Some subsurface rock units such as organic shale contain large amounts of oil, natural gas or natural gas liquids that will not flow freely to a well. They will not flow to a well because the rock unit either lacks permeability (interconnected pore spaces) or the pore spaces in the rock are so small that these fluids can not flow through them.
The hydraulic fracturing process solves this problem by generating fractures in the rock. This is done by drilling a well into the rock, sealing the portion of the well in the petroleum-bearing zone, and pumping water under high pressure into that portion of the well. This water is generally treated with a chemicals and thickeners such as guar gum to create a viscous gel. This gel facilitates the water's ability to carry grains of frac sand in suspension.
Large pumps at Earth's surface increase the water pressure in the sealed portion of the well until it is high enough to exceed the breaking point of the surrounding rocks. When their breaking point is reached they fracture suddenly and water rushes rapidly into the fractures, inflating them and extending them deeper into the rock. Billions of sand grains are carried deep into the fractures by this sudden rush of water. A few thousand tons of frac sand can be required to stimulate a single well.
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