Perspectives for use of hydraulic fracturing in oil and gas production

Abstract

Hydraulic fracturing emerges currently, all over the world, as one of the more strategic techniques used by companies in the oil exploitation sector. This technique is characterized by its high productivity and profit in relation to conventional methods of hydrocarbon exploitation. However, in many countries, as is the case of Brazil, there are several divergences considering the employment of this methodology. Many renowned researchers attest that there are several irreversible environmental impacts generated by the use of this methodology. Among the main environmental impacts are the risk of groundwater level contamination, the risk of surface subsidence, and the risk of the environment contamination with fluids used in the process of the oil and gas extraction.

Transport Mechanism of Guest Methane in Water-Filled Nanopores

“…For example, in gas separation processes using membranes, the difference in the diffusion coefficients through pores or channels is one of the factors governing the membranes’ selectivity. In the petroleum industry, hydraulic fracturing is becoming one of the most important processes to produce gas and oil from subsurface formations with extremely low permeability, in which molecular diffusion could be one of the factors determining the productivity of a formation . It is possible that the imbibition of fracturing fluids into the rock matrix due to strong interactions with substrate surfaces causes fluid loss , and perhaps also affects the formation productivity .…”

“…In the petroleum industry, hydraulic fracturing is becoming one of the most important processes to produce gas and oil from subsurface formations with extremely low permeability, in which molecular diffusion could be one of the factors determining the productivity of a formation. 1 It is possible that the imbibition of fracturing fluids into the rock matrix due to strong interactions with substrate surfaces causes fluid loss 2,3 and perhaps also affects the formation productivity. 4 Considering another science sector, membrane-based drug delivery devices, characterized by both nanopores and nanochannels, promise the ability to precisely manipulate the diffusion of selected compounds using physical and electrical stimuli.…”