1. How much pressure do I need to properly Hydro-Frac® a water well?

    The standard practice is to use a system capable of producing up to 3,000 psi. In some     cases systems capable of 4,000 psi have been used but these are specific instances. In most single packer situations the average "break" will be between 1200 and 1500 psi. Only when zone isolating will you normally see above 2,000 psi.

2. Am I really creating a fracture?

    No! The fractures already exist in the bedrock. What is actually happening is the existing fractures are either really small, or they're plugged with sediment. The Hydro-Frac® system cleans out these fractures then actually wears away the sides of the fractures making them larger. Therefore more water is allowed to flow into the well.

3. Pressure or volume, which is more important?

   In all actuality they are both equally important. The Hydro-Frac® process consists of two stages, the "break" stage and the development stage. The pressure is needed to "break" the well, and as I stated above 3,000 psi is plenty to do 95% + of all your work. Once the well has "broken" then it needs to be developed. This requires a large amount of flow, the more water you feed it the more water you'll get out of it. Most standard system have at least a flow rate of 75-90 gpm.

4. Then why wouldn't I just get a pump that can do 4,000 psi and 150 gpm?

   Economics and size. A pump with those capabilities would cost tens of thousands of dollars, and would need a tractor trailer to haul around (these are similar to the oil field frac units, except the pressures in the oil fields are upwards of 40,000 psi). We have experimented with different pressure and gpm setups and have found that 3,000 psi and 80 gpm will cover any water well. The normal modification is to put two frac pumps together thus getting an additional 80 gpm. But once again cost becomes a factor.

5. I use my mud pump to Hydro-Frac® with!

   That works to an extent, as a matter of fact that is where Hydro-Fracking water wells originated. Drillers heard about it's use in the oil fields and begun to experiment with there mud pumps. However the technology has advanced a great deal in the Hydro-Frac® industry and a mud pump, although effective, just isn't going to be able to compete.

6. I just surge the well with my cable tool rig!

    This is similar to using the mud pump. It is effective, yet not as effective as using a Hydro-Frac® system. As a matter of fact, there are quite a few cable tool drillers that will surge the well after they drill it, then come in and Hydro-Frac® it. Once again Hydro-Fracking is just another tool in well development and can and should be used in conjunction with other methods.

Kyle Equipment Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 658, Sterling, Massachusetts 01564
Out of State: (800) 426-6377
In MA: (978) 422-8448

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