The Engineering Genius of Fracking: A Study in Mechanical Excellence
By Brian Robson
Credit: Jared Anderson/Breaking Energy
The issue of hydraulic fracturing (or “fracking”) too often becomes a political dispute, which threatens to obscure a far more important matter for the energy industry as a whole: That fracking is a feat of engineering genius, an example of the working complexity of so many pumps, valves, meters, gears, gauges and systems; it yields more than precious (and previously inaccessible) quantities of natural gas and oil, representing, instead, a marvel of so many moving parts and specialized pieces of machinery.
I cite this example without taking sides in a partisan dispute, because I choose to celebrate how workers can apply their knowledge of fracking for the greater good of enhanced efficiency and progress for the energy industry in its entirety.
I write these words from experience, where, in my role as Operations Manager for FD Johnson, a leading supplier of high-quality lubrication pumps and systems, I help companies select the right products for fracking projects and other assignments.
In so doing, I have a greater appreciation for the motto that governs my actions and the 80-plus-years of pride and integrity that I seek to uphold.
In so many words: “We keep your machinery running!”
By making fracking less prone to disruption or unexpected delays – by teaching roughnecks and motormen about the value of investing in the right equipment, and then empowering them to master these systems – I not only have the privilege of helping these workers; I have the honor of showcasing the individual components responsible for translating an idea into a functioning source of job creation, energy independence and innovative engineering.
Indeed, my advice to people with a stake in this discussion is to watch before they judge. Meaning: Before you render a verdict for or against fracking, take a look at the planning and training behind this phenomenon.
If nothing else, we would have a chance to see how various methods, fracturing fluids, suppression procedures and “seismic pumping” extract shale gas, tight gas, tight oil and coal seam gas.
We would see workers doing their jobs with a heightened set of skills, aided by their newly acquired knowledge of how to operate and maintain equipment that many energy companies use.
We would see engineering and genuine know-how unite for the good of the economy in general and the energy industry in particular.
The Takeaway Theme: The Details Are in the Machinery
The overriding lesson to this discussion, which applies to a diverse range of companies and industries, is about the importance of mastering the details of a project.
With regard to fracking, the details correspond to a person’s understanding of the pumps, valves and systems that govern this endeavor.
Put a different way, the devil is not in the details; but the failure to become an expert about the details is a devilish – and very costly – experience.
We have a duty to acknowledge the engineering success behind the rise of fracking.
We also have an obligation to ensure workers can oversee the systems that drive this process, without fear of sudden changes or otherwise alarming news.
The only way to guarantee the safety of this situation – the chief means of keeping this machinery running – belongs to making an equal investment in the equipment workers use, so they may be equipped to act like professionals.
That investment will yield long-term dividends, highlighting the value of fracking and the overall worth of the energy industry.
That investment is a necessity.
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