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Welcome to FracFocus, the hydraulic fracturing chemical registry website. This website is a joint project of the Ground Water Protection Council and the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission.
On this site you can search for information about the chemicals used in the hydraulic fracturing of oil and gas wells. You will also find educational materials designed to help you put this information in perspective.
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This technique uses a specially blended liquid which is pumped into a well under extreme pressure causing cracks in rock formations underground. These cracks in the rock then allow oil and natural gas to flow, increasing resource production.
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Casing is the multiple layers of steel and cement inside the drilled hole used to protect water aquifers. The specific length, thickness, strength and composition of casing is regulated at the state level.
Illustration Courtesy of the Texas Oil & Gas Association.
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Use the interactive map to find regulations per state as well as contact information for groundwater protection and oil and natural gas production.
Groundwater Protection: Priority Number One
Oil and natural gas producers have stringent requirements for how wells must be completed. The genesis of these requirements is water safety.
Casing is the first line of defense used to protect freshwater aquifers.
More About Groundwater Protection »
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How is water used in hydraulic fracturing?
Water acts as the carrier fluid for the chemical additives and propping agents (typically sand) that are used to fracture the producing formation.
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How can my company become a FracFocus participating company and begin entering records?
To become a “FracFocus” participating company please follow the instructions below:
• Open the website www.hydraulicfracturingdisclosure.org
• Click on Register in the menu on the right hand side of the home page
• Complete the form and submit
• Wait for a confirmation e-mail
• Establish yourself as a Supervisor and a Data Submitter
• Assign other Supervisors and Data Submitters (as necessary)
• Download the Excel template
• Begin entering and submitting records
Please note that only 1 representative per company is allowed but any number of supervisors and data submitters can be approved. At present, representatives must work for the company that is to be registered. For security reasons, the system cannot accommodate third party agents.
You can obtain further information about registration and system usage from the Quick How To Guide
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Do states conduct ongoing testing of water wells and oil and gas well construction?
It depends on the state. When it comes to water wells, many states have water well construction standards but not routine testing requirements. As regards the construction of oil and gas wells, all states have well construction requirements. These can be reviewed by going to the Regulations by State page, selecting the state in question and then selecting View Regulations.
