What Chemicals Are Used
As previously noted, chemicals perform many functions in a hydraulic fracturing job. Although there are dozens to hundreds of chemicals which could be used as additives, there are a limited number which are routinely used in hydraulic fracturing. The following is a list of the chemicals used most often. This chart is sorted alphabetically by the Product Function to make it easier for you to compare to the fracturing records .
| Chemical Name | CAS | Chemical Purpose | Product Function |
| Hydrochloric Acid | 007647-01-0 | Helps dissolve minerals and initiate cracks in the rock | Acid |
| Glutaraldehyde | 000111-30-8 | Eliminates bacteria in the water that produces corrosive by-products | Biocide |
| Quaternary Ammonium Chloride | 012125-02-9 | Eliminates bacteria in the water that produces corrosive by-products | Biocide |
| Quaternary Ammonium Chloride | 061789-71-1 | Eliminates bacteria in the water that produces corrosive by-products | Biocide |
| Tetrakis Hydroxymethyl-Phosphonium Sulfate | 055566-30-8 | Eliminates bacteria in the water that produces corrosive by-products | Biocide |
| Ammonium Persulfate | 007727-54-0 | Allows a delayed break down of the gel | Breaker |
| Sodium Chloride | 007647-14-5 | Product Stabilizer | Breaker |
| Magnesium Peroxide | 014452-57-4 | Allows a delayed break down the gel | Breaker |
| Magnesium Oxide | 001309-48-4 | Allows a delayed break down the gel | Breaker |
| Calcium Chloride | 010043-52-4 | Product Stabilizer | Breaker |
| Choline Chloride | 000067-48-1 | Prevents clays from swelling or shifting | Clay Stabilizer |
| Tetramethyl ammonium chloride | 000075-57-0 | Prevents clays from swelling or shifting | Clay Stabilizer |
| Sodium Chloride | 007647-14-5 | Prevents clays from swelling or shifting | Clay Stabilizer |
| Isopropanol | 000067-63-0 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent | Corrosion Inhibitor |
| Methanol | 000067-56-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent | Corrosion Inhibitor |
| Formic Acid | 000064-18-6 | Prevents the corrosion of the pipe | Corrosion Inhibitor |
| Acetaldehyde | 000075-07-0 | Prevents the corrosion of the pipe | Corrosion Inhibitor |
| Petroleum Distillate | 064741-85-1 | Carrier fluid for borate or zirconate crosslinker | Crosslinker |
| Hydrotreated Light Petroleum Distillate | 064742-47-8 | Carrier fluid for borate or zirconate crosslinker | Crosslinker |
| Potassium Metaborate | 013709-94-9 | Maintains fluid viscosity as temperature increases | Crosslinker |
| Triethanolamine Zirconate | 101033-44-7 | Maintains fluid viscosity as temperature increases | Crosslinker |
| Sodium Tetraborate | 001303-96-4 | Maintains fluid viscosity as temperature increases | Crosslinker |
| Boric Acid | 001333-73-9 | Maintains fluid viscosity as temperature increases | Crosslinker |
| Zirconium Complex | 113184-20-6 | Maintains fluid viscosity as temperature increases | Crosslinker |
| Borate Salts | N/A | Maintains fluid viscosity as temperature increases | Crosslinker |
| Ethylene Glycol | 000107-21-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | Crosslinker |
| Methanol | 000067-56-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | Crosslinker |
| Polyacrylamide | 009003-05-8 | “Slicks” the water to minimize friction | Friction Reducer |
| Petroleum Distillate | 064741-85-1 | Carrier fluid for polyacrylamide friction reducer | Friction Reducer |
| Hydrotreated Light Petroleum Distillate | 064742-47-8 | Carrier fluid for polyacrylamide friction reducer | Friction Reducer |
| Methanol | 000067-56-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | Friction Reducer |
| Ethylene Glycol | 000107-21-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | Friction Reducer |
| Guar Gum | 009000-30-0 | Thickens the water in order to suspend the sand | Gelling Agent |
| Petroleum Distillate | 064741-85-1 | Carrier fluid for guar gum in liquid gels | Gelling Agent |
| Hydrotreated Light Petroleum Distillate | 064742-47-8 | Carrier fluid for guar gum in liquid gels | Gelling Agent |
| Methanol | 000067-56-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | Gelling Agent |
| Polysaccharide Blend | 068130-15-4 | Thickens the water in order to suspend the sand | Gelling Agent |
| Ethylene Glycol | 000107-21-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | Gelling Agent |
| Citric Acid | 000077-92-9 | Prevents precipitation of metal oxides | Iron Control |
| Acetic Acid | 000064-19-7 | Prevents precipitation of metal oxides | Iron Control |
| Thioglycolic Acid | 000068-11-1 | Prevents precipitation of metal oxides | Iron Control |
| Sodium Erythorbate | 006381-77-7 | Prevents precipitation of metal oxides | Iron Control |
| Lauryl Sulfate | 000151-21-3 | Used to prevent the formation of emulsions in the fracture fluid | Non-Emulsifier |
| Isopropanol | 000067-63-0 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | Non-Emulsifier |
| Ethylene Glycol | 000107-21-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | Non-Emulsifier |
| Sodium Hydroxide | 001310-73-2 | Adjusts the pH of fluid to maintains the effectiveness of other components, such as crosslinkers | pH Adjusting Agent |
| Potassium Hydroxide | 001310-58-3 | Adjusts the pH of fluid to maintains the effectiveness of other components, such as crosslinkers | pH Adjusting Agent |
| Acetic Acid | 000064-19-7 | Adjusts the pH of fluid to maintains the effectiveness of other components, such as crosslinkers | pH Adjusting Agent |
| Sodium Carbonate | 000497-19-8 | Adjusts the pH of fluid to maintains the effectiveness of other components, such as crosslinkers | pH Adjusting Agent |
| Potassium Carbonate | 000584-08-7 | Adjusts the pH of fluid to maintains the effectiveness of other components, such as crosslinkers | pH Adjusting Agent |
| Copolymer of Acrylamide and Sodium Acrylate | 025987-30-8 | Prevents scale deposits in the pipe | Scale Inhibitor |
| Sodium Polycarboxylate | N/A | Prevents scale deposits in the pipe | Scale Inhibitor |
| Phosphonic Acid Salt | N/A | Prevents scale deposits in the pipe | Scale Inhibitor |
| Lauryl Sulfate | 000151-21-3 | Used to increase the viscosity of the fracture fluid | Surfactant |
| Ethanol | 000064-17-5 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | Surfactant |
| Naphthalene | 000091-20-3 | Carrier fluid for the active surfactant ingredients | Surfactant |
| Methanol | 000067-56-1 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | Surfactant |
| Isopropyl Alcohol | 000067-63-0 | Product stabilizer and / or winterizing agent. | Surfactant |
| 2-Butoxyethanol | 000111-76-2 | Product stabilizer | Surfactant |
One of the problems associated with identifying chemicals is that some chemicals have multiple names. For example Ethylene Glycol (Antifreeze) is also known by the names Ethylene alcohol; Glycol; Glycol alcohol; Lutrol 9; Macrogol 400 BPC; Monoethylene glycol; Ramp; Tescol; 1,2-Dihydroxyethane; 2-Hydroxyethanol; HOCH2CH2OH; Dihydroxyethane; Ethanediol; Ethylene gycol; Glygen; Athylenglykol; Ethane-1,2-diol; Fridex; M.e.g.; 1,2-Ethandiol; Ucar 17; Dowtherm SR 1; Norkool; Zerex; Aliphatic diol; Ilexan E; Ethane-1,2-diol 1,2-Ethanedio.
This multiplicity of names can make a search for chemicals somewhat difficult and frustrating. However, if you search for a chemical by the CAS number it will return the correct chemical even if the name on the fracturing record does not match. For example if the fracturing record listed the chemical Hydrogen chloride and you searched for it by name using a chemical search site you may not get a result. But if you search for CAS # 007647-01-0 it might return Hydrochloric acid which is another name of Hydrogen chloride. Therefore, by using the CAS number you can avoid the issue of multiple names for the same chemical.
Multiple names for the same chemical can also leave you with the impression that there are more chemicals than actually exist. If you search the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) website the alternate names of chemicals are listed. This may help you identify the precise chemical you are looking for. The NIST site also contains the CAS numbers for chemicals. NIST is only one of many websites you can use to locate additional information about chemicals. You can also search the following websites using the chemical name or CAS number:
OSHA/EPA Occupational Chemical Database
