Hydraulic fracturing capacity worldwide is expected to total 24.3 MMhhp by year-end 2013.

The industry is divided on hydraulic fracturing technology. An objective view is needed to sort out the confusion and decide on best processes.

The presence of guar gum substitutes and expectations that North American market frac activity will level out within three years led to PacWest’s prediction that guar prices will stabilize at $3 or $4 per pound next year.

With the rig count slumping and less pressure-pumping services needed for oil/liquids plays, US demand for hydraulic fracturing services dropped 14% in 2012.

A polymer, which replaces guar in fracing fluid, has been utilized by Halliburton in Magnum Hunter’s wells in the Eagle Ford, resulting in higher flow back and improved production.

The fracing industry has long considered water a nuisance. But water reclamation and treatment companies see H2O as liquid gold, and the technologies they bring to the game will play a pivotal role in the shale boom.

Increasing transparency about the responsible and safe development of hydraulic fracturing is an ongoing challenge for the industry.

New fracture designs, integrated workflows, and incremental changes in technology continue to improve the cost effectiveness of unconventional well completions.

With an estimated 50% of perforation clusters and 25% of stages not contributing to production from wells in all of the major shale plays, Schlumberger is focused on reducing the number of defective wells and improving completion quality.