Fracking with CO2 'Years away'

Technical challenges could mean that water used during fracking will not be able to be replaced with carbon dioxide for several years. Reuters reports that General Electric Co. (GE) (USA) has said that carbon dioxide will not be able to be used as an alternative to water during the process of hydraulic fracturing (fracking) for natural shale gas due to current technical limitations.

GE is currently researching the possible usage of carbon dioxide during the fracking process as part of a $10 billion (£6 billion) programme. The lack of technology to allow for carbon dioxide usage means that natural gas companies need to continue using water for the extraction process, which requires over two million gallons per fracked well. This excessive water usage has proven to be a problem for some water-stressed areas, delaying the expansion of fracking.

The company is looking at how chilled carbon dioxide, called "super-critical fluid" as it is not a solid or a liquid, could be used as an alternative for water during fracking. GE is currently looking at ways in which this form of carbon dioxide can become the new industry standard for natural gas extraction.

Working alongside Statoil ASA, the ecomagination programme that this research is part of is also looking into a number of other energy projects, including wind blade design and gas turbine efficiency. It aims to result in a new fracking process that requires no water at all; however, the company said that this is still several years off.

Fracking has been used for years as a way of extracting both natural gas and oil, resulting in new access to vast supplies. While many opponents to the technique comment on the environmental issues that fracking with water may create, there is some optimism about the benefits that could arise from making use of carbon dioxide for the process and how this could mitigate environmental risks. 

As well as looking at the right forms of technology to allow the use of carbon dioxide, the researchers are also looking at the best thickness of the gas in its cooled state, in order to provide the best results. Carbon dioxide has been used in the past for small scale fracking operations but this research could create a new industry standard in the future.