Using casing annular packers to prevent shallow gas migration to surface in shale wells

摘要

Efforts in many cities, states and countries to ban hydraulic fracturing as an oil and gas production method have been driven in part by a few well-publicized reports of high methane content observed in drinking water near shale production operations. Although methane gas is not regulated in drinking water—not being considered harmful to drink—this gas is a concern because it can accumulate and potentially cause suffocation and/or explosions.