Hydraulic Fracturing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Hydraulic Fracturing and How Does it Work?

Hydraulic fracturing, or "fracing," is a method pioneered in Kansas* in 1947 used to allow oil and natural gas producers to safely recover oil and gas from oil- and gas-producing formations.

Stimulates a well to increase oil or gas production.

Each fracture job is engineered to be the most effective and stay in the pay zone.

Procedure done after the well is drilled, before it is put on pump.

Water and sand, along with other additives, are mixed then pumped below ground to fracture the producing rock matrix. Water and sand make up 98% of the fluid pumped into the formation; other additives, 2%.

A proppant is introduced, generally fine grained sand. Fractures are then held open by the sand, allowing the natural gas previously trapped to flow to the wellbore and be collected at the surface.

"Slick water treatment" is introduced to increase viscosity

Flowback fluids empty into tanks or pits that are then disposed of properly.

*Kansas was the first in the nation, a well frac in Grant County in 1947 by Stanolind Oil Company.

Are Hydraulic Fracture Jobs Performed in Kansas?

in more than 57,000 wells

Conventional wells

Vertical wells in sandstones and carbonates
South central and southwest regions of Kansas

Coal bed methane wells – Southeast Kansas

Niobrara chalk wells – Northwest Kansas

Horizontal wells

Beginning to have a place in Kansas in conventional oil and gas pays

Injection wells

Utilized in saltwater disposal wells for increased disposal

Increase enhanced oil recovery performance

Why is Hydraulic Fracturing Important in Kansas?

Oil and natural gas is the state's second largest industry and generates more than $6 billion each year and sends more than 28,000 Kansans to work each day.

More than $360 million each year from oil and natural gas production goes to roads, schools and other public projects.

Current Oil Production:

35.7 millions barrels annually

97,800 barrels per day
Ranked 8th among 31 oil-producing states

Fracing is a valuable tool that makes many wells economic to complete and produce that otherwise would not be economical.

In some cases, fracing eliminates the need to drill more wells, which lessens the surface foot print.

Statistics from KIOGA

Who Regulates Hydraulic Fracturing in Kansas and How?

By regulating the oil and gas exploration industry since the 1930s, the KCC has developed sound regulations to protect surface, ground water and correlative rights. The 85 full-time employees (geologists, engineers, technical staff, attorneys and field inspectors) who work in the Conservation Division enforce these regulations by witnessing, inspecting and permitting drilling, well-completion and production throughout the state.

Surface pipe regulations

Production casing regulations

Well-cementing requirements

Intent-to-drill process

Well spacing requirements

Pit permitting process

Well completion reporting requirements