Hydrofracturing

Hydrofracturing is a technology that has evolved from the oil and gas drilling industry. When an oil reservoir was located, the rate at which its contents could be produced was often unsatisfactory. In order to increase the flow rate, high-pressure water and sand were used to open the channels or rock, which the oil flowed through. With the open channels increasing the flow rates, the reservoirs became more useful. This same technology has been brought into the water-well drilling industry for essentially the same purpose. When a water-well is drilled it can often be a low yield well, which means it does not produce as much as desired. Oftentimes, hydro-fracturing can increase a well’s flow rate, making it pass code and even add value to the property on which it is located. The technology is proven and has a success rate of about eighty percent (80%).

How it works: By either using a drill rig or a crane/boom truck, a hydraulic packer is lowered into the well to measured depths. Once the packer is in place, a high pressure hydraulic pump inflates the packer. Once the packer is inflated, the well is confined from the packer down to the bottom of the well bore. Attached to the packer is a high pressure water pipe that carries water from the surface down through the packer. At the surface of the well head there is a high-pressure/high-volume water pump. The pump is then hooked to the pipe that runs down through the packer. Once the system is set up and in place, the pump is turned on, and water is injected at extreme pressures and high volumes for an amount of time. Sometimes, it can result in a ‘pop,’ where the pressure builds and suddenly drops. Other times, you do not notice a drop in pressure, but the end result can still be a success. This is often done at many different settings to ensure the highest probability of success.

There is also a process referred to as straddle packing. This is another form of hydro-fracturing and is a two-packer system that concentrates all the pressure within approximately 10ft of the well bore, instead of from the packer to the bottom of the well bore. This can be done when there is a known void or water-producing stream. The pressures will often build up to much higher amounts. We have the ability to do both techniques, depending on what the customer’s preferences are. This is yet another dynamic we have added to our business to make us the most complete well driller in the area.

Please enjoy these pictures of recent Residential Hydrofracturing projects we have completed.

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Hydrofracturing

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