Shale gas is a type of natural gas which is held in extremely dense rock formations. Because these formations are so dense the gas is not able to flow through the rock up to the surface. In order to release the gas, the rock must be fractured to create paths for the gas to flow out of the rock to the surface. This is where hydraulic fracturing comes in.

Hydraulic fracturing, known as ‘fracking’, is a safe, controlled and proven method for extracting gas found in shale rock. The fracking process is very common and has been used in various forms since the mid-1950s. It is only in the last few years that the technology has advanced to the point where it is useful in producing shale gas.

During the fracking process water is pumped down the well bore under controlled high pressure to break open the rock formation. The sand, called “proppant”, helps to expand and hold open the fissures, releasing the gas and allowing it to flow to the well head where it is safely captured and stored.

The fracking process uses fluids that are made up of 99.5 % water and sand, and 0.5% additives. The additives are used to help eliminate bacteria from the water, lubricate the fracking process and prevent scale deposits that can build up on piping and equipment. The fluids are carefully designed for each frac to ensure effective and efficient development of the gas.

A portion of the water used during the fracking process flows back to the surface. We reuse this water by blending it with fresh water, which helps us reduce the amount of water we need to draw from the environment.

Talisman believes that fracking is safe. We are committed to transparent and honest communication with our stakeholders and with our neighbours in the communities where we operate. The link below will take you to a list of our wells by location and the chemical classifications, volumes and concentrations used by our fracking contractors.

To view all Shale wells in Montney and Quebec, please click here.