Historical Wisconsin fracking information, 2000-2015
 in Wisconsin |
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This page contains historical information about fracking in Wisconsin. For more current information about fracking in Wisconsin, see this article.
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, there were no proven crude oil or natural gas reserves in Wisconsin as of 2015; consequently, there were no fracking operations in the state at that time. However, Wisconsin did support two industries related to fracking: frac sand mining and machinery manufacturing.[1][2]
Fracking background
- See also: Fracking
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a method of oil and natural gas extraction. The process involves injecting fluid into subterranean rock formation at a high pressure, creating a fracture network that allows the crude oil and natural gas inside dense rocks to flow into a wellbore and be extracted at the surface. The fluid used in this process is made up of sand and water, which comprise 95 percent of the fluid, and other chemical additives, which comprise less than 5 percent of the fluid.[3]
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), there were approximately 23,000 hydraulically fractured wells in the United States in 2000. By 2015, there were an estimated 300,000 hydraulically fractured wells. To learn more about fracking, see this article.[4][5]
Frac sand, also known as proppant, is a material used during the fracking process. Also known as industrial sand, frac sand contains high levels of silicon dioxide (SiO2), which make it strong. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Wisconsin is home to a particular type of sand, "Ottawa White," which is used in the fracking process.[6]
History
According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR), sand has been mined in Wisconsin since settlers first came to the area. Sand was mined for use on golf courses, in glassmaking, and for the petroleum industry. According to WDNR, frac sand mining expanded between 2008 and 2012, with 90 new mining permits being issued during that time.[7][8]
Fracking in the 50 states
Click on a state below to read more about energy in that state.
See also
External links
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources "Silica Sand Mining in Wisconsin"
- U.S. Energy Information Administration "Wisconsin Profile"
- Frac Focus, "National Hydraulic Fracturing Chemical Registry"
Footnotes
- ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Crude Oil Proved Reserves, Reserves Changes, and Production," accessed January 12, 2017
- ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "U.S. Crude Oil and Natural Gas Proved Reserves, Year-end 2015," December 14, 2016
- ↑ Frack Wire, “What is Fracking,” accessed January 28, 2014
- ↑ University of Oklahoma, "Hydraulic Fracturing and Water Resources," accessed March 12, 2014
- ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Hydraulic fracturing accounts for about half of current U.S. crude oil production," March 15, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Energy Information Administration, "Wisconsin Profile Analysis," December 18, 2013
- ↑ Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, "Silica Sand Mining in Wisconsin," January 2012
- ↑ Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, "Silica Sand Mining in Wisconsin," January 2012
