| About Us | Our Properties | Investor Relations | Corporate Responsibility | Government Affairs | Owner/Vendor Relations | Contact Us |
| Community | Hydraulic Fracturing |
| Fracturing Fluids | Wyoming Operations | Marcellus Shale Operations | Hydraulic Fracturing Safety |
In This Section
Wyoming Operations
The Lance and Mesaverde formations underlying our Jonah and Pinedale properties are more than two miles below the surface of the earth.
We conduct our hydraulic fracturing operations at depths up to 14,000 feet – but only after we have cemented multiple strings of steel pipe into the well all the way back to the surface to ensure that neither the fluids we use in the well nor the oil and gas we produce from the well enters the water supply. The fresh water aquifers around our Wyoming properties are generally found at subsurface depths of less than 1,000 feet, typically in rocks located over two miles above our hydraulic fracturing operations.
Almost 98% of Ultra’s typical frac in Wyoming is composed of water, sand and other proppants (sand-like materials). The overall composition is set out below in detail:
Pinedale Anticline Fracturing Fluid Composition
The additives in the hydraulic fracturing fluids we use in Wyoming are, in many cases, also used in common household products. Information about the everyday uses of these products is in the table below.
| ADDITIVE | PURPOSE | COMMON USES |
| Breaker | Helps degrade fluid viscosity | Hair dye, circuit boards |
| Biocide | Purifies and disinfects water; eliminates bacteria | Sterilizer for medical and dental equipment; disinfectant |
| Crosslinker | Promotes fluid viscosity | Soldering flux, deicing agent |
| Gel | Thickens water to suspend proppant in fluids | Cosmetics, toothpastes, pasta sauces, baked goods, ice creams, salad dressings |
| pH Control (diluted) | Helps dissolve minerals and start fissures in the formation | Swimming pools, household cleaners |
| Proppant (sand and sand-like materials) | Holds tiny cracks in the formation open so gas can be produced | Water filtration, play sand |
Ultra also provides detailed information about its Wyoming hydraulic fracturing operations to the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission.