Chemicals serve many functions in hydraulic fracturing. From limiting the growth of bacteria to preventing corrosion of the well casing, chemicals are needed to insure that the fracturing job is effective and efficient.
Why Chemicals Are Used
Given today's technology, chemicals must be used in hydraulic fracturing to ensure the producing formation is effectively treated. The chart shown below depicts generic hydraulic fracturing chemical usage including the types of chemicals, their uses in the process and the result of their use.
As previously noted, chemicals perform many functions in a hydraulic fracturing job. Although there are dozens to hundreds of chemicals which could be used as additives, there are a limited number which are routinely used in hydraulic fracturing. The following is a list of the chemicals used most often. This chart is sorted alphabetically by the Product Function to make it easier for you to compare to the fracturing records .