The exploitation of hydrocarbon-bearing shale for oil and gas has long-term global implications.  In the United States a web-based information repository, FracFocus, has been developed, which identifies many of the materials used in stimulating a horizontal well, a process known as hydraulic fracturing. The repository often contains enough information about a material and its purpose for students to identify the structure of the listed material and apply chemical principles to develop an understanding of its function.  Quantitative information is included in the repository, supporting a variety of numerical problems with opportunities for dimensional analysis and consideration of significant figures.  As an example of the many topics that can be developed, a lecture demonstration based on the constituents and behavior of a gelling agent will be described.  The potential for individualized assignments will be discussed. This expanding repository held information from over 60,000 wells at the beginning of 2014.

Focus on FracFocus � the instructional value of a web-based chemical disclosure registry for materials used in hydraulic fracturing

248th National Meeting (2014)

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