Halliburton fracking fluid is food for thought


A new hydraulic fracturing fluid system has been developed by Halliburton, using food enzymes and other food-related materials.

Halliburton CleanStim

CleanStim™ hydraulic fracturing solution Image: Halliburton

As the hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, debate continues in the US, Halliburton announced its CleanStim™ range, also launching a microwebsite to promote its other services around the CleanSuite™ brand.

CleanStim™ itself is a hydraulic fracturing solution produced using ingredients sourced entirely from the food industry.  By way of its user-friendly style website, which includes a comment about Halliburton not encouraging people to eat the new product, the company also neatly supports the campaign for fracking solution formulae to be disclosed.

Apparently, CleanStim™ includes enzymes, such as those used in fruit juices and laundry detergents; maltodextrin, used as a sweetener and for cake icing; and partially hydrogenated vegetable oil - an essential ingredient in many skin care products.

Along with the solution itself, Halliburton also launched a water treatment service, (CleanStream® a fracking water treatment system (CleanWave™) and a 3-D fracture mapping service which shows the fracturing process in real time.