water-borne bacteria, whose by-products may be corrosive. ### Breaker Stabilizes the gel, and enables its delayed breakdown. ### Clay Stabilizer Stabilizes the clay among the shale formations, and prevents it from swelling or shifting. ### Corrosion Inhibitor Prevents the corrosion of the fluid injecting pipe. ### Crosslinker Stabilizes and maintains fluid viscosity in case of rise in temperature. ### Friction Reducer Reduces the friction between the fluid and the pipe, and also between the fluid and its components. ### Gelling Agent Causes gel formation such that sand particles are homogeneously suspended throughout. ### Iron Control Prevents the metal oxides from precipitating. ### Non-emulsifier Prevents the formation of emulsions in the fluid. ### pH Adjusting Agent Maintains the pH at a level that is optimum for the other functions to occur. ### Scale Inhibitor Prevents the formation and deposit of scales in the pipe and fissures. ### Surfactant Acts as a detergent and also increases the viscosity of the fluid. ## List of Chemicals Used in Fracking **Chemical Name** **Common Name** **Function & Chemical Purpose** 2-Butoxyethanol \- Surfactant Product Stabilizer Acetaldehyde \- Corrosion Inhibitor Acetic Acid Vinegar Iron Control pH Adjusting Agent Ammonium Persulfate \- Breaker Borate Salts \- Crosslinker Boric Acid \- Crosslinker Calcium Chloride Ice Bite Breaker Product Stabilizer Choline Chloride \- Clay Stabilizer Citric Acid Lemon / Lime Juice Iron Control Copolymer of Acrylamide and Sodium Acrylate \- Scale Inhibitor Ethanol Grain Alcohol Surfactant Product Stabilizer Winterizing Agent Ethylene Glycol Antifreeze Breaker Product Stabilizer Winterizing Agent Friction Reducer Gelling Agent Non-emulsifier Formic Acid \- Corrosion Inhibitor Glutaraldehyde Diswart Biocide Hydrochloric Acid \- Acid Hydrotreated Light Petroleum Distillate \- Carrier for Borate and Zirconate (Crosslinker) Carrier for Polyacrylamide (Friction Reducer) Carrier for Guar Gum (Gelling Agent) Hydroxyethyl Cellulose Guar Gum Gelling Agent Isopropanol Rubbing Alcohol Product Stabilizer Winterizing Agent Corrosion Inhibitor Non-emulsifier Surfactant Lauryl Sulfate \- Non-emulsifier Surfactant Magnesium Oxide Magnesia Breaker Magnesium Peroxide Magnesium Dioxide Breaker Methanol Wood Alcohol Product Stabilizer Winterizing Agent Corrosion Inhibitor Crosslinker Friction Reducer Gelling Agent Surfactant Naphthalene Mothballs Surfactant Petroleum Distillate \- Carrier for Borate and Zirconate (Crosslinker) Carrier for Polyacrylamide (Friction Reducer) Carrier for Guar Gum (Gelling Agent) Phosphoric Acid Salts \- Scale Inhibitor Polyacrylamide PAM Soil Conditioner Friction Reducer Polysaccharide Blend \- Gelling Agent Potassium Carbonate Potash pH Adjusting Agent Potassium Hydroxide Caustic Potash pH Adjusting Agent Potassium Metaborate \- Crosslinker Quaternary Ammonium Chloride \- Biocide Sodium Carbonate Washing Soda pH Adjusting Agent Sodium Chloride Table Salt Product Stabilizer Breaker Clay Stabilizer Sodium Erythorbate Erythorbic Acid Iron Control Sodium Hydroxide Lye pH Adjusting Agent Sodium Polycarboxylate \- Scale Inhibitor Sodium Tetraborate Borax Crosslinker Tetrakis Hydroxymethyl Phosphonium Sulfate \- Biocide Tetramethyl Ammonium Chloride \- Clay Stabilizer Thioglycolic Acid Mercaptoacetic Acid Iron Control Triethanolamine Zirconate \- Crosslinker Zirconium Complex \- Crosslinker ## Why are Chemicals Used in Hydraulic Fracturing? Chemicals are used in the fracking process to make the fracturing of shale and recovery of gas an efficient process. Their use eliminates the need for further processing of the recovered gas. If chemicals were not used, one would have to regularly carry out the tedious task of cleaning out the pipes due to deposition and precipitation of minerals, and also the action of bacterial byproducts. Also such depositions in the shale quarry itself would lead to inefficient recovery and re-entrapment of the natural gas. In addition, if friction reducers are not added, it would require more pressure and force to pump the water and sand mixture down to the rock bed. In the absence of clay stabilizers, there arises a possibility of the clay loosening and the tunnel collapsing. There is also a chance of decreased gas recovery due to the formation of emulsions. After a well has been fracked, it is usually rinsed or flushed with pressurized water. All the injected fluids are recovered to some extent, and treated and recycled to reduce the toxicity levels. Newer ways are also being researched for possible reuse of the injected fracking fluid.