natural gas well
Quick Summary
A natural gas well is a well that primarily produces natural gas. Natural gas is a combustible mixture of methane and other hydrocarbons that issues from the earth's crust through natural openings or bored wells. It is used chiefly as a fuel and raw material.12
The recovery of oil and gas involves surface equipment to collect well fluids, separating them into gas, oil, and water. Water is often reinjected, while natural gas is typically piped to a processing plant to remove natural gas liquids (NGLs) before distribution. NGLs are used in the production of plastics and synthetics.3
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique used to release natural gas and crude oil by injecting liquid at high pressure into underground rock to create fissures. This process differs from traditional methods by using explosives to crack rocks, followed by pumping fracking fluid to widen the cracks. While fracking has increased fossil fuel supplies, it also poses environmental risks, including water contamination and seismic activity.45
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