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Shale Gas

Last updated: July 22, 2017

What Does Shale Gas Mean?

Shale gas is a type of fossil fuel natural gas that is found in shale formations. These shale formations are made up of sedimentary rocks that are fine grained. Shale gas is formed from decayed plant and animal matter that has been subjected to heat and pressure for many years.

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Corrosionpedia Explains Shale Gas

The popularity of shale gas as a source of energy has increased immensely in recent years because new extraction methods such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, have made it increasingly economical to harvest shale gas. The increase in popularity and ease of extraction of shale gas has caused global energy costs to decrease. Its use as an energy source is expected to increase in the coming years.

Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is one of the main reasons that shale gas has become more economically viable. During the hydraulic fracturing process, a mix of water and other components are injected into a shale formation, releasing the gas from the shale formation. After collection the gas is then transported to a refinery, often via pipelines.

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