You searched for: “shale”
shale (s) (noun), shales (pl)
A fine-grained or fine-textured sedimentary rock formed by the cementation or compaction of silt and clay (mud): "Shale has thin layers (laminations) and can be split into thin layers or small chips."

"Shale and mudstone are composed of a mixture of the finest particles of clay and silt; however, the difference between them is that shale splits into thin layers while mudstone is thickly layered and breaks into massive chunks."

This entry is located in the following unit: Fracking, Hydro Fracking, Hydraulic Fracturing Content Entries (page 1)
Fracking, Hydro Fracking, Hydraulic Fracturing Content Entries
(Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is the practice of extracting natural gas from underground shale deposits by injecting high-pressure streams of water, sand, and chemicals)
Word Entries containing the term: “shale”
combustible shale (noun), tasmanite, Mersey yellow coal, white coal, yellow coal
An impure coal which indicates a transitional level between cannel coal (an oily compact coal, with a greasy luster, which burns easily, steadily, and brightly) and oil shale.
This entry is located in the following units: -bust, -ust, -bur; bust-, bur-, ur- + (page 1) Fracking, Hydro Fracking, Hydraulic Fracturing Content Entries (page 1)
oil shale, oil-shale; shale oil (noun)
A high content of organic matter consisting of clay minerals and silt-sized quartz grains from which oil may be extracted by distillation: "The spaces between the grains of oil shales are microscopic, making the rock highly impermeable and trapped within these spaces is a solid, combustible hydrocarbon, substance called kerogen which is a fossilized material in shale and other sedimentary rocks."

"When heated, the kerogen in oil shales breaks down and produces oil."

This entry is located in the following unit: Fracking, Hydro Fracking, Hydraulic Fracturing Content Entries (page 1)
shale gas (s) (noun)
Natural gas formed from being trapped in shale formations: "Shale gas has become an important source of natural gas in the United States over the past decade, and interest has spread to potential gas shales in the rest of the world."

"Shales are fine-grained sedimentary rocks that can be rich sources of petroleum and natural gas. The combination of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing has allowed access to large volumes of shale gas that were previously uneconomical to produce."

"The supply of natural gas is not as dependent on foreign producers as is the supply of crude oil, and the delivery system is less subject to interruption."

"The availability of large quantities of shale gas should enable the United States to consume a predominantly domestic supply of gas for many years and produce more natural gas then it consumes."

—Compiled from information provided by the
U.S. Energy Information Administration.

"Current technology allows shale gas to be recovered from shale formations with a high organic content."

"Modern exploration and gas production technology, such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing, has enabled the extraction of shale gas in similar formations in other states."

"Hydraulic fracturing, also known as hydrofracking or fracking, is a process used to stimulate production of natural gas from shale or other impermeable rock formations."

"The process involves drilling a well into rock that contains natural gas; injecting fluids under pressure to fracture the rock; and extracting the natural gas from the fractures that are created."

"While development of this resource could be an economic benefit to North Carolina, other states have found that shale gas production also has impacts that need to be carefully managed."

"The possible environmental impacts of shale gas exploration include the use of high volumes of water during drilling; potential contamination of groundwater aquifers by chemicals, water or wastewater during drilling or hydraulic fracturing of the shale layers; clearing of access roads and the drilling area; and storage of chemicals used in the process."

—Compiled from information provided by the
North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
This entry is located in the following unit: Fracking, Hydro Fracking, Hydraulic Fracturing Content Entries (page 1)