shale gas
Sedimentary rock methane
Shale gas is natural gas trapped within shale rock formations deep underground.
Extracting it requires hydraulic fracturing (fracking)—injecting high-pressure fluid to crack the rock and release the gas.
The technology transformed energy markets in the early 21st century, particularly in the United States: The shale gas boom made America a net energy exporter.
Fluid-pressure extraction technique
- frackingExtracting gas via pressure
- horizontal drillingSubsurface excavation parallel to ground
- wellboreDrilled subsurface hole
- drillingHole-making by rotation
casing · cementing · stimulation · completion · injection · pressure · perforation · rig
Substances released into air
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- flaringExpanding outward suddenly
- induced seismicityEarthquakes caused by humans
- wastewaterContaminated drainage from buildings
air quality · aquifer · water usage · habitat fragmentation · venting · remediation
Simplest alkane fuel
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- power plantsFacilities producing electricity
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
- heatingRaising temperature artificially
pipeline · LNG · thermal · energy mix · utility · turbine · cogeneration · boiler
Formed from deposited material
- reservoirLarge water storage basin
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
- formationCreation or arrangement
Marcellus · Barnett · Utica · source rock · porosity · basin · stratigraphy · overburden
Deploying capital for returns
trade · revenue · growth · royalties · leases · mineral rights · landowner · energy independence
Official rules governing conduct
- moratoriumTemporary prohibition or delay
- banOfficial restriction on something
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
- lobbyingAdvocating to decision-makers
litigation · protest · activism · NIMBY · debate · polarization · campaign · backlash
hydraulic fracturing
Fluid-pressure extraction technique
- frackingExtracting gas via pressure
- horizontal drillingSubsurface excavation parallel to ground
- wellboreDrilled subsurface hole
drilling · casing · cementing · stimulation · completion · injection · pressure · perforation · rig · derrick
emissions
Substances released into air
- carbon dioxideRespiration byproduct, photosynthesis fuel
- flaringExpanding outward suddenly
- induced seismicityEarthquakes caused by humans
wastewater · air quality · aquifer · water usage · habitat fragmentation · venting · remediation
methane
Simplest alkane fuel
- combustionExothermic reaction with oxygen
- power plantsFacilities producing electricity
- electricityEnergy from charged particles
heating · pipeline · LNG · thermal · energy mix · utility · turbine · cogeneration · boiler · BTU
sedimentary
Formed from deposited material
- reservoirLarge water storage basin
- permeabilityAbility to transmit fluids
- organic matterMaterial from living sources
formation · Marcellus · Barnett · Utica · source rock · porosity · basin · stratigraphy · overburden · cap rock
investment
Deploying capital for returns
exports · trade · revenue · growth · royalties · leases · mineral rights · landowner · energy independence · price volatility
regulation
Official rules governing conduct
- moratoriumTemporary prohibition or delay
- banOfficial restriction on something
- oppositionActive resistance or dissent
lobbying · litigation · protest · activism · NIMBY · debate · polarization · campaign · backlash · environmental justice
directional drilling
Steering boreholes at angles
- real-time monitoringContinuous observation without delay
- energyelectricity, power, oil, fuel, battery
- fossil fuelspetroleum, crude oil, coal, anthracite, lignite
- natural resourcescrude oil, lumber, water, air, coal reserves
- gas mixturesair, biogas, nitrox, compressed air
- resource explorationprospecting, drilling, geological survey, core sampling, wildcatting
- natural gasBTU, CH4, therm, methane, LNG
shale gassolar power
Energy derived from sunlight
wind power · solar energy · wind energy · renewable energy · green energy
shale gasclean energy
Power from sustainable sources
sustainable energy · green power · green energy · renewables · anti-fracking
gas, gassy, gases, shale, natural gas, gasworks, shales, gasification, gasify