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Fracking also known as hydraulic fracturing is a process that is used to extract natural gas, petroleum, and other substances from rock deep within the earth. This process uses different types of material that are pumped within the rock to create small explosions to release the gases.
Fracking fluid is composed of water (95%) and other solvents and chemicals (5%). Initially some kind of acid, usually about 6,00o gallons of hydrochloric (5-28%) or acetic (5-45%) acid are pumped into the well, followed by 6,000-600,000 gallons of water. A typical well will use 1.2-3.5 million gallons of water, with larger ones using over 5 million.
For more information regarding fracking:
Unconventional Gas Shales: Development, Technology, and Policy Issues
