North America Pressure Pumping Demand Is Increasing From Unconventional and Offshore Exploration and Production Activities

 

Pressure pumping is required for stimulation, completion, intervention, and other processes related to the well lifecycle. It is the propagation of fractures/cracks through rocks using pumping cement and pressurized fracturing fluid into the wellbore to complete it. Pressure pumping is used for the extraction of resources such as unconventional liquids, shell gas, and tight gas. It is mainly used for the extraction of resources that are difficult to recover by low permeability reserves and regular drilling. It plays an important role in extracting, transporting, and storing this valuable resource. Pressure pumping helps enhance the productivity of reserves, improving asset value, and investment return.

The increasing electricity demand, increasing investments in unconventional and offshore exploration and production activities, and technological advancements are increasing the demand for pressure pumping in North America. The U.S. had the highest number of active drilling rigs, i.e., 946 as of January 2018. However, they are some drawbacks, such as the environmental damage caused by pressure pumping such as water contamination and seismic activities. Worldwide, hydraulic fracturing is the most widely used pressure pumping service. Moreover, the demand for hydraulic fracturing is increasing in the U.S., the U.K., Italy, etc. due to its increasing use in oil sands and shale gas.

The majority of drilling jobs are done using hydraulic borehole technology. The hydraulic fracturing is witnessing high growth due to the increasing shale gas exploration and development activities. Moreover, by 2020, the gas output is expected to reach around 48 billion cubic feet per day, owing to the recovering drilling activity. The production from new oil wells and Marcellus and Utica shale is expected to account for most of the growth in gas production. One of the challenges that face the drilling operators in the U.K. is the contaminated air that is released when drilling is in progress. However, companies have been working hard to overcome this issue.