Why use diesel oil in fracking?

[Stephen Tashi]

Without getting into the environmental controversies about fracking, why would using diesel oil in the process be useful just from an engineering standpoint? Is it used to lubricate the machinery?

 

[CWatters]

Can you provide a reference for that?

Ive no idea but if you are fracking for oil I suppose it makes some sense to use an oil based fluid to avoid contaminating the oil?

 

[1oldman2]

For reference.
https://www.epa.gov/uic/diesel-fuels-hydraulic-fracturing-dfhf

Here is the closest I can get to an answer
http://oilpro.com/q/2917/why-not-use-oil-fracking-fluid

 

[CWatters]

Page 3 para 2 of that first link describes some reasons diesel might be used.

 

[JBA]

It was interesting to read about the use of petroleum for well fracturing. I worked for Skelly oil and then for Halliburton R&D back in the late 1960's and the only fluid I ever saw used then in Oklahoma was water, or actually brine from water producing wells. Fresh water could not be used in any well that contained any percent of clay in the producing formation because it would cause the clay to swell and seal off the sand pores shutting off the flow of oil.

 

[CWatters]

Interesting insight. Thanks JBA.