Fracing vs. Fracking: Winning the Grammar Battle and Losing the Search Engine War

Hydraulic fracturing is the drilling process where layers of bedrock are cracked and spilt using hydraulic fluids to free up and extract oil and natural gas trapped within. TECO is a manufacturer of severe service magnetic flowmeters designed specifically for the hydraulic fracturing industry.

We at TECO believe its important to fully understand an industry's unique processes, challenges, and terminology. By doing so we gain a deep industry knowledge. This knowledge facilitates better communication. Better communication increases understanding and reduces mistakes and errors.

There are very few situations where this isn't the best track to follow. But we found one.

We always tried to do our best by being clear, accurate, and following industry standards. But sometimes you just have to know when to give up. Such is the case with the never-ending "fracing vs. fracking" debate.

This isn't the first essay on the subject, and it won't be the last. It's just that, we here at TECO, have decided to change our online communications approach, based upon some pretty strong data.

While the Oil and Gas industry prefer leaving that lower case "k" out, it's become quite clear that Mr. Google and Mr. Webster decided the "k" needs to be there. And when you're a company making great flow meters, and trying to let people know how good they are, it's makes a world of difference in getting found on the search engines.

It's no secret that Oil and Gas industry people clearly prefer the use of frac or fracing. There are quite a few instances where industry leaders have strongly argued that frac or fracing are the only acceptable spellings. TECO too, decided the industry preferred version was the way to go, and decided that all of our efforts in online marketing and communications would follow suit. We were sure that by sticking to the use of the industry preferred spelling, we'd be in a perfect position to be seen by all the industry professionals searching for "fracing flow meters".

But that didn't happen. Mr. Google wasn't buying it. Search engine results were disappointing. We needed to find out what we were doing wrong.

After careful review of our online content, and use of keywords, we determined it was that lousy lowercase "k". Turns out it makes an insane amount of difference when people use a search engine.

For example, in one test, using a generic keyword tracking tool, we found that the term "fracing" returns a total of 1187 searches, while the term "fracking" returns an astounding 87,836 searches! That means "fracking" is searched for 74 times more than "fracing". You can't ignore that.

Additionally, when you review the Google Trends graph below,  you see a vivid illustration of the usage (and trends) for the terms Frac, Frack, Fracing and Fracking (it's pretty clear that Fracking is the winner).

Click for larger view.

But this graph also reveals another important geographic clue. You'll note that the term Frac is used in the specific states where the actual drilling is happening, which makes sense because that's where the fracing industry professionals are. And we want to make sure we reach them. So, our conclusion and online marketing plan may not surprise you.

We'll use both. 😀

Hydraulic Fracturing Terms and Definitions

Hydraulic fracturing is the process of using fluid, sand, chemicals, and gels to create or exploit small fractures in a sub-surface rock layer formations in order to stimulate production from oil and gas wells. This fracturing creates paths and reservoirs which increase the rate at which fluids can be taken from the wells. In some cases, this process can increase production by many hundreds of percent.

Below are common terms and definitions* used in the hydraulic fracturing process:

• Additive Pumps – used to inject liquid additives; different types based on the additive type and additive rate.
• Annulus – Area between two concentric casing strings or tubular strings.
• Bottom Hole Treating Pressure (psi) – pressure being applied to the formation including net pressure.
• Centrifugal Pumps – used on the low pressure equipment to mix and move fluid.
• Clean Volume (gal or bbl) – volume of fluid pumped without proppant.
• Dirty Volume (gal or bbl) – volume of fluid pumped with proppant.
• Flowmeter – used to measure and transmit fluid flow rates; different types depending on application.
• Frac Gradient (psi/ft) – pressure at which fluid will cause the formation rock to part.
• High Pressure Pumps – Positive displacement pumps used for pumping downhole.
• Hydraulic Horsepower (hhp) – horsepower being applied to the formation while pumping .
• Hydrostatic Pressure (psi) – pressure the fluid column exerts on the formation.
• Instantaneous Shut-in Pressure (psi) – a pressure used to calibrate the frac gradient.
• Kick-outs – mechanical or electrical devices that activate at a preset pressure to disengage high pressure pumps.
• Liquid Additive (gal/Mgal) – any liquid chemical added to the fluid system for a specific purpose
• Max Pressure (psi) – the maximum WHTP that will be allowed.
• Net Pressure (psi) – excess pressure over frac pressure required to extend the fracture .
• Perf Friction Pressure (psi) – pressure drop across the perforations.
• Pipe Friction Pressure (psi) – friction pressure of the fluid being pumped down the wellbore.
• Pop-off – a mechanical device activates at a preset pressure to prevent damage to surface and downhole tubular.
• Pressure Transducer – device used to measure and transmit pressure data.
• Proppant – small diameter material used to keep the fracture open.
• Proppant Concentration (lb/gal) – the amount of proppant added to one gal of fluid.
• Shut-in Pressure (psi) – a pressure used to calibrate the frac gradient.
• Solid Additive (lb/Mgal) – a solid chemical added to the fluid system for a specific purpose.
• Treatment Rate (bpm) – the downhole rate that fluid is entering the formation pumping.
• Wellhead Treating Pressure (psi) – the surface pressure at the wellhead during.

Thompson Equipment (TECO) manufactures highly engineered flowmeters designed for optimum performance in fracing applications. Contact TECO to discuss any severe flow measurement application.

TECO

https://teco-inc.com

800-528-8997

* from EPA.gov workshop titled "Fracture Design and Stimulation – Monitoring" (DC01:570405.2)

Magnetic Flowmeters for Fracing

Fracing illustration (USGS)

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracing, is the process of exploiting small fissures or cracks in rock layers deep under the earths surface, and increasing their number and size for the purpose of freeing up trapped natural gas. The process includes drilling horizontally in the bedrock and then forcing "frac fluid" into those cracks under very high pressure. The fracturing fluid is made up of water, a special type of sand (referred to as the proppant) and a mixture of chemicals.

Flow measurement is very important in fracing and requires instrumentation with long life and high accuracy.  Frac fluid is a very nasty slurry and it's flow measurement is challenging. Flow instruments are exposed to high pressures, erosive materials and corrosive chemicals.

Frac sand is very erosive and the high pressure and corrosive chemicals complicate things exponentially. Any flowmeter used in fracing applications must not only be rugged enough to withstand these harsh conditions, but the flowmeter must also provide the accuracy required for reliable data reporting to supervisory agencies. Cost-effectively meeting accuracy and longevity requirements for these applications can be frustrating.

Magnetic flowmeters have always appealed to the fracing industry because of their unfettered flow path, availability of sizes and level of accuracy. Their downfall is their longevity. Standard, off-the-shelf magnetic flowmeters don't last in this environment and can't be considered an economically viable choice.

An excellent solution that provides all the the virtues of magnetic flowmeters, and overcomes the longevity and economics issues, are specialized magnetic flowmeters. Referred to as "severe service flowmeters" or "slurry flowmeters", they are designed with components matched specifically to withstand the mechanical and chemical abuse they will see.

Magnetic flowmeters, specialized for fracing, provide all of a "magmeters" desirable features with these critical enhancements:

1. A ceramic sleeved liner made of magnesia partially stabilized zirconia. This ceramic can handle the abrasion and chemical attack with very little degradation.
2. Highly polished, ultra-smooth Tungsten electrodes. The Tungsten provides outstanding wear resistance while the high-polish reduces electrical noise introduced in the electrode circuitry.
3. Special coatings, or paints, to provide exterior protection.

By specifying magnetic flowmeters, specialized for fracing, not only do operators save money through increased uptime and decreased health, safety and environmental risk, but also through reduced costs related to flowmeter purchase and repair.

For more information on fracing magnetic flowmeters, contact Thompson Equipment Company (TECO) by calling 800-528-8997 or visit https://teco-inc.com.