Fracturing fluid

From Wikimarcellus

Marcellus frac fresh water impoundment in Greene Co., Pennsylvania
Photo courtesy of Energy Corp. of America

Typical fracturing fluid (aka completion fluid or frac fluid) used for hydro-fracturing wells drilled in the Marcellus shale formation is approximately 99.5% water and proppant--usually sand. The remainder consists of chemicals such as surfactant additives and other substances that protect the well and optimize its performance. These are generally non-toxic and similar to those used in shampoos and swimming pools. The water, sand and chemicals are trucked in. A typical fresh water impoundment may hold 2 to 3 million gallons, but can run as high as 10 million.