The makeup of typical hydraulic fracturing fluid is:
- water - 99.2%
- other - 0.79%
| water | expand fracture and deliver sand |
| sand | allows gas to escape |
| acid | used to dissolve minerals and create cracks |
| corrosive inhibitor | prevents pipe corrosion |
| friction reducer | minimize friction |
| clay control | creates a brine carrier fluid |
| cross linker | stabilizes fluid viscosity as temperature increases |
| scale inhibitor | prevents scale on pipes |
| breaker | delays gel break down |
| iron control | prevents precipitation of metal oxides |
| biocide | kills bacteria which produces corrosive by-products |
| gellant | thickens water in order to suspend the sand |