# Waterless fracturing > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Waterless_fracturing > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Waterless_fracturing.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterless_fracturing > Source revision: 1305434091 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) '''Waterless fracturing''' or '''Non-Aqueous fracturing''' is an alternative to [hydraulic fracturing](/source/hydraulic_fracturing) in which [liquefied petroleum gas](/source/liquefied_petroleum_gas) (LPG) is formed by using non-water fracturing fluid, most commonly by compressing [propane](/source/propane) gas into a liquid, and mixing it with a [gelling agent](/source/gelling_agent) forming a thick [gel](/source/gel).{{Cite web|last=Janiczek|first=Nathan|date=September 2013|title=Waterless fracking: A clean substitute|url=https://www.ourenergypolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/WA3.pdf|access-date=23 November 2021}} The waterless fracturing fluid is pumped into [shale](/source/Shale_rock) formations creating pressure of about 100–200 [psi](/source/Pressure_measurement). Excessive pressure cracks the rocks and releases natural gases in the process. In waterless fracturing, most of the released gas is able to get to the surface because the propane used does not block drilled pathways. During the pumping, LPG is converted into gas, which can lead to a high retrieval rate, depending on the specific conditions of the well. Some studies claim that gel used in LPG fracturing tends to be less likely to bring toxic chemicals or [underground radioactivity](/source/Radioactive_decay) to the surface compared to water-based methods. Additionally, the gel can be reused in certain applications, reducing material waste. Waterless fracturing is a more expensive process than hydraulic fracturing as propane is more expensive than water. The use of propane necessitates rigorous monitoring, as any leak could potentially lead to an explosion hazard.{{Cite news|last=Brino|first=Anthony|date=6 November 2011|title=New waterless fracking method avoids pollution, but drillers slow to embrace it|work=[Inside Climate News](/source/Inside_Climate_News)|url=https://insideclimatenews.org/news/06112011/gasfrac-propane-natural-gas-drilling-hydraulic-fracturing-fracking-drinking-water-marcellus-shale-new-york/|access-date=23 November 2021}} LPG fracturing was developed by Gastric, an energy company based in [Calgary](/source/Calgary), [Alberta](/source/Alberta), [Canada](/source/Canada). LGP fracturing has been in use since 2008 in [gas well](/source/gas_well)s of Alberta, [British Columbia](/source/British_Columbia), [New Brunswick](/source/New_Brunswick), [Texas](/source/Texas), [Pennsylvania](/source/Pennsylvania), [Colorado](/source/Colorado), [Oklahoma](/source/Oklahoma), and [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico). Advancements are also being made regarding other possible forms of waterless fracturing, including oil-based and CO2 energized oil fracturing, explosive and propellant fracturing, gelled LPG and [alcohol](/source/Alcohol_(chemistry)) fracturing, gas fracturing, [CO2](/source/Carbon_dioxide) fracturing, and [cryogenic](/source/Cryogenics) fracturing.{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Lei |last2=Yao |first2=Bowen |last3=Cha |first3=Minsu |last4=Alqahtani |first4=Naif B. |last5=Patterson |first5=Taylor W. |last6=Kneafsey |first6=Timothy J. |last7=Miskimins |first7=Jennifer L. |last8=Yin |first8=Xiaolong |last9=Wu |first9=Yu-Shu |date=2016-08-23 |title=Waterless fracturing technologies for unconventional reservoirs-opportunities for liquid nitrogen |url=https://www.osti.gov/pages/biblio/1532198 |journal=Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering |language=English |volume=35 |issue=PA |doi=10.1016/j.jngse.2016.08.052 |issn=1875-5100}} == Environmental Impact == In the 21st century hydraulic fracturing has increased oil and gas extraction from shale and tight sandstone reservoirs. Taking into consideration formation damage, water consumption, and water pollution, efforts have been devoted to developing waterless fracturing technologies because of their potential to alleviate these issues.{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=Lei |last2=Yao |first2=Bowen |last3=Cha |first3=Minsu |last4=Alqahtani |first4=Naif B. |last5=Patterson |first5=Taylor W. |last6=Kneafsey |first6=Timothy J. |last7=Miskimins |first7=Jennifer L. |last8=Yin |first8=Xiaolong |last9=Wu |first9=Yu-Shu |date=2016-08-23 |title=Waterless fracturing technologies for unconventional reservoirs-opportunities for liquid nitrogen |url=https://www.osti.gov/pages/biblio/1532198 |journal=Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering |language=English |volume=35 |issue=PA |doi=10.1016/j.jngse.2016.08.052 |issn=1875-5100}} ==References== {{Reflist}} Category:Hydraulic fracturing --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Waterless fracturing](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterless_fracturing) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waterless_fracturing?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.