Download or read book Strategies to Reduce Terminal Water Consumption of Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation in the Barnett Shale written by Jennifer Marie Secor Harold and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 104 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracture stimulation have enabled the economic development of unconventional resource plays. An average horizontal well in the Barnett Shale requires 3 to 4 million gallons of fresh water, 90% of which is used for hydraulic fracture stimulation. While the water consumption of Barnett Shale operations is less than 1% of total Region C consumption, extended drought conditions and competing demands for water resources are placing pressure on operators to reduce terminal water consumption. Strategies which reduce water requirements associated hydraulic fracture stimulation without compromising the efficiency and cost of energy production are essential in developing a comprehensive policy on energy-water management. Recycling and reuse technologies were evaluated on the basis of performance, cost, and capacity to treat reclaimed flowback water and oilfield brine. Recycling flowback fluids for future hydraulic fracture applications is the most practical repurposing of oilfield waste. The low TDS content of flowback derived from water-based fracs permits multiple treatment options. Mobile thermal distillation technology has emerged as the prevailing technique for recycling flowback water, yielding maximum water savings and reduced operating costs. The estimated cost of recycling flowback water by thermal distillation is $3.35/bbl. Compared to the current cost of disposal, recycling provides an opportunity to minimize waste and reduce the fresh water requirements of hydraulic fracture stimulation at an incremental cost. The stewardship role of the Texas Legislature is to protect the water resources of the state and to facilitate the Regional Water Planning Process, ensuring future water needs are met. The support and participation of the Legislature and other planning entities is critical in advancing the energy-water nexus. As operators pursue innovative water management practices to reduce terminal water consumption in the oilfield, the Barnett Shale positions itself as a model for sustainable water use in the development of unconventional shale resources. The cost of recycling and reuse technology limits the participation of small and mid-size operators who possess the greatest market share of the Barnett Shale. Funding for research and implementation of water-conscious strategies such as shared recycling facilities, CO2 capture and storage, and pipeline infrastructure would create multi-user opportunities to promote conservation and reduce net consumption of fresh water supplies. Through the integration of technology and policy, terminal water consumption in the Barnett Shale can be greatly diminished.
Download or read book Environmental Considerations Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing Operations written by James A. Jacobs and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2019-04-23 with total page 576 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A guide to environmental and communication issues related to fracking and the best approach to protect communities Environmental Considerations Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing Operations offers a much-needed resource that explores the complex challenges of fracking by providing an understanding of the environmental and communication issues that are inherent with hydraulic fracturing. The book balances the current scientific knowledge with the uncertainty and risks associated with hydraulic fracking. In addition, the authors offer targeted approaches for helping to keep communities safe. The authors include an overview of the historical development of hydraulic fracturing and the technology currently employed. The book also explores the risk, prevention, and mitigation factors that are associated with fracturing. The authors also include legal cases, regulatory issues, and data on the cost of recovery. The volume presents audit checklists for gathering critical information and documentation to support the reliability of the current environmental conditions related to fracking operations and the impact fracking can have on a community. This vital resource: Contains the technical information and mitigation recommendations for safety and environmental issues related to hydraulic fracturing Offers an historical overview of conventional and unconventional oil and gas drilling Explains the geologic and technical issues associated with fracking of tight sand and shale formulations Presents numerous case studies from the United States EPA and other agencies Discusses issues of co-produced waste water and induced seismicity from the injection of wastewater Written for environmental scientists, geologists, engineers, regulators, city planners, attorneys, foresters, wildlife biologists, and others, Environmental Considerations Associated with Hydraulic Fracturing Operations offers a comprehensive resource to the complex environmental and communication issues related to fracking.
Download or read book Plan to Study the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources written by U. S. Environmental Agency and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2015-01-16 with total page 190 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Natural gas plays a key role in our nation's clean energy future. Recent advances in drilling technologies-including horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing-have made vast reserves of natural gas economically recoverable in the US. Responsible development of America's oil and gas resources offers important economic, energy security, and environmental benefits. Hydraulic fracturing is a well stimulation technique used to maximize production of oil and natural gas in unconventional reservoirs, such as shale, coalbeds, and tight sands. During hydraulic fracturing, specially engineered fluids containing chemical additives and proppant are pumped under high pressure into the well to create and hold open fractures in the formation. These fractures increase the exposed surface area of the rock in the formation and, in turn, stimulate the flow of natural gas or oil to the wellbore. As the use of hydraulic fracturing has increased, so have concerns about its potential environmental and human health impacts. Many concerns about hydraulic fracturing center on potential risks to drinking water resources, although other issues have been raised. In response to public concern, the US Congress directed the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to conduct scientific research to examine the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources. This study plan represents an important milestone in responding to the direction from Congress. EPA is committed to conducting a study that uses the best available science, independent sources of information, and a transparent, peer-reviewed process that will ensure the validity and accuracy of the results. The Agency will work in consultation with other federal agencies, state and interstate regulatory agencies, industry, non-governmental organizations, and others in the private and public sector in carrying out this study. Stakeholder outreach as the study is being conducted will continue to be a hallmark of our efforts, just as it was during the development of this study plan. The overall purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship, if any, between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources. More specifically, the study has been designed to assess the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources and to identify the driving factors that affect the severity and frequency of any impacts. Based on the increasing development of shale gas resources in the US, and the comments EPA received from stakeholders, this study emphasizes hydraulic fracturing in shale formations. Portions of the research, however, are also intended to provide information on hydraulic fracturing in coalbed methane and tight sand reservoirs. The scope of the research includes the hydraulic fracturing water use lifecycle, which is a subset of the greater hydrologic cycle. For the purposes of this study, the hydraulic fracturing water lifecycle begins with water acquisition from surface or ground water and ends with discharge into surface waters or injection into deep wells. Specifically, the water lifecycle for hydraulic fracturing consists of water acquisition, chemical mixing, well injection, flowback and produced water (collectively referred to as "hydraulic fracturing wastewater"), and wastewater treatment and waste disposal.
Download or read book Fresh Water Reduction Technologies and Strategies for Hydraulic Fracturing written by Megan Patrice Leseberg and published by . This book was released on 2013 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a tremendous resource across the United States and around the world--shale. However, these processes have also come with a myriad of potential environmental effects, including a substantial demand for water. Hydraulic fracturing can require anywhere between two and four million gallons per well. The need for such large quantities of water can produce severe stresses on local water resources. In response to this issue, operators have developed several ways to alleviate some of the stresses brought on by the extensive water use such as alternative sourcing and reuse technologies. Companies are driven to exercise these options and decrease their fresh water usage for hydraulic fracturing processes for multiple reasons, including changes in regulation, to gain support of local communities, and to increase efficiencies of operations. Whatever the motivation may be, there are a variety of options companies have at their disposal to reduce fresh water demands--dependent on specific formation characteristics, the qualities and quantities of available water, among others. The Eagle Ford shale is one of the most rapidly growing shale plays in the country. However, this formation is located in a fairly arid part of the country. Because of meager average rainfall totals, water availability to meet demand is an issue of great concern. Due to nearly exponential increases in shale production, stresses on local water supplies have dramatically increased as well. The objectives of this thesis are as follows: 1) to establish the enormous resource that has become available; while still recognizing the environmental impacts associated with development processes, focusing primarily on water requirements and associated wastewater production; 2) to break down current water demand for shale development, as well as wastewater management practices in the Eagle Ford, with a brief comparison to other shale plays across the country; 3) to obtain an understanding of operator motivation--what factors affect wastewater management strategies; and 4) to analyze techniques operators presently have at their disposal to reduce fresh water demands, specifically through the use of brackish waters and recycling/reuse efforts, and finally to quantify these efforts to evaluate potential fresh water savings.
Download or read book Review of Hydraulic Fracturing Technology and Practices written by United States. Congress. House. Committee on Science, Space, and Technology (2011) and published by . This book was released on 2011 with total page 160 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Hydraulic Fracturing in the Barnett Shale Region written by Jason Lockie and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 78 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Study of the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources written by U. S. Environmental Agency and published by CreateSpace. This book was released on 2015-01-16 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Natural gas plays a key role in our nation's clean energy future. The United States has vast reserves of natural gas that are commercially viable as a result of advances in horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing technologies, which enable greater access to gas in rock formations deep underground. These advances have spurred a significant increase in the production of both natural gas and oil across the country. Responsible development of America's oil and gas resources offers important economic, energy security, and environmental benefits. However, as the use of hydraulic fracturing has increased, so have concerns about its potential human health and environmental impacts, especially for drinking water. In response to public concern, the US House of Representatives requested that the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) conduct scientific research to examine the relationship between hydraulic fracturing and drinking water resources. In 2011, the EPA began research under its Plan to Study the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Drinking Water Resources. The purpose of the study is to assess the potential impacts of hydraulic fracturing on drinking water resources, if any, and to identify the driving factors that may affect the severity and frequency of such impacts. Scientists are focusing primarily on hydraulic fracturing of shale formations to extract natural gas, with some study of other oil-and gas-producing formations, including tight sands, and coalbeds. The EPA has designed the scope of the research around five stages of the hydraulic fracturing water cycle. Each stage of the cycle is associated with a primary research question: Water acquisition: What are the possible impacts of large volume water withdrawals from ground and surface waters on drinking water resources? Chemical mixing: What are the possible impacts of hydraulic fracturing fluid surface spills on or near well pads on drinking water resources? Well injection: What are the possible impacts of the injection and fracturing process on drinking water resources? Flowback and produced water: What are the possible impacts of flowback and produced water (collectively referred to as "hydraulic fracturing wastewater") surface spills on or near well pads on drinking water resources? Wastewater treatment and waste disposal: What are the possible impacts of inadequate treatment of hydraulic fracturing wastewater on drinking water resources? This report describes 18 research projects underway to answer these research questions and presents the progress made as of September 2012 for each of the projects. Information presented as part of this report cannot be used to draw conclusions about potential impacts to drinking water resources from hydraulic fracturing. The research projects are organized according to five different types of research activities: analysis of existing data, scenario evaluations, laboratory studies, toxicity assessments, and case studies.
Download or read book Fracked in the Barnett Shale written by Tom Hayden and published by Createspace Independent Pub. This book was released on 2013-02 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Fracked In The Barnett Shale is a detailed, scholarly analysis of the issues surrounding the fracking debate. The foremost aim of this 400-page publication is to be a resource to communities who are considering pending or future fracking activity.
Download or read book Optimization Strategies for Hydraulic Fracture Stimulation in High Permeability Reservoirs written by Tamir Aggour and published by . This book was released on 1999 with total page 226 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Numerical Simulation of the Environmental Impact of Hydraulic Fracturing of Tight shale Gas Reservoirs on Near surface Groundwater written by and published by . This book was released on 2015 with total page 31 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Hydrocarbon production from unconventional resources and the use of reservoir stimulation techniques, such as hydraulic fracturing, has grown explosively over the last decade. However, concerns have arisen that reservoir stimulation creates significant environmental threats through the creation of permeable pathways connecting the stimulated reservoir with shallower freshwater aquifers, thus resulting in the contamination of potable groundwater by escaping hydrocarbons or other reservoir fluids. This study investigates, by numerical simulation, gas and water transport between a shallow tight-gas reservoir and a shallower overlying freshwater aquifer following hydraulic fracturing operations, if such a connecting pathway has been created. We focus on two general failure scenarios: (1) communication between the reservoir and aquifer via a connecting fracture or fault and (2) communication via a deteriorated, preexisting nearby well. We conclude that the key factors driving short-term transport of gas include high permeability for the connecting pathway and the overall volume of the connecting feature. Production from the reservoir is likely to mitigate release through reduction of available free gas and lowering of reservoir pressure, and not producing may increase the potential for release. We also find that hydrostatic tight-gas reservoirs are unlikely to act as a continuing source of migrating gas, as gas contained within the newly formed hydraulic fracture is the primary source for potential contamination. Such incidents of gas escape are likely to be limited in duration and scope for hydrostatic reservoirs. Reliable field and laboratory data must be acquired to constrain the factors and determine the likelihood of these outcomes.
Download or read book Water Management in Hydraulic Fracturing a Planning and Decision Optimization Platform written by Neha Mehta (S.M.) and published by . This book was released on 2014 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Recent developments in hydraulic fracturing technology have enabled cost-effective production of unconventional resources, particularly shale gas in the U.S. The process of hydraulic fracturing is water intensive, requiring 4-7 million gallons of water per well, to which a range of chemicals must also be added in order to produce an effective fracturing fluid. Following a fracturing stimulation, anywhere from 10-40% of the injected volume of the water flows back to the surface as a polluted stream of wastewater. This polluted stream of water and the overall inefficient use of water in the hydraulic fracturing process has resulted in a number of negative environmental consequences, specifically surrounding ground and surface water quality and quantity. In considering how to minimize the environmental impacts of hydraulic fracturing, effectively managing water throughout the entire hydraulic fracturing water cycle (water acquisition and disposal) is obviously critical. This dissertation articulates a GIS based optimization model that has been developed to optimize water management planning for unconventional oil and gas production. The model enables a diverse set of stakeholders to develop customized water management strategies based on the geological characteristics and water infrastructure of any given play. The model comprises of a front end GIS interface and a back end optimization engine, designed to minimize the overall system cost of water handling as well as minimizing the overall water footprint of the system. Altogether, it is a powerful decision making tool, which allows the operators to optimize and analyze the temporal and spatial variations in flowback, and produced water management and provide an operationally convenient method to access and share the model analysis. From a regulatory perspective, the modeling framework provides a comprehensive template for a water management plan and could be used as a basis to develop tailored, customized regional solutions that can incorporate the inherent heterogeneity widespread across today's oil and gas plays.
Download or read book Simulating Gas Production from Hydraulic Fracture Networks written by Jennifer Lynn Reese and published by . This book was released on 2007 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Unconventional Reservoir Geomechanics written by Mark D. Zoback and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2019-05-16 with total page 495 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive overview of the key geologic, geomechanical and engineering principles that govern the development of unconventional oil and gas reservoirs. Covering hydrocarbon-bearing formations, horizontal drilling, reservoir seismology and environmental impacts, this is an invaluable resource for geologists, geophysicists and reservoir engineers.
Download or read book An Independent Scientific Assessment of Well Stimulation in California written by Ccst and published by . This book was released on 2015-01-01 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Unconventional Oil and Gas Resources written by Usman Ahmed and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2016-04-05 with total page 862 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: As the shale revolution continues in North America, unconventional resource markets are emerging on every continent. In the next eight to ten years, more than 100,000 wells and one- to two-million hydraulic fracturing stages could be executed, resulting in close to one trillion dollars in industry spending. This growth has prompted professionals ex
Download or read book Risks Rewards and Regulation of Unconventional Gas written by R. Quentin Grafton and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 2017 with total page 513 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book explains the drivers and implications of unconventional gas at regional, national and global scales with case studies and in-depth analyses.
Download or read book Modern Shale Gas Development in the United States written by and published by . This book was released on 2009 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
