How does the process of extracting natural gas work?

When you fire up your furnace or light your gas stove, using the warmth of that distinctive blue flame, you’re participating in a daily routine of 62 million American households. This means you're relying on natural gas. While it serves as a means to heat our homes, like all energy sources, natural gas must be sourced from somewhere. So, how exactly is natural gas retrieved?

Natural Gas Extraction Begins with Deposits of Natural Gas

Natural gas drilling, like all energy extraction methods, begins when a natural gas deposit is located deep within the Earth. To find these deposits, energy companies utilize various techniques, including examining surface geology, analyzing seismic energy (the way energy travels from deep within the Earth to its surface), and studying the magnetic characteristics of underground rock layers. Once a potential deposit is identified, the company proceeds by drilling down to access it.

Breaking Through a Dense Rock Formation

Extracting gas from the Earth is no simple task. Unlike a typical water well where drilling results in the accumulation of water, natural gas is trapped within underground rock formations. These rocks must be fractured to release the gas, and improper extraction methods could potentially contaminate nearby groundwater supplies. To optimize gas extraction, energy companies line the well with materials that help retain the gas. They then send electric charges down the well, which alter the surrounding rock.

The Role of Hydraulic Fracturing

After the electric charges are triggered, a high-pressure liquid fracking fluid is pumped into the well. This fluid fractures the rock, causing the natural gas to be released. Since natural gas is lighter than the fracking fluid, it rises to the surface for collection.

Although it may seem straightforward, natural gas drilling is still met with some debate. Critics claim that the process can introduce harmful chemicals into groundwater, posing risks to drinking and agricultural water supplies. Additionally, once the fracking fluid has been used, it is often contaminated with toxic substances. In some cases, this fluid can be recycled and repurposed for future fracking projects.

So, the next time you're enjoying the warmth of a home heated by natural gas, you'll have a better understanding of where it originates from.