jOe,
Since you asked, most of the frac water pumped into the formation during the hydraulic fracturing process is recaptured. When the well starts flowing oil/gas back to the surface it also flows back the frac water that was used in the fracturing process. This frac water is then disposed of by pumping into a deep saltwater aquifer through a salt water disposal well. In most areas, after a depth of 2,500’ to 3,000’ most of the aquifers are saltwater anyhow. Those 1,000’ “freshwater” Naperville wells, that I spoke of earlier, came from the Galena Aquifer and had high enough amounts of dissolved minerals to make the water almost undrinkable without softening. I’m certain that if some of the components of the frac water are valuable enough they are recycled, even oil folks don’t like to throw money away.
Are you feeling better yet?
Steve
