The Engineer: Simulator raises hopes of 'double economic benefit' from fracking

A British research project to recreate fracking in the lab could help determine if the controversial drilling practice could produce chemicals besides natural gas.

A team from the British Geological Society (BGS) has designed equipment to study what substances might be extracted from UK shale deposits by simulating the hydraulic fracturing process already used to obtain methane from the rock.

The work being carried out in partnership with Leicester University, which has already begun examining the content released from UK shale, could also help fracking operators optimise the process.

‘When you look at the literature, nobody’s ever just taken a [UK shale] rock, fracked it and looked at it,’ said Prof Paul Monks, who is leading the research for Leicester University.
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