Hosing in on efficient fracking

A unique layflat hose produced by Crusader Hose is being used to great effect on fracking projects across the US and Canada, offering the Australian oil, gas, shale and coal seam gas exploration industries a new tool that can make their fracking operations more efficient.

Crusader has been developing their layflat hose to suit many applications for over 25 years. Wherever liquid needs to be transferred, Crusader Hose has the perfect layflat hose for the task.

In recent years, the task has been fracking wells in the US and Canada, allowing oil and gas developers to maximise the resources that can be extracted from any given well.

What the frac?

Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracturing, is an established technology which enhances oil and gas production in wells.

A mixture of water, sand and chemicals (typically 99 per cent water and sand) is pumped in the borewell, which creates small cracks, or fissures, in the reservoir.

By propping these small fissures open, the fluid mix allows more gas or oil to be released from the wellbore.

By increasing the flow of oil and gas from individual wells, overall production per well on a major project is increased, reducing the total number of wells needed to develop resources. It also allows commercialisation of tight reservoirs in which oil and gas do not easily flow.

Industry estimates suggest that up to 90 per cent of new gas wells in the US are now fracked – and Crusader’s layflat hoses are playing an increasing role in this process.

How it works

Before a well can be fracked, the developer or operator will need to get water to the site – which is where Crusader hoses play their part. The hoses are long enough to pump water from sources up to 15 km away – such as a dam or pond – to site. From a logistics point of view, because the hoses lay flat they can easily be transported to the well site where water is needed.

“Unlike poly pipe, Crusader’s layflat hoses are compact and transportable,” said Crusader Hose Managing Director Francois Steverlynck. “There is no need to construct infrastructure to get water to site – the layflat hose does this, and simply winds up and moves on to the next job when the current task is completed. There is no welding, no environmental damage and no infrastructure footprint.”

The layflat hose is easy to use, easy to pack up, and offers a large diameter, low cost solution to bringing the key element to any fracking project – water – to where it is needed.

“Our layflat hoses facilitate the easy transfer of liquids over long distances without a huge logistical burden,” adds Mr Steverlynck. “The layflat hose is a low coil volume solution to storing metres of pipes. A rigid hose does not offer the same benefits, as it takes up a lot of space, making handling more difficult.”

Crusader’s layflat hoses also provide a convenient solution for mine dewatering projects. When the question of how to transport mine water from a site being dewatered arises, the layflat hose offers a simple, convenient and reusable solution. The layflat hose can transfer water away from site simply and safely. The reduced footprint offered by the layflat hose ultimately results in reduced costs for the mine operator.

“We believe there are many opportunities in the Australian mining industry to utilise our technology. For example, our hoses can be used to move large volumes of water out of open-cut mines – which can lead to a quicker means of extracting ore,” said Mr Steverlynck.

“We manufacture and supply a wide range of layflat hoses which are securely attached to couplings. These hoses have proven extremely popular in connecting into poly and steel pipelines.”

Find Coal Seam Gas (CSG) Related Companies In The Pump Industry Capability Guide

Sykes Group Pty Ltd

Superior Pump Technologies

Flo-Max Pumps

Related articles

• CSG water treatment plant wins award
• Sydney pump failure causes uncontrolled oil discharges
• WA offshore oil project gains production licence
• Federal Budget 2022-23 supporting regional infrastructure development, resources and training
• The key to efficient wastewater remediation? Modular and flexible Bulk Liquid Storage Tanks